Baseball & Softball Weekly Recap

Photo Credit: Hillcrest Academy Yearbook & Cori Jobman/The News

Falcons Fly By Ravens in Superconference Shut Outs; Klocksiem K’s 20 – June 17, 2026 – BSBL & SB
Article Credit: KCII

It was a tough trip to Letts for the Hillcrest Academy Raven baseball and softball teams last week as both fell in shut outs to the Louisa-Muscatine Falcons. The boys contest featured one of the best pitching performances in the state this year from Owen Klocksiem, holding the Ravens down in a 6-0 win. Klocksiem struck out 20 Hillcrest hitters, recording every out by punchout but one, and allowing two total base-runners on the night on two hits. The Falcon offense, led by two RBI from Chase Loving handled the rest, scoring twice in the second, three times in the fourth and once in the sixth. The Hillcrest hits came from Lincoln and Beckett Miller. Calvin Meller and Lincoln Miller split the pitching duties, working six innings with six hits, five earned runs, 10 walks and three combined strikeouts with Miller tagged for the loss. The Ravens went to 4-3 with the result, L-M 5-6.

On the softball diamond the top-ranked team in 2A flexed their muscles with the Falcons scoring a 10-0 win in four frames. L-M posted eight in the first and added single runs in the second and third to end proceedings early. Hillcrest was out hit 10-4 in the matchup. Eight of the nine Falcons in the lineup had a hit and eight of the nine an RBI, led by two hits and two driven in for Jersey Ramer. Grace Hoopes tossed the four hit shortened shut out, striking out four. Ella Mize had two hits for Hillcrest, Claire Miller and Annika Schrock one apiece. The Ravens stood at 3-9 after the contest, L-M 13-1.

Ravens Swept at Van Buren – June 15, 2025 – BSBL & SB
Article Credit: Zach Ulin/KCII

The Hillcrest Academy boys and girls of summer came up short in both ends of a Southeast Iowa Superconference doubleheader at Van Buren. The Raven boys lost a seesaw affair 12-11. Van Buren led 3-0 after the first, the Ravens got on the board to make it 3-2 in the second. The Warriors pushed it to 4-2 in their half, before Hillcrest took their first lead of the night with three in the fourth at 5-4. That was answered by a Van Buren five spot to push back in front 9-5. A pair for Hillcrest in the fifth and four more in the sixth saw them climb back on top 11-9. The home team would have the final say, with Van Buren scoring two in the sixth and walking things off in their last at bat. Hillcrest out hit Van Buren 10-9. Colton Kirkhart led the Warriors with two hits and three RBI. Rylan Good had a three hit day for Hillcrest, Kale Bailey had three RBI. Rowan Miller added two hits and two RBI each. Calvin Meller scored four times. Meller took the loss on the mound with an earned run on two walks. The Ravens were 3-2 following the loss, Van Buren moved to 3-7.

The Raven girls were on the wrong end of a 15-5 count after four frames. Van Buren took control, putting a touchdown on the board in their first at bat. They added on six more in the second to lead 13-0 after two. The Ravens got on the board in the third with a tally, to be answered by the Warriors two in the bottom half. Hillcrest pushed four runs across in the fourth but couldn’t extend the contest. Ashlynn Huff led the Warrrior bats with three hits, three RBI and two runs scored. Lizzie Camp was the winning pitcher, spinning four innings with three hits, one earned run and a strikeout. On the Hillcrest side, Lyla Genkinger had two hits with an RBI. Amelia Vigneron drove in one and Isabelle Vigneron, Claire Miller and Emma Parizek each had one hit. The Ravens dropped to 3-7 with the loss as Van Buren goes to 5-7.

Ravens Swept at Van Buren – June 15, 2025
Article Credit: Zach Ulin/KCII

Raven Softball Splits at Warriorette Invite – June 13, 2026 – SB
Article Credit: Zach Ulin/KCII

The Hillcrest Academy Raven softball team won one and dropped on at last weekend’s triangular at HLV. The day opened with a 2-1 loss to the Baxter Bolts. The Bolts, the home team on the board, posted a pair of runs in the first and made that stand up the rest of the day. Hillcrest cut the lead in half in the fourth but could get no closer. Baxter out hit Hillcrest 7-6 in total. Leading Bolt bat was Lillian Grunstead with a three for three day. Emileigh Beals drove in two. Katt Wing got the win, throwing a complete game with six hits, an earned run and a strikeout. For the Ravens, It was a two-hit day each for Brynna Boshart and Annika Schrock. Lyla Genkinger had an RBI. Ella Mize took the tough-luck-loss with six innings, two earned runs, a walk and eight strikeouts.

