The Hillcrest Academy Ravens are state-bound for the first time since 2008 following a 1-0 victory over their division rivals, the Pekin Panthers, in the substate 5 final Tuesday night.

The Ravens jumped on top early, taking advantage of a Pekin error in the bottom of the first to score Seth Ours for the game’s lone run. From there, it was all Phoenix Anderson.

The senior pitcher set down Panther after Panther, running through the first three innings allowing just a single walk.

Pekin mounted its first threat of the night in the fourth inning, as a fielders’ choice, a hit by pitch and a passed ball put runners on second and third, but Anderson got Panther first baseman Cal Miller to swing and miss for the fourth Pekin strikeout of the night, stranding a pair.

The Panthers threatened again in the top of the sixth, loading the bases on two walks and a single, but Anderson found the right pitch once again, striking out catcher Riley Smith to end the frame.

Throughout the night, the Panthers’ pitchers did what was asked of them, surrendering only a single hit while collecting nine strikeouts, including eight from starter Henry Adam, but that one run in the first turned out to be enough for Hillcrest.

With two outs in the top of the seventh, Nolan Glick hit a grounder to Raven third baseman Rowan Miller. He fired on to first, the throw was accurate, and the game was over. Hillcrest rushed the mound to celebrate with Anderson, who finished off a complete game shutout to send the Ravens to Caroll.

Anderson described what allowed this team to finally get over the hump after several near-misses in previous years, “Most of us have been here for three or four years now, just knowing we can do it and having confidence in us.”

Anderson threw 7 innings of scoreless baseball on just  72 pitches, allowing two hits and three walks while racking up seven strikeouts in the winning performance.

Adam took the loss despite not giving up any hits. He allowed one unearned run in four-plus innings of work on an eight-two strikeout to walk ratio. Reliever Nolan Glick surrendered the only Hillcrest hit of the game to Liam Schrock in the top of the seventh, which was the only baserunner he allowed in two innings of work.

The Ravens will join East Buchanan, Kee-Lansing, Logan-Magnolia, Lynnville-Sully, Martensdale-St. Marys, Saint Ansgar and Remsen St. Mary’s in Caroll for the state tournament next week, July 21-25. The Ravens are scheduled to take on the No. 1 Remsen St. Mary’s Hawks in the state quarterfinals at 11 a.m. on Monday.