It’s a battle for first place in the Southeast Iowa Superconference North division this afternoon at Hillcrest Union when the Highland Huskies meet up with the home Hillcrest Academy Ravens in a game you can hear on the KCII3 Stream.

The Ravens improved to 9-6 overall with a home win last night against the Columbus/Winfield-Mt. Union Wolves. Hillcrest is batting with a .251 average, carries a .383 OBP and a .327 slug, with 93 runs on 87 hits and 75 RBI. The Ravens have caught fire in conference play thanks to senior Liam Schrock, who currently has the second best slug in the North division at .676 on six extra base hits, including three home runs. The Hillcrest pitching staff has been just as stellar, having allowed only 47 runs, 36 earned, on 63 hits, 29 walks to 71 punchouts, a .206 opponent average, 3.02 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP. Seth Ours’ 0.56 WHIP is fifth best in Class 1A.

Highland is 0-2 on the week after combined 23-3 losses to Hillcrest Monday and Lone Tree last evening. This year, the Huskies have scored 70 runs on 78 hits with 44 batted in, good for a .248 average, .376 OBP and a .295 slug. Three Huskies bat .300 or better, with Colten Sypherd at .500 on the year. Logan McFarland’s 15 runs are tied for the most in the SEISC North. As a staff, Highland has allowed 79 runs, 51 earned, on 75 hits, 45 walks to 65 strikeouts, a .227 opponent average, 4.30 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP. Eighth-grader Noah Hartzler’s 0.88 ERA leads the team, while Sypherd has racked up the most Ks at 16.

In the Varsity Bound era, Hillcrest holds a slim 16-15 series lead over Highland after Monday’s 9-0 win in Riverside, and has won the last four matchups.

You can hear today’s baseball matchup between Highland and Hillcrest streaming online at KCIIRadio.com on the KCII3 Stream and on the KCII3 App, beginning with pregame coverage at 12:30 and first pitch between the Huskies and Ravens to follow at 1 p.m. from Kalona.