Photo Courtesy of Hillcrest Yearbook

The eighth biggest story in Hillcrest Academy athletics from the previous year takes us to the baseball diamond where the Ravens successfully defended their Southeast Iowa Superconference North Division Championship from 2023. The Ravens went 9-2 in league action, finishing a game ahead of Highland. Hillcrest scored sweeps over Winfield-Mt. Union, Lone Tree, and Wapello with single wins against Pekin, Louisa-Muscatine, and Highland. They were undefeated North Division Champs in 2023.

The Ravens put seven players on All-Superconference teams including first-teamers Liam Schrock, Seth Ours and Rowan Miller, second-teamers Phoenix Anderson and Mason Helmuth and honorable mention selections Mason Bender and Lawson Schrock. Liam Schrock and Rowan Miller were also named to the 1A All-Southeast District second team. Head coach Danny Hershberger was named Coach of the Year in the North Division for the second straight season. The Ravens received votes in several Class 1A polls this season from the Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association.

The Ravens ended the year with a 16-5 overall record.

Thursday, the number seven story in our countdown celebrates another Raven conference championship, this one on the soccer pitch.