On the doorstep to the state, Hillcrest and the No. 8 ranked Burlington Notre Dame Nikes converged at Community Field in Burlington on July 11 to battle it out in the Class 1A Substate 5 Final. 

Despite pushing the Nike’s to the limit with a late rally the Ravens could not complete the comeback and fell to Burlington Notre Dame, 4-3. Coming up just short of advancing to the state tournament, Hillcrest’s winningest season since 2009 ends with a 21-5 record. 

“Obviously this wasn’t the result we wanted, just really proud of how our guys continued to compete and got ourselves back in the game after the start we had,” Hillcrest coach Danny Hershberger said.

“Our guys accomplished a lot this season and there is a lot to be proud of, the guys put in a lot of time and hard work that went a long way in making the season as successful as it was.”

This game saw Hillcrest fall behind early. An error, an errant throw to first, by the Ravens in the bottom of the second led to Burlington Notre Dame scoring two runs to take a 3-0 lead. 

In large part to the miscue on the throw to first this was the only inning the Nikes scored multiple runs in. Not letting the feeling of success Burlington Notre Dame harbored after scoring three runs linger, Hillcrest locked in on defense to limit the Nikes’ offense going forward. 

“The guys have done a great job all season of moving on to the next play,” Hershberger said about how his team’s defense responded after the second inning. “We know we are not going to be perfect all the time and when a bad play happens to be successful you have to be able to quickly move on and make the next play and our guys did a good job of doing that to only allow one more run the rest of the game.”

Two innings went by before the Nikes scored their last run of the game in the bottom of the fifth to increase their lead to four. 

With only two innings left to mount a comeback Hillcrest went to work in the top of the sixth. Three consecutive base hits by senior Jace Rempel, freshman Rowan Miller, and senior Grant Bender loaded the bases. After a strikeout sophomore Mason Bender brought in Rempel for the Raven’s first run of the game by getting hit by a pitch, which also resulted in the bases to continue to be loaded. 

Determined to not let this golden opportunity go to waste sophomore Liam Schrock provided a big hit for Hillcrest. His base hit flew deep into the outfield, allowing Miller and Grant to make it home. 

Scoring three runs to cut their deficit to just a single run the Ravens, with their backs against the wall, showed the dynamic perseverance and fortitude they possess that has defined them all season long. 

“As the game went on, we did a better job adjusting to the strike zone and started to hit the ball hard. The guys did a great job of sticking with it at the plate and we were able to put the ball in play to get guys home after stranding guys on base earlier in the game,” Hershberger said.

Shutting the Nikes out in the next inning Hillcrest looked to tie or take the lead in the top of the seventh. Unfortunately for the Ravens it was not meant to be. 

A double play by the Burlington Notre Dame defense, force outs at second and first base, snatched the wind out of Hillcrest’s comeback sails. Burlington Notre Dame’s first baseman caught a line drive for the third out to end the inning, the game, and Hillcrest’s season.

Going the distance on the mound for Hillcrest was sophomore Seth Ours. In six innings Ours struck out three batters, gave up four hits, and allowed only one earned run. 

The curtains close on a terrific Hillcrest baseball season that saw 20 plus wins, a conference title for the first time since 2009, and becoming district champions. Hillcrest will say goodbye to its four seniors: Jace Rempel, Josiah Beachy, Luke Schrock, and Grant Bender.