The Hillcrest Academy Raven baseball and softball teams are back in action Thursday. The Hillcrest boys hit the road for Winfield-Mt. Union and a conference matchup with the Wolves. The Ravens are 3-2 this year in conference and overall, after a 2-0 win over Lone Tree Tuesday. On the season, Hillcrest is hitting .257 as a group with a .368OBP and .301 slug on 30 runs with 29 hits, 21 driven in, 17 walks and 30 strikeouts. Individually, three are at .300 or better, led by Masons Helmuth and Bender at .357 each, with five total hits, Helmuth has six RBI and Rowan Miller and Seth Ours have each scored five times. On the mound, the team ERA is 3.75 with a 1.07WHIP, .157 opponent average 16 hits, 15 earned runs, 14 walks and 32Ks. Ours is 2-0 with a 0.55ERA.

Winfield-Mt. Union is 2-6 overall and 2-3 in league play after an 11-2 win over Wapello last night. WMU is hitting .305 as a team with a .404OBP and .352 slug, 42 runs on 65 hits with 35RBI, 32 walks and 62 strikeouts. Individually, six Wolves are .300 or better, led by Riley Kaalberg at .423 with 11 total hits. He and Graham Haines have each driven in six. Tyson Kaalberg and Kohlby Newsom have both scored six times. On the hill, the Wolves’ staff ERA is 4.71with a 1.76WHIP, and .198 opponent average with 51 hits, 33 earned runs, 35 walks and 44 strikeouts. Lane Genkinger is 1-1 with a 2.80ERA. The Ravens have won 22 of the last 25 in the series including 13 straight, with the Wolves last win coming in 2016.

The Hillcrest softball team is in Belle Plaine tonight. The Ravens are 3-7 overall and 2-6 in conference play, after a 15-4 loss to Lone Tree last time out, their third straight defeat. On the year, the Ravens are hitting .293 as a bunch with a .431OBP and .376 slug on 62 runs, 67 hits, 43RBI, 53 walks and 75 strikeouts. Four players are .300 or better, led by Malia Yoder’s .536 average and 15 total hits with nine RBI. Morgyn Nafziger has scored 11 times. In the circle, Yoder, Ella Mize and Lyla Genkinger have a 4.64ERA and 1.80WHIP on a .257 opponent average, 71 hits, 36 earned runs, 27 walks and 58 strikeouts.

Belle Plaine is winless this year in 13 games. They were beaten by North Mahaska 11-0 last night. They hit .277 as a lineup with a .347OBP and .329 slug on 24 runs, 43 hits, 15RBI, 11 walks and 34 strikeouts. Six players are .300 or better, led by Allison Hoover at .571. She and Taylor Johnson have eight hits, Claire Neuhaus has four RBI, and Johnson has scored five times. In the circle, the staff ERA is 15.80 with a 4.22WHIP, .281 opponent average, 75 hits, 76 earned runs, 67 walks and 11 strikeouts. Softball starts tonight at 5:30p.m. in Belle Plaine with baseball at 7:30p.m. in Winfield.