Photo Courtesy of Hillcrest Academy Yearbook
It was an exciting start to the Class 1A regional tournament for the Hillcrest Academy Raven softball team Monday night, as they walked-off the Montezuma Bravettes 11-10 in Kalona. After a Monty first inning run, Hillcrest scored twice in the first and three times in the second to build a 5-1 lead. The Montezuma answer was three in the third and two more in the fourth. The Ravens added a third inning tally and when the dust cleared through four, both teams were even at six. Following a scoreless fifth, the haymakers began again late. Each team dropped a pair of runs in the sixth, leaving the game even at eight into the seventh. Montezuma pushed Hillcrest to the brink, scoring twice in the top half. Down to the final three outs of their season, a furious Raven rally saw them stay alive to tie the contest, and Malia Yoder walk it off on a squeeze bunt that scored Morgyn Nafziger. This week, Hillcrest head coach Kent Blossom joined the KCII PM Sports Page to talk about the game, his team, the rally, the winning play and celebration.
Blossom said, “(Going to the seventh) I just told the girls, this is our opportunity. We got this! Stay within ourselves. Fortunately for us, we were able to score those two runs to tie it and put Morgyn (Nafziger) in a position at third base with one out and Malia (Yoder) and Delaney (Shaw) coming up. Malia put the bunt down, and with the speed of Morgyn at third base it was going to take a pretty incredible play by them to get her out. To end it like that, at our place, with a postseason win, is pretty tremendous! To come back together, rally and get that win is pretty special! Early, Ella Mize came through with a base hit to score two runs. Similarly, Claire Withrow had a base hit that scored two runs early. Annika Schrock had a multi-hit game. Stavia Miller had two hits as well. Combine that with the quality at the top of the order with Delaney, Malia and Morgyn, I can see why we had a good offensive night.”
Hillcrest out hit Monteuzma 12-9. Each team drew four walks. Yoder’s three hits, and three RBI, including the game-winners, with two runs scored led the way at the plate. Nafziger scored three times, her third run being the difference. Claire Withrow and Ella Mize each drove in two. Withrow had two hits. Annika Schrock and Stavia Miller finished with two hits and two runs each. Miller had an RBI. Yoder went six in the circle with eight hits, seven earned runs, four walks and five Ks. Mize entered and got the final three outs, allowing a hit and an unearned run with a strikeout.
With the win, Hillcrest is now into the Class 1A Regional Quarterfinals tonight, facing a road trip to BGM. The Ravens are 13-14 on the season. They hit .298 as a team with a .421OBP, .376 slug, 196 runs, 211 hits, 140RBI, 130 walks and 208 strikeouts. They have three players at .300 or better led by Delaney Shaw with a .526 average, 35RBI and 32 runs. Malia Yoder has 44 hits. Ella Mize is at .342. In the circle, Mize and Yoder have combined for a 3.55ERA, two WHIP, .228 opponent average, 206 hits, 103 earned runs, 85 walks and 139 strikeouts. BGM is 17-6 this year, they were fourth in the South Iowa Cedar League with an 11-5 mark. They have been off since a July 3rd regular season win over South Tama. The Bears hit .338 as a team with a .414OBP, .426 slug, 179 runs, 209 hits, 131RBI, 76 walks and 115 strikeouts. Individually, six are at .300 or better, led by Emersyn Minnaert’s .423 average, 30 hits and 28 runs. Mya Beck has driven in 24. In the circle, Sophia Petsche and Cara Arment have combined on a 2.64ERA, 1.37WHIP, .215 opponent average, 115 hits, 52 earned runs, 74 walks and 157 strikeouts. The Bears have won the only recent meeting between the two schools 12-0 in 2019. The winner of tonight’s game is into the regional semis Friday against the winner of Highland and North Linn. Action starts tonight at 7p.m. At BGM High School.