Hillcrest got their revenge on the home team in game two, beating HLV 7-2. The game was scoreless into the fourth, where the Ravens got one, then two more in the fifth to open a 3-0 lead. The Warriorettes answered back with two in the bottom half, but Hillcrest poured it on with four in the sixth to put the game out of reach. This week, Hillcrest head coach Kent Blossom talked about his team’s ability to bounce back in the second contest. “Against a good HLV team, we got out to a little bit of a slow start offensively. We did get things rolling in the latter half of the game. Ella Mize, Izzy Vigneron, Claire Miller had multiple-hit games. We played really well defensively behind Lyla (Genkinger) who was in the circle for us. She’s going to always go out and compete for us.”

Hillcrest won the hit column 10-3. Two each for Isabelle Vigneron, Claire Miller and Ella Mize. Brynna Boshart, Vigneron, Annika Schrock, Ruth Witthoft, Bria Ropp and Mize each drove in a run. Lyla Genkinger got the pitching win with six innings, four hits, no earned runs and six strikeouts. Hillcrest was 3-6 following the weekend, HLV 5-4 and Baxter 2-9.

Ravens Swept By MEPO – June 12, 2026 – BSBL/SB
Article Credit: Zach Ulin/KCII

The Hillcrest Academy Raven baseball and softball teams both suffered setbacks at Mediapolis Friday. The boys were beaten 17-5. Hillcrest started hot, leading 3-1 after the first, but the Bulldogs put a touchdown on the board in the second, four more in the third and followed that with five more in the fourth. The Ravens scored single runs in each of the second and fourth innings. The Bulldogs out hit the Ravens 17-5 in total. Brock Spears had four RBI for the home team and Gannon Gunn was the winning pitcher, going two innings with two hits, a walk and no runs. On the Raven side, Kellen Miller had two hits, Rowan Miller, Rylan Good and Kale Bailey one each. Rowan Miller, Good, Lawson Schrock and Beckett Miller each had an RBI. Bailey scored twice. Lincoln Miller took the loss on the mound in one and two thirds with nine hits, six earned runs, a walk and a strikeout. The Raven record dropped to 3-1 while MEPO improved to 7-2.

The girls matchup saw the Bullettes beat Hillcrest, 9-0 in five innings. The Bullettes scored in each at bat, one in the first, two each in the second and third and a four spot in the fourth. MEPO out hit Hillcrest 8-2 on the night. Maycie Thornburg had three RBI on two hits with two runs scored to lead the Bullettes at the plate. Payton Harris recorded the win in the circle with five innings, two hits and eight strikeouts. Isabelle Vigneron and Lyla Genkinger each had a hit for Hillcrest. Genkinger worked four frames in the circle with eight hits, eight earned runs, two walks and four strikeouts. Mediapolis was 6-3 with the result, Hillcrest 2-5.

Ravens Roll Past Cats – June 11, 2026 – SB
Article Credit: Zach Ulin/KCII

The Hillcrest Academy Raven softball team defended their home diamond against the Columbus Wildcats with a 14-1 win. Hillcrest out hit the visitors eight to one in total. Isabelle Vigneron had a big day at the plate with three hits, three RBI and a pair of runs scored for the Ravens. Ava Miller also had two hits, drove in two and scored twice. Annika Schrock and Lyla Genkinger each had a pair of RBI. Schrock, and Ella Mize each scored twice. In the circle, Genkinger was the winner in four innings allowing a hit, three walks and striking out three. For Columbus, Kaylee McCullough had the lone hit, Ivy Dennler worked the circle, allowing seven hits, six earned runs, six walks and striking out two. The Ravens moved to 2-4 with the win, the Wildcats were 0-7.