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Hillcrest Academy bows out in semifinals with loss to Martensdale-St. Mary’s

Ravens lead evaporates as Blue Devils pour it on in the middle innings

Hunter Moeller

Jul. 25, 2025 9:45 am, Updated: Aug. 4, 2025 1:21 pm

Hillcrest Academy players take possession of a Class 1A consolation trophy following a six-inning, 18-8 loss to Martensdale-St. Marys at the state baseball tournament played at Merchants Park in Carroll, Iowa, on Wednesday, July 23, 2025.
Hillcrest Academy players take possession of a Class 1A consolation trophy following a six-inning, 18-8 loss to Martensdale-St. Marys at the state baseball tournament played at Merchants Park in Carroll, Iowa, on Wednesday, July 23, 2025.

Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.

Hillcrest Academy's impressive postseason run came to a tough close Wednesday in the Class 1A State Semifinal, falling 18-8 to Martensdale-St. Mary’s. Despite a strong mid-game lead, the No. 8 seed Ravens were undone by a furious Blue Devils comeback, which included 16 unanswered runs.

Martensdale-St. Mary’s struck first, scoring two runs in the opening frame off a trio of singles and a Hillcrest error. The Ravens quickly responded, however. Mason Helmuth sparked a second-inning rally with a leadoff double, setting the tone for a three-run frame that gave Hillcrest a 3-2 advantage.

Hillcrest Academy pitcher Phoenix Anderson throws during a Class 1A semifinal game at the state tournament played Wednesday, July 23, 2025, at Merchants Park in Carroll, Iowa. The Ravens took an 8-2 lead through the first three innings but struggled on the mound after that in a six-inning, 18-8 loss.
Hillcrest Academy pitcher Phoenix Anderson throws during a Class 1A semifinal game at the state tournament played Wednesday, July 23, 2025, at Merchants Park in Carroll, Iowa. The Ravens took an 8-2 lead through the first three innings but struggled on the mound after that in a six-inning, 18-8 loss.

The momentum carried into the third when Liam Schrock ripped a triple to lead off the inning. Hillcrest capitalized, plating five more runs to stretch the lead to 8-2.

But after a delay in play, the game’s tone shifted dramatically. The Blue Devils stormed back with three runs in the fourth to cut the deficit to 8-5, then erupted for 11 runs in a crushing fifth inning. Two more in the sixth ended the game via the mercy rule.

Hillcrest, which had been a defensive force throughout the postseason, struggled in the field. The Ravens committed five errors, leading to eight unearned runs out of the 18 allowed. St. Mary’s outhit Hillcrest 19-8.

Mason Helmuth from Hillcrest Academy acknowledges teammates following a lead-off ground rule double during a Class 1A semifinal game at the state tournament played Wednesday, July 23, 2025, at Merchants Park in Carroll, Iowa. Helmuth later scored on a sacrifice fly ball by Rylan Good as the Ravens cut Martensdale-St. Marys lead, 2-1. The Ravens lost 18-8 in six-innings, ending their season.
Mason Helmuth from Hillcrest Academy acknowledges teammates following a lead-off ground rule double during a Class 1A semifinal game at the state tournament played Wednesday, July 23, 2025, at Merchants Park in Carroll, Iowa. Helmuth later scored on a sacrifice fly ball by Rylan Good as the Ravens cut Martensdale-St. Marys lead, 2-1. The Ravens lost 18-8 in six-innings, ending their season.

Despite the loss, several Ravens stood out offensively. Seth Ours, Liam Schrock, and Mason Helmuth each tallied two hits. Ours drove in three runs, while Helmuth added one RBI. Schrock was a sparkplug with two triples in the loss. Lincoln Miller and Rylan Good also chipped in with a hit apiece, with Good driving in two and Miller one.

Hillcrest Academy ends the season with an 18-8 record. After a rocky 5-6 start, the Ravens surged to win 13 of their final 15 games — a remarkable run that propelled them deep into the state tournament.
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