LONE TREE

A rematch was on the docket when the Ravens went on the road to battle the Lions in a Southeast Iowa Super Conference showdown. 

In their second matchup of the season, the Ravens once again emerged victorious over the Lions, 10-5, on June 18. 

Hillcrest (11-2) remains on top of the SEISC with this win with a 7-1 record while Lone Tree (4-9) sees their conference record drop to 3-4 

Lone Tree took the first lead of the game when they scored one run in the first. The run was batted in by junior Jack Patterson, connecting with the ball for a base hit. 

After two scoreless innings, Hillcrest junior Liam Schrock took it upon himself to get his team on the board. Up to bat in the third with two outs, Schrock hit his second home run of the season to tie the game. 

This was just the beginning of an excellent hitting performance from Schrock. The standout junior was one base hit away from a cycle, going three for four at bat, hitting a double, a triple, and a HR. 

Schrock’s impressive one run homer got the ball rolling for the Raven’s offense as they scored one run in the fourth to take the lead and then put together a five-run inning in the fifth to take full control of the game. 

A key component to those successful innings for Hillcrest was Lawson Schrock. The talented freshman batted in one run in the fourth and two more in the fifth to arrive at a team best three RBIs. 

After the Ravens added three more to their lead in the top of the sixth, Lone Tree answered in the bottom of the inning when senior Ethan Bockelman went up to bat. 

With two outs and the bases loaded Bockelman sent the ball flying far far away for a grand slam. This was the senior’s first HR of the season, and it scored four to cut their deficit to five. This ended up being the last runs of the game with both teams going scoreless in the seventh.

Hillcrest sophomore Rowan Miller collected his third win of the season, pitching in seven innings, striking out seven, giving up six hits, and allowing three walks.  

The loss on the mound for Lone Tree went to Patterson. The junior pitched in five and one third of an inning, giving up seven hits, allowing three walks, and retiring four batters. 

Central Lee 7, Hillcrest 1

In what was their first home loss of the season, the Ravens (11-3) were defeated by the Central Lee Hawks (10-5) on June 19. 

The Hawks put up three in the second to take a lead they would sustain for the entire game. 

After four scoreless innings, Hillcrest scored once in the fifth which ended up being their lone run of the contest. Central Lee scored twice in the sixth and the seventh to arrive at their final score of seven. 

The Ravens had five hits as a team with Liam Schrock leading the way with two. Taking the loss on the mound was Phoenix Anderson. The junior had five strikeouts, gave up five hits, and allowed four walks in six innings. 

Hillcrest 12, Danville 2

Bouncing back from a loss, the Ravens (12-3) collected their eighth home win of the season when they defeated the Danville Bears (3-11) on June 22. 

Winning in five innings, Hillcrest held a 4-2 lead after three innings played before completely taking over the game by scoring eight in the fourth.    

In a complete team effort, the Ravens had seven hits with each hit coming from a different player. Those players were Phoenix Anderson, Liam Schrock, Seth Ours, Rowan Miller, Mason Helmuth, Mason Bender, and Lawson Schrock.

Obtaining a team leading two RBIs each was Anderson and Miller.

Pitching in all five innings for Hillcrest was Lawson Schrock. The freshman struck out one, gave up three hits, and walked none. 

Hillcrest 8, Van Buren 3

A steady stream of scoring propelled the Ravens to victory on the road when they defeated the Van Buren County Warriors (7-13) on June 24.

The Warriors took the lead with a single run in the first, but Hillcrest scored four in the second and two more in the third to take control of the game. After five innings, Hillcrest had a 8-2 lead before Van Buren scored once more in the sixth to arrive at the final score. 

It was a well rounded offensive effort for Hillcrest as they had Liam Schrock, Mason Helmuth, Lawson Schrock, Lincoln Miller, and Micah Gerber all recording a team high two hits 

Liam Schrock was the winning pitcher, striking out two, giving up five hits, and allowing two walks. 

Up next for Hillcrest (13-3) is a road game against the Wapello Indians (3-14) on June 27.