The Hillcrest Academy Raven baseball and softball teams get the 2025 season started tonight with a trip to Packwood to take on the Pekin Panthers in a Southeast Iowa Superconference set. Hillcrest baseball was 16-5 last season, 9-2 champions of the North Division of the Superconference, their second straight division title. The Ravens hit .273 as a team with a .421OBP and .363 slug, scoring 174 runs on 156 hits, 136RBI, 125 walks and 157 strikeouts. On the mound, the Ravens had a team ERA of 3.04 with a 1.29 staff WHIP, surrendering a .233 opponent average on 129 hits, 60 earned runs, 50 walks and 114 strikeouts. Hillcrest brings back their entire roster from a season ago, including seven All-Superconference selections in Liam Schrock, Seth Ours, Rowan Miller, Phoenix Anderson, Mason Helmuth, Mason Bender and Lawson Schrock. Miller and Liam Schrock were named All-District and Danny Hershberger was named Superconference Coach of the Year for the second straight season.

Pekin baseball was 9-10 overall, 8-4 in the Superconference. The Panthers hit .255 as a club with a .355OBP and .330 slug, scoring 90 runs on 129 hits, 71 RBI, 56 walks and 125 strikeouts. Four Panthers hit .300 or better including leader and returner Henry Adam with a .369 average as a freshman with 24 hits and 14 runs, both best on the team. Alijah Brock and his Panther best 11RBI return. On the hill, Pekin had a team ERA of 3.52 with a .173 opponent average on 98 hits, 61 earned runs, 75 walks and 169 strikeouts. Adam also returns as the staff leader with a 1-1 record and 1.42ERA. The Ravens have won five of the last six in the series, but it was a split in 2024, with the Ravens winning 8-4 and Pekin 2-0. This week, Hillcrest head coach Danny Hershberger talked with KCII Sports about what has him excited for this year’s team.

Hershberger said, “The experience that we have and the excitement the guys are bringing to practice every day. They want to get better and want to have another really good season and they are putting in the hard work to get there. Hitting has been better each practice and we want to continue to improve that. This time of year it’s about early success, in the cage, in the field, or live at bats, and what we have done has been encouraging so far.”

The Hillcrest softball team starts their year tonight against Pekin. The Ravens were 12-14 a year ago, their most overall wins since 2013, finishing 8-7, fourth in the Southeast Iowa Superconference North. Hillcrest returns their entire lineup that hit .303 last year with a .411OBP and .409 slug with 187 runs on 191 hits, 145RBI, 105 walks and 196 strikeouts. In the circle, they return both pitchers that saw time last year with Malia Yoder and Kylee Statler, who combined to work 140 innings with a 5.01ERA, allowing a .215 opponent average, 165 hits, 100 earned runs, 108 walks and 174 strikeouts. Malia Yoder, Delaney Shaw, Morgyn Nafziger and Claire Withrow were each selected All-Southeast Iowa Superconference with Yoder joining the All-District and 1A All-State teams.

Pekin was 4-22 last year, 3-12 in the Superconference. They hit .300 as a group with a .366OBP, and .364 slug with 138 runs, 181 hits, 102RBI, 46 walks and 116 strikeouts. The Panthers also return their full lineup in 2025, which had three hitters over .300 last year, led by Myah Bainbridge at .552 with 37 hits, 32RBI and 23 runs scored. In the circle, the full Panther pitching staff after a season with an 11.11ERA, 3.21WHIP, and .268 opponent average on 232 hits, 201 earned runs, 174 walks and 95 strikeouts. Addison Smith led with three wins and an 8.90ERA. Hillcrest head coach Kent Blossom talked this week with KCII Sports about what has him excited for the upcoming season.

Blossom said, “Seeing the quick development of our younger players. We have a strong incoming freshman class this year. There’s quite a bit of talent in that core group, that could add talent to our varsity roster.”

The Ravens have won the last four in the series including a sweep last season. Baseball starts at 5:30p.m. And softball at seven tonight in Packwood.