Photo Courtesy of Hillcrest Academy Social Media
It’s a Friday doubleheader for the Hillcrest Academy Raven baseball and softball teams when they take on the Mediapolis Bullettes and Bulldogs in Kalona. The Hillcrest softball team is 2-3 on the year and in the Southeast Iowa Superconference, after a slugfest 14-12 loss to Columbus Thursday on the road. This year, the Ravens are hitting .272 as a group with a .449OBP and .388 slug, scoring 32 runs on 28 hits with 19RBI, 29 walks and 39 strikeouts. Individually, four Ravens are hitting .400 or better, led by Malia Yoder at .500. She and Erin Bontrager each have six total hits, Bontrager six RBI, Delaney Shaw six runs scored, and Morgyn Nafziger and Stavia Miller five walks each. In the circle, Yoder has worked all but two innings with a 3.04ERA and 1.70WHIP, allowing a .220 opponent average on 24 hits, 10 earned runs, 15 walks and 24 strikeouts for a 2-2 record.
The Bullettes are 4-2 on the year and 2-1 in the Superconference, after a 2-1 Thursday loss to Central Lee. MEPO has a .311 team average at the plate this year with a .382OBP and .467 slug for 32 runs, 52 hits, 29RBI, 13 walks and 42 strikeouts. Individually, four hitters are .400 or better with Payton Harris at .650 and 13 hits to lead. Delaney Griffith’s 11 RBI are best and Kenna Jankowski has scored six times. In the circle, Maddy Carter and Harris have combined on a 2.81ERA with a 1.06WHIP for a .210 opponent average, 37 hits, 17 earned runs, eight walks and 36 strikeouts. Mediapolis has won six of the last seven in the series including a 9-6 win last year. The Ravens last win in the series was 2022.
The Hillcrest boys are 2-0 this year, beating Danville and Wapello by a combined 25-0. They’re hitting .353 as a bunch with a .492OBP and .431 slug with 25 runs on 18 hits, 17RBI, 12 walks and 11 strikeouts. Individually, seven Ravens are .400 or better, led by Mason Bender’s .667 average and four hits. Rowan Miller has a team high five RBI and Seth Ours has scored five times. On the mound, Ours and Phoenix Anderson are 2-0 with no earned runs allowed a 0.40WHIP, and .033 opponent average, giving up one hit, three walks, and striking out 20. Ours threw a five inning no-hitter against Wapello.
Mediapolis is 8-1 this year and 3-0 in conference, handling Central Lee 6-0 last time out. The Bulldogs hit .253 as a team this year with a .421OBP and .311 slug, scoring 64 runs on 57 hits, 53RBI, 61 walks and 55 strikeouts. Four are at .300 or better, led by Lance Luden’s .467. Will Luttenegger has a team best 11 hits. He and Kyler Crow have each scored 10 runs and Crow has driven in 10. The Bulldog arms have a 2.90 staff ERA and 1.47WHIP with a .167 opponent average, 45 hits, 24 earned runs, 40 walks and 62 strikeouts. Max Griffin is 3-0 without allowing an earned run. MEPO has won six of the last seven in the series including a 4-1 victory last year, the Ravens won in 2023. Baseball starts at 5:30 and softball at 7p.m. tonight in Kalona.