PHOTOS BY RENEA KESSLER / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
BBC ROAD WIN … Hilltop’s Brennan Dempsey squares up a pitch during the Cadets’ win at Fayette. VIEW 62 PHOTOS OF THIS CONTEST FOR FREE AT WWW.THEVILLAGEREPORTER.COM
UNASSISTED OUT … Fayette first baseman Carter Lavinder steps on the bag after scooping up a ground ball.
By: Elliot Schneider
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
publisher@thevillagereporter.com
FAYETTE (April 21, 2026) — Hilltop wasted no time taking control and never looked back, rolling to a 12-1 mercy-rule victory over Fayette in five innings of BBC action Tuesday.
The Cadets combined steady offense with aggressive baserunning and took full advantage of Fayette miscues, turning early opportunities into a decisive win.
Hilltop struck first in the opening inning. Ezra Mahlman reached on a leadoff single and later used his speed to impact the game, swiping third before scoring on a wild pitch.
Terry Rebeck, who had walked earlier in the inning, came home on a sacrifice fly from Cameron Shimp, and Alejandro Rubalcava added an RBI single to cap a three-run frame.
The pressure continued in the second, as Hilltop extended its lead with another run, this time taking advantage of a defensive miscue in the outfield to make it 4-0.
After a quiet third inning, the Cadets broke the game open in the fourth. Hilltop plated seven runs in the frame, mixing timely hits with aggressive play on the bases while capitalizing on multiple Fayette errors.
Mahlman delivered an RBI single in the inning and later scored alongside Rebeck as the Cadets turned a comfortable lead into a commanding 11-0 advantage.
Fayette managed to get on the board in the bottom of the fourth when Avery Berg lifted a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded, bringing home Carter Lavinder to cut the deficit to 11-1.
Hilltop added one more run in the fifth for insurance and then closed the door defensively. Fayette threatened briefly with runners on the corners, but Shimp induced a flyout to end the game and secure the mercy-rule victory.
Mahlman earned the win on the mound, allowing just one run on one hit over three innings while striking out three. Rubalcava led the Cadets at the plate with two hits and two RBIs, while Brennan Dempsey also drove in a pair.
HHS 310 71 – 12 7 0
FHS 000 10 – 1 2 5
WP – Ezra Mahlman (IP-3, R-1, H-1, K-3, BB-3)
LP – Mason Leininger (IP-3.1, R-6, H-2, K-3, BB-3)
LEADING HITTERS: (Hilltop) Alejandro Rubalcava – 2 singles, 2 RBIs; Brennan Dempsey – single, 2 RBIs (Fayette) Keagan Patterson