It’s an all-KCII area softball battle Thursday night on the campus of Mount Mercy University when Hillcrest Academy meets Columbus. The Ravens come into the contest with a mark of 1-6 on the year, following a 5-0 loss at Winfield-Mt. Union Tuesday. They are hitting .273 as a team, with three players at .368 or better, led by Grace Miller with a .429 average. Malia Yoder has a team best seven hits and six RBI. Norah Yoder has scored five times. In the circle Malia Yoder and Leah Bontrager have worked 32 innings combined for an 8.44 ERA with 24 strikeouts.

Columbus is 7-5 this season and 6-3 in the Superconference after a victory over Danville Wednesday. The Wildcats are hitting .281 as a team with four players at .333 or better, led by Lily Coil with a .688 average and a team best 22 hits, 17 runs scored and 10 driven in. In the circle, Coil and Libby White have combined on 63 innings, allowing 64 hits and striking out 80 with a 2.48ERA and six victories. The Wildcats have won 18 of the last 27 in the series, and eight of the last nine, including a 9-3 victory on opening night in 2022. You can hear all of the action between the Wildcats and Ravens, live tonight on AM 1380, FM 102.5 and KCIIradio.com, beginning with the Washington HyVee Pregame Show at 6:30 and first pitch at 7p.m. from Cedar Rapids.