KALONA

An early season conference matchup between the visiting Lone Tree Lions and the home Hillcrest Ravens was turning into an excellent defensive showing for both teams. 

Each team was being equally stingy on defense. After five innings, Hillcrest had only given up one run and Lone Tree gave up two. 

The turning point came in the sixth when the Ravens found an answer on offense, scoring four more runs, leading Hillcrest taking the win over Lone Tree, 6-2, on May 28. 

Hillcrest got on the board first in the bottom of the second when junior Phoenix Anderson raced home after a pitching error. 

Lone Tree eventually responded in the top of the fourth when sophomore Emmett Burke hit an RBI double to bring home junior Emmett Burke. They were also able to escape the bottom of the fourth without giving up another run despite the bases being loaded for Hillcrest. 

Despite missing their chance in the bottom of the fourth, Hillcrest scored the next time they were up on offense when sophomore Rowan Miller hit an RBI double to bring in junior Seth Ours to give the Ravens a slim 2-1 lead. 

In the decisive sixth inning Lone Tree made a pitcher change from junior Jack Patterson to Burke. This change did not phase Hillcrest as they scored four runs to increase their lead to 6-1. Before the inning ended Lone Tree made another pitching change from Burke to freshman Owen Eden.

With one more inning left to play Lone Tree needed to tie or take the lead to extend the game and they began their comeback effort by scoring a run, off the bat of Harry Brenneman. 

Giving themselves a chance, the Lions were able to load up the bases with Brock Nebergall up to bat, but Hillcrest applied the brakes, getting Nebergall out at first to end the game. 

For Lone Tree they were led by Burke, who had a team high two hits, one run scored, and one RBI. On the mound Patterson had four strikeouts.

As a team Hillcrest had three hits with Ours, Miller, and Anderson all leading the team with one hit each. Ours’ hit was a double and it brought two Ravens home. 

Pitching all seven innings for Hillcrest was Anderson who allowed two runs, one walk, and retired 10 batters. 

Hillcrest 8, Pekin 4

It took extra innings, but the Ravens would not be denied and collected a conference win over the Pekin Panthers on May 30. 

After both teams scored a single run in the first the score remained tied until the fifth, where the Ravens put up two more runs to take the lead. Hillcrest added to their lead by scoring again in the next inning.

With only one inning in regulation left to play the Panthers did not go away quietly, scoring three runs to tie the score and push the game to extra innings.  

After a scoreless eighth, Hillcrest provided the difference maker by scoring four in the top of the ninth and then shut out Pekin in the bottom of the ninth to secure the win.

With six hits as a team, Hillcrest was led by Rowan Miller and Phoenix Anderson who both had two hits apiece. Mason Helmuth led the team in RBIs with two. 

Pitching all nine innings for Hillcrest and getting the win on the mound was Seth Ours. Ending the game with 101 pitches thrown, Ours struck out four Pekin batters, allowing nine hits and four runs. 

Up next for Hillcrest (3-0) is a home conference game against Wapello (2-4) on June 6.