Baseball & Softball Weekly Recap
Ravens Run It Up in Mercy Rule Win Over Lions in Area Baseball Game of the Week – June 27, 2026 – BSBL
Article Credit: Brendan Schnoebelen/KCII
The Hillcrest Academy Raven baseball team used a seven run third inning on their way to a 14-4 mercy rule win over the Lone Tree Lions in the Area Baseball Game of the Week.
The Ravens opened the scoring in the bottom of the opening frame with four runs off two hits to take an early advantage. The lead grew to five after two, before Lone Tree began tallying their runs for the night in the top of the third thanks to a sac fly by Kort Kemp and a two-RBI single by Jackson Lyon to pull back within two. However, the Raven offense would respond with seven in the bottom half to stretch the lead once again 12-3 into the fourth. After Hillcrest plated a pair more, Lone Tree was faced with an early ending, which came to fruition when only one run could be scored by the Lion offense in the top of the fifth before three outs were recorded, ending the contest via the 10-run mercy rule.
Hillcrest head coach Danny Hershberger joined KCII Sports live on the Area Baseball Game of the Week postgame show to talk about the win, “ I liked our approach at the plate. I thought we did a good job of putting it in play and putting pressure on Lone Tree to make some plays. And I thought we found the barrel a lot. It’s a good thing to be doing that this time of year,” Hershberger said. “Another really good outing from Ethan [Yoder] tonight. Came out and did a great job of throwing strikes and making the offense earn their way on base, and that’s what we’ve got to do more of is continue to not give up freebies and he did a good job of that tonight and just has been that solid senior force when we need a good outing. He comes up and steps up and does that for us. And been trying to get Calvin [Meller] a few innings, and he did a good job coming in and pitching that last inning, and getting us out of here with the win tonight.”
The win moves Hillcrest to 9-7, dropping Lone Tree to 1-17.
Top 15 Huskies Run Away From Ravens Late – June 27, 2026 – SB
The No. 13 Highland softball team completed a regular season sweep of Hillcrest Academy with a 12-0 win over the Ravens in Kalona. Highland got on top early with one in the first and two more in the second. They added another insurance tally in the fifth to make it 4-0, then exploded for eight runs in the seventh, batting all the way through the order. The Huskies had nine hits to the Ravens two. Kinzie Reuss led the Highland hit parade with three knocks, two RBI and two runs scored. Maiya Singbeil and Katelyn Thoman also drove in two. Ella Schlabaugh and Adley Sweeting each added two hits and Siena Bell and Henlee Petersen each scored twice. Jillian Stransky was the winner in the circle with six and a third innings of work, one hit, no runs and five strikeouts. Joslyn Prottsman recorded the final two outs. For Hillcrest, Isabelle Vigneron and Claire Miller each had a single. Lyla Genkinger threw six innings with six hits, three earned runs, nine walks and two strikeouts. Afterward Highland was 10-3, Hillcrest 5-14.
Ravens Beaten By Nikes and Crusaders – June 30, 2026 – BSBL/SB
The Hillcrest Academy Raven baseball and softball teams dropped a pair of games to South Division Southeast Iowa Superconference teams. Raven baseball was downed by Burlington Notre Dame 13-3 in six innings. The contest was scoreless to the third when the Ravens got one in the top half, The Nikes got two in the bottom to go on top 2-1. Hillcrest would wrestle the advantage back with two in the fifth to lead 3-2. Notre Dame took command for good, batting around in the bottom of fifth, scoring eight times, then ending the game early with a three-run sixth. Notre Dame out hit Hillcrest 12-7. Kyler Cameron drove in three on two hits for the Nikes, Landry Haberichter and Eli Oleson had two each. Tatum Warner was the winning pitcher with six innings, seven hits, three earned runs and five strikeouts. Rylan Good, Lawson Schrock and Kellen Miller each drove in a run. Good and Danny Meyer had two hits each. Rowan Miller took the loss in four and two thirds innings with seven hits, three earned runs and four strikeouts. The Nikes were 15-7, Hillcrest 8-7.
The Raven softballers were beaten 8-0 by Holy Trinity Catholic. The Crusaders won the hit column 12-3, led by a two hit, two RBI day for Sydney Jarvis. Morgan Krogmeier also drove in a pair. Jarvis was the winning pitcher with five frames, three hits, a walk and six strikeouts. Hillcrest had a hit each from Isabelle Vigneron, Annika Schrock and Emma Parizek. Ella Mize took the pitching loss in four innings with 12 hits, eight earned runs, four walks and a strikeout. HTC ran their record to 18-5 with the win, the Ravens 6-15.
Hillcrest baseball holds on to top Winfield-Mt. Union – July 1, 2026 – BSBL
Article Credit: Cori Jobman
The Hillcrest academy baseball team held firm defensively and took advantage of mistakes by Winfield-Mt. Union to grit out a 2-1 victory Monday night.
The Wolves jumped out to a 1-0 lead thanks to an RBI single from pitcher Trevor Phillips, but they left a window open in the bottom of the fourth that the Ravens took advantage of.
A single and an error allowed Lincoln Miller and Rylan Good to reach base representing the tying and go-ahead runs. Another error on a Kellen Miller chopper scored Lincoln and advanced Good to third. Good saw an opportunity on a passed ball and took it, sliding safely into home for what ended up being the winning run.
Beckett Miiller came in to shut the door, collecting a save with two shutout innings to end the game.
The loss broke a two-game losing streak for the Ravens, who lost to Central Lyon and Saint Ansgar in a tournament in Waterloo over the weekend.
Hillcrest rallies past Lone Tree to avenge earlier loss – July 1, 2026 – SB
Article Credit: Cori Jobman/The News
The runs came early and often for the Hillcrest softball team on Thursday, as the Ravens knocked off Lone Tree 6-4.
Strong defense for Hillcrest and five Lone Tree errors allowed the Ravens to build an early lead, as they scored one run in the first and third innings and two in the second and fifth to build a 6-0 lead.
Four straight singles for the Lions built a rally in the top of the sixth as Lone Tree cut its deficit to two, but pitcher Lyla Genkinger settled back in for a shutout seventh to end the game.
Isabelle Vigneron led the Ravens with two hits, two runs and three stolen bases, while Ella Mize had the biggest individual swing of the night with a two-RBI single.
Genkinger struck out eight in her complete game win.
For Lone Tree, Abby Zaruba led the way on both sides of the ball, delivering 10 strikeouts in the circle and two hits at the plate.
Hillcrest closed the week with an 8-0 loss at Holy Trinity Catholic.