Miller’s complete game lifts Ravens over Huskies

A complete game from senior pitcher Rowan Miller allowed the Hillcrest Academy baseball team to continue its hot start on Tuesday with a 10-1 victory over conference rival Highland.

The Ravens gave their ace immediate run support Tuesday with a four-run top of the first against Highland ace Bryce Hazelett, a lead which the Ravens wouldn’t look back from.

Highland’s offense showed momentary signs of life in the first inning, as junior Brock Nebergall singled and came around to score on an error, but Miller shut the Huskies down from there, shutting them out the rest of the way.

“I was able to mix my fastball and offspeed, so the balls they were putting in play weren’t hit incredibly well and were easy plays for my defense behind me,” Rowan said of his performance on the mound.

The Ravens went on to add one in the third, two in the fourth and three in the sixth to close out the game.

Each of the first six hitters in the Raven lineup scored a run Tuesday night, while Lincoln Miller, Lawson Schrock and Kale Bailey tied for a team-high two RBIs in the outing.

“I feel like I was just really seeing the ball really well against Hazelett,” Lincoln said. “He gave me fastballs and I was ready for them, putting them in play.”

The win improved the Ravens to 3-0 on the year.

For Highland, the loss represented the team’s third consecutive loss after a 3-0 start.

Mediapolis 17, Hillcrest 5

The No. 12 team in 2A, the Mediapolis Bulldogs, pounced on the Ravens on Friday in a 17-5 four-inning affair.

The Ravens jumped out to an early lead over the SEISC South Division leaders, leading 3-1 after the first inning, but the Bulldogs chased starting pitcher Lincoln Miller off the mound in the second, plating seven runs in the frame to take the lead. The game snowballed from there, as the Bulldogs hit .630 in a dominant offensive performance.

Van Buren County 12, Hillcrest 11

The Ravens fell to the Van Buren Warriors in walk-off fashion on Monday by a final score of 12-11.

The Ravens led as late as the sixth inning, when a four-run burst gave Hillcrest an 11-9 lead, but the Warriors scored two in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game. Needing only a single run, Van Buren found it in the bottom of the seventh to walk the Ravens off.

Rowan Miller hit his second home run of the year to spark the Hillcrest offense, while junior Kale Bailey led the team with three RBIs.