Hillcrest dropped down to 10-3 on Wednesday, ending the team's three-game streak of wins. They came up short against the Liberty Bison, falling 13-6. The pitching woes were uncharacteristic for the Trojans, who until this contest were averaging 3.62 runs allowed.
Ashley James
| 03/25/26 vs Liberty | 8 |
| 03/17/26 @ University Prep | 7 |
| 03/14/26 vs Diamond Bar | 11 |
| 03/09/26 @ Lakeside | 15 |
| 03/05/26 vs Patriot | 9 |
| + 5 more games |
Ashley James got Hillcrest off to a strong start despite the final result, striking out eight batters over 5.2 innings while giving up three earned (and two unearned) runs off four hits. James has been nothing but reliable on the mound: she hasn't tossed less than six strikeouts any time she's pitched this season.
At the plate, Sierra Siracusa was cooking despite her team's loss, going 2-for-3 with one home run, three RBI, and two runs. The team also got some help courtesy of Emily Valdez, who went 2-for-4 with one home run and three RBI.
As for Liberty, their win was their sixth straight on the road dating back to last season, which pushed their record up to 9-2. The road victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 12.2 runs over those games.
On Liberty's side, Brooklyn Rackstraw spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered three earned (and three unearned) runs on seven hits.
On the hitting side, the team relied heavily on Lily Matthews, who went 2-for-5 with one home run, three RBI, and two runs. Another player making a difference was Jolie Tompkins, who went 2-for-3 with two doubles and one RBI.
Hillcrest and Liberty should be looking forward to their upcoming games as both have a sizable advantage in the MaxPreps California Rankings. The Trojans (ranked 186th) will meet Canyon Springs (ranked 690th) at 3:15 p.m. on Friday. Meanwhile, Liberty will take on Rancho Cucamonga at 3:15 p.m. on April 7 with a big rank advantage (79 vs. 395).
