The Hillcrest Academy and Highland baseball teams are set to meet in the Area Baseball Game of the Week, a showdown that could reshape the early standings of the Southeast Iowa Superconference North.
Hillcrest arrives with a 7‑5 overall record and a 5‑2 mark in conference play, having edged Wapello 6‑5 in a recent thriller. Rowan Miller and Lincoln Miller delivered the clutch hits that turned the tide, while Ethan Yoder earned the win by throwing six‑and‑a‑third solid innings.
Highland, sitting at 4‑1 in the Superconference North after a tournament in Waterloo, counters with its own offensive spark. Bryce Hazelett has been a force, batting .524 with a .574 OBP and .619 slug, while Landon Roling added a home run to the mix.
A rivalry renewed
The historical ledger favors Hillcrest, which leads the all‑time series 19‑15 and has won seven straight meetings, but Highland’s recent surge suggests the gap may be narrowing.
Pitching will be a key battleground. Hillcrest’s staff, anchored by Lincoln Miller, Ethan Yoder and Lawson Schrock, holds a 6.44 ERA and 2.12 WHIP, while Highland’s trio of Bryce Hazelett, Presten Smith and Noah Hartzler boasts a 5.61 ERA and a stingy .265 opponent hitting rate.
With both programs eyeing a deeper run in the playoffs, the upcoming contest promises high stakes, tight competition and a showcase of emerging talent.