Baseball and Softball Weekly Recap

Article Credit: Zach Ulin/KCII

May 29, 2025 – SOFTBALL
Raven Softball Lights Up Scoreboard Against Panthers
There were fireworks Tuesday for the Hillcrest Academy Raven softball team in their season opener, winning at Pekin 13-8. The Ravens scored in every inning but the seventh, posting one each in the first, second and fifth innings, a pair in the third, and four each in the fourth and sixth. The Ravens out hit the Panthers 12-10 on the night, five of those for extra bases, and capitalized on nine walks, five stolen bases and three hit batters. It was a three hit night for Malia Yoder including a double and triple with two driven in and three runs scored. Erin Bontrager, Ella Mize and Marryn Boshart each had two hits, Boshart drove in four by herself, Bontrager and Mize one each. Stavia Miller scored three times and Delaney Shaw cracked a homer. Yoder got the win in the circle going all seven, giving up nine hits, eight runs, two earned with three walks and eight Ks. The Ravens are 1-0 on the young season and meet Wapello tonight.

May 30, 2025 – BASEBALL
Ours No-Hits Indians as Raven Bats Wallop Wapello in Five
It was a dominant performance top to bottom Thursday night in the season opener for the Hillcrest Academy Raven baseball team as they took care of Wapello 10-0 in five innings in Kalona. Hillcrest piled on the runs with one each in the second and third, a six spot in the fourth and two more in the fifth to end the contest early. Seth Ours was untouchable on the mound, throwing a shortened no-hitter, allowing just one base runner on a walk while striking out 13. Hillcrest pounded out seven hits as a team, took eight walks and were hit by two pitches. Mason Helmuth led the way at the plate with a three for three night, driving in three and scoring once. Rowan Miller and Mason Bender each had two hits with Miller driving in three and Bender one. Ours and Miller each scored twice. Hillcrest is now 1-0 with a trip to Danville Monday.

Arrows Run Away From Ravens Late – SOFTBALL
The Hillcrest Academy Raven softball team dropped their first game of the 2025 summer in a 10-3 loss to Wapello Thursday in Kalona. Things were scoreless until the third, when the Arrows scored four and the Ravens answered back with one in the bottom half. In the fifth Wapello extended the lead to 5-1, then Hillcrest cut the lead in half with a pair in the home half to leave the score at 5-3. Things stayed that way until the seventh when Wapello posted a five spot to put the game away.

The Arrows out hit the Ravens 10-7 in the game, each team drew six walks. Erin Bontrager had two hits, two walks and three driven in to lead Hillcrest. Delaney Shaw added a pair of hits and two runs scored. The Wapello bats were led by a three hit night with three runs scored and two driven in for Mila Jordan. Jaden Ecklund also drove in a pair on two hits. Jordan got the win in the circle going five and a third with seven hits allowed, two earned runs, four walks and seven strikeouts. Malia Yoder threw a complete game for Hillcrest with eight hits, four earned runs, six walks and seven Ks. After the contest each team stood at 1-1 on the year.

May 31, 2025 – SOFTBALL
Ten Run Third Hands Raven Softball Second Victory of Season in Area Game of the Week
The Hillcrest Academy Raven softball team captured their second victory of the week last night in a controlling 16-2 final score over the home WACO Warriors in the Area Game of the Week.

Hillcrest would plate the game’s first six runs before WACO sophomore Mei Leichty came across on a passed ball to pull within five. A strikeout and pop out later would end the Warrior damage at just a single run. The Ravens would enjoy their biggest offensive output of the night in the third, scoring 10 runs on two hits, one of which an RBI single that plated two by senior Erin Bontrager. While the Warriors would respond in the bottom half with a run of their own, it would not be enough for a comeback as WACO dropped their fourth game in as many days.

Unofficially, Hillcrest scored 16 runs on five hits and committed no errors. WACO scored two runs on a hit and four errors. Senior Malia Yoder took the win in the circle going the first two innings allowing one run on no hits, none earned, no walks and five punchouts. Leading the way in the win for the Ravens was Bontrager who went 2/3 with a single, a double, two RBI and a run of her own. Bontrager joined KCII Sports live on the Area Game of the Week postgame show to break down her night.

“It’s special for it to be our last year,” Bontrager said. “(On her hitting), Sometimes I always just watch the first ball go by and see what it’s like and then the next thing that goes through my head is just, ‘hit it, rip it down the line!’”

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