KALONA

Mediapolis (9-1) has been off to a hot start this season and they continue to blaze a path of success as they went on the road and vaulted past Hillcrest (2-1) in a 16-1 mercy rule victory last Friday. 

From the jump the Bulldogs attacked as they put six runs on the board in the first. Mediapolis added three more runs to their lead in the second.

Liam Schrock made it home to give Hillcrest its first run of the game in the third but Mediapolis responded with seven runs in the fourth. The Ravens were shut out in the bottom of the fourth which clinched the mercy rule win for the Bulldogs.

Mediapolis sophomore Henry Luttenegger and junior Max Griffin both connected on a home run. Luttenegger finished with a team leading four RBIs and Griffin ended with three.

Kyler Crow was the winning pitcher for the Bulldogs as the junior struck out seven while allowing one hit and four walks.

Junior pitcher Rowan Miller got the start for Hillcrest and he ended the night with one strikeout.

Van Buren County 3, Hillcrest 2

Hosting another non-conference matchup, the Ravens were defeated by Van Buren County (5-6) last Monday. 

Hillcrest took an early lead after scoring two runs in the first inning. The Warriors eventually tied the game after scoring a single run in the fourth and then another in the sixth.

In the pivotal seventh inning Van Buren scored what ended up being the game winning run as Hillcrest was not able to respond in the bottom of the inning.

Hillcrest totaled four hits on offense with those hits coming from Liam Schrock, Rowan Miller, Mason Helmuth, and Phoenix Anderson. Schrock also went the distance on the mound as the senior finished with two strikeouts while allowing two walks.

Up next for Hillcrest (2-2) is a road conference matchup against Winfield-Mt Union (1-6).