The 2023 season is winding down on the softball diamond and the Hillcrest Academy Ravens take the field Friday for their final test of the regular season when they collide with the Columbus Wildcats in CJ. The Ravens are 7-15 this season, 4-9 in the Southeast Iowa Superconference North Division after dropping a Thursday contest to Highland in Kalona. The Ravens boast a .285 team average with 116 runs on 123 hits. Delaney Shaw is swinging at .440 with 22 hits. Malia Yoder has 23 runs scored and Lydia Beachy 20 RBI to lead the team. The Hillcrest staff has a 9.16 ERA with a .231 opponent average on 152 hits, 133 earned runs 126 walks and 107 strikeouts. Yoder has a 7-11 record with a 6.64 ERA.

Columbus is 10-8 this season, 8-4 in the Superconference North after pounding Pekin Thursday 14-1. The Wildcats are hitting .332 as a team with 123 runs on 140 hits. Lily Coil is crushing it at .608 with 31 hits, 21 RBI and 26 runs scored, all team highs. The Wildcat pitching staff has a 4.23 ERA with a .264 opponent average on 116 hits, 55 earned runs, 31 walks and 67 strikeouts. Coil is the leader there too, with a 6-4 record and 3.22 ERA. The Wildcats have beaten Hillcrest five of the last six meetings including a 13-0 win earlier this season. You can hear all of the action live Friday from Columbus Junction on FM 106.1 KCII and KCIIradio.com, beginning with the Jessica Yoder and Sarah Bigley with Lepic Kroeger Realtors Pregame Show at 6:30 and first pitch at 7p.m.