Hillcrest outlasts WMU in high-scoring affair

By Giovanni Coronel
Posted 6/7/23

In what turned into a high-scoring contest for both teams involved it was Hillcrest on their home field who was able to outlast the Winfield-Mt Union Wolves, with a final score of 16-12 in …

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Hillcrest outlasts WMU in high-scoring affair

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In what turned into a high-scoring contest for both teams involved it was Hillcrest on their home field who was able to outlast the Winfield-Mt Union Wolves, with a final score of 16-12 in Hillcrest’s favor, on June 2. 

With this game being a conference battle between two teams residing in the Southeast Iowa Super Conference this win not only improved Hillcrest’s record to 3-2 overall it also improved its conference record to 2-2. 

Hillcrest came into this game with a scoring mindset, scoring three runs in the first and second innings to take a 6-1 lead. WMU would not go away quietly, scoring twice in the third to cut its deficit to three. 

While the Ravens were unable to score in the bottom of the third they did come close. Freshman Stavia Miller, who finished the game with two hits, managed to rocket the ball deep into the outfield.  

She took off running and made it to third base before the ball got there, but she couldn’t stop all of her momentum and her foot came off the bag for a brief moment, resulting in the third baseman simply reaching her arm out to tag Miller out. 

After that missed opportunity the Ravens would erupt in points in the fifth inning, scoring seven times to give themselves a 13-4 lead. The Wolves would try to battle back in the sixth, scoring four runs, but Ravens would respond with three runs scored of their own. 

WMU had one last chance to tie the game or take the lead in the top of the seventh inning, but they were only able to score four runs and the game would end with Hillcrest victorious, 16-12. 

These 16 points were the most the Ravens scored all season and the Hillcrest player who had a knack of reaching home in this game was sophomore Morgyn Nafziger. Nafziger scored a team high four runs and ended the game with three RBIs. 

Scoring three runs for Hillcrest was sophomore Malia Yoder. Yoder connected on two hits to go along with three runs scored and one RBI. Along with being one of the better Raven batters she was also tasked with pitching the entire game. 

Yoder pitched all seven innings and ended this contest with five shoutouts. She faced 42 batters, allowed 10 hits, and walked nine WMU batters.

 

Hillcrest 13, Pekin 6

Bouncing back from its first loss of the season Hillcrest stayed home to battle against the Pekin Panthers and walked away victorious, 13-6, on May 30. This win gave Hillcrest a 2-1 record, the first time they have reached this record since 2012. 

In what was a competitive matchup at the start, with Hillcrest holding a two point advantage after two innings played, the Ravens would start to firmly separate from Pekin in the bottom of the fourth inning. Hillcrest scored three runs in the fourth to give themselves an 8-3 lead. 

The Panthers would respond with one run scored of their own in the fifth but Hillcrest would top them and then some, scoring four in the fifth to really put this game out of reach. Pekin would score two more in the sixth with Hillcrest scoring one, but with a scoreless seventh this would be the final score, giving the Ravens a 13-6 win. 

Hillcrest sophomore Lydia Beachy would record a team high four RBIs while connecting on two hits and scoring one run. Sophomores Malia Yoder and Morgyn Nafziger would bring in three runs each while sophomore Delaney Shaw brought in a team high four runs scored.

Yoder, as a pitcher, would allow three earned runs and nine hits. She pitched all seven innings and would strike out 11 Pekin batters. 

 

Mediapolis 14, Hillcrest 5

Getting to play at home for the third time in four games, Hillcrest hosted the Mediapolis Bulldogs on June 5. Hillcrest came into this game with the hope of securing back-to-back victories, but those hopes were dashed by the Bulldogs, who emerged the victors with a final score of 14-5. 

Mediapolis was able to build up a quality 8-0 lead before Hillcrest finally put points on the board in the bottom of the third with three runs scored. After a scoreless fourth between both teams the Bulldogs would score one run while the Ravens would score its final two runs of the game. 

In the sixth Mediapolis would score five more times to bring its lead up to 14-5 and the score would remain that way for the rest of the game. This was the fourth time this season Hillcrest has allowed its opponent to reach double digits. 

Hillcrest (3-3) traveled to Riverside and faced off against Highland (4-4) on June 6 and then they went on the road and battled against Van Buren County (7-3) on June 7. Up next for the Ravens will be hosting Columbus (3-4) on June 8 and then traveling to take on Lone Tree (3-5) on June 9. Hillcrest will cap off its week on the road yet again when they face off against New London (0-6) on June 12.