Wolves, Ravens survive, Highland out

The first day of postseason baseball brought plenty of close games and a few surprises. Among the openers in Class 1A and 2A on Saturday were winning results from both Winfield-Mount Union/Columbus and Hillcrest Academy.

  Buy Photo

WMU/Columbus 4, Louisa-Muscatine 1

MEDIAPOLIS - Much like in the regular season, the Wolves had the Falcons’ number in a Class 2A Substate 5 first round matchup in Mediapolis.

WMU/Columbus scored one run in the first and one in the fifth to take a 2-0 lead. Louisa-Muscatine cut that lead in half with a run in the top of the sixth, but the Wolves scored two insurance runs to get out with a victory.

Trevor Phillips had a strong start for WMU/Columbus, striking out 10 batters in six innings to earn the win. He gave up just one hit on the mound and reliever Kason Doppler gave up one more in one inning of work.

Phillips collected a pair of hits and an RBI in the win. Cole Milks and Tyson Kaalberg each knocked in a run. Kohlby Newsom finished the night with two hits.

WMU/Columbus will take on Anamosa, in Anamosa in the Substate quarterfinals on Tuesday.

Hillcrest Academy 5, HLV 4

The Southeast Iowa Super Conference North Division champions were in trouble at home in the first round of the Class 1A Substate 6 tournament.

The Ravens rallied back from a 4-1 deficit going into the bottom of the fifth. In that frame, Hillcrest put up four runs, just enough to escape with their lives.

Liam Schrock had a big game, going 2-for-3 with a solo home run and two RBIs to lead the Ravens. He also scored two runs.

Lawson Schrock and Bryce Bailey each had hits in the win for Hillcrest. Rowan Miller earned the win on the mound, striking out eight batters over seven innings and giving up four runs (one earned) on five hits, two walks and two hit batters.

Hillcrest takes on BGM in the Substate quarterfinals on Tuesday.

Lone Tree 9, Highland 3

The Huskies took a stunning loss against a team Highland had beaten 11 straight times coming into Saturday.

Lone Tree scored first against its SEISC North rivals, plating two in the second. Highland tied the game up at 2-2 in the bottom of the second, but Lone Tree put up two in the third and four in the fifth, and the Huskies couldn’t battle back.

Landon Roling went 2-for-3 with an RBI in the loss. Ryker Miller was 1-for-2 with a triple. Colten Syphert knocked in one run, but took the loss on the mound, giving up six runs (two earned) over 4.2 innings. He struck out eight Lion hitters.

Highland finishes its 2024 campaign 11-14 overall.