The Hillcrest Academy Raven baseball team took care of business Monday night to start their class 1A district run, dispatching English Valleys 10-0 in five innings. The Ravens wasted no time jumping out to a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first on two hits, a pair of hit batters and two Bears errors. Jace Rempel had the big swing in the inning with a two RBI double. With the early lead, Raven starter senior Eli Ours cruised, allowing only five base runners in the game. The Ravens added four more runs in the third with the big swing again coming from Rempel, this time belting his first varsity home run, a two run shot to left. Grant Bender added a sac fly to drive in another and it was 8-0 Hillcrest after the frame. The fourth saw the Ravens plate two more with Hillcrest taking advantage of an error at third base and Liam Schrock coming up with an RBI single. Up 10-0, Ours and Hillcrest defense shut down the Bears in the top of five for the shortened victory. After the game Rempel and Ours talked about their big nights. Rempel said, “I went up trying to time the pitcher up, I have been practicing something new and it worked. I have had some inside the park home runs but that was my first over the fence home run.”

Ours added, “The fastball was working really well for me. We knew after the first inning he was going to give the outside corner, so we stayed there and the hitters didn’t adjust. London (Schrock) was great, he calls every pitch and I trust him with every one. It’s always great to come back in, hit and score a bunch of runs. Jace (Rempel) had an awesome home run tonight too.”

Rempel finished three for three with eight total bases including a home run and four RBI. Luke Schrock was two for two with three runs scored. On the mound, Ours went all five, giving up just four hits, walking one and striking out 11. With the win, the Ravens are now 13-9 overall and will take on North Cedar who upset Highland in their opening round contest. You can hear all of the action between the Ravens and Knights live on FM 106.1 KCII Tuesday night beginning with the Washington HyVee pregame show at 6:30 and first pitch at 7p.m.