Hillcrest advances with late runs

RIVERSIDE — Hillcrest opened its Class 1A postseason baseball district semifinal with six runs in the first inning against North Cedar Tuesday at Highland High School.

The Ravens needed two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to win the game 9-7.

The Ravens added another run in the third inning to go up 7-0 but saw North Cedar put together seven runs over three innings — pushing one across in the fourth, two in the fifth and four in the sixth — to tie the game at 7-7.

The Ravens responded with two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Hillcrest got a command performance from Noah Miller in all three areas of the game. His running, pitching and batting made a difference. He had two stolen bases. Miller went 3-for-4 with a double in the batter’s box and took the mound for four and a third innings. Miller accumulated 10 strikeouts while allowing three hits, four walks with two runs, one earned.

Luke Schrock came in to relieve Miller and scattered six hits with no walks and four strikeouts. He gave up five runs but just two earned. Only three of the Knights seven runs were earned as the Ravens committed five errors.

Schrock had two runs batted in and a double. Jace Rempel had a hit and two RBIs. Seth Ours had a single and batted in a pair of runs. Liam Schrock had a hit.

The Ravens were the recipients of five walks and four errors by North Cedar.

Hillcrest will advance to Saturday’s district final at Lisbon. Lisbon is 23-13 and Hillcrest 14-9. Game time is 7 p.m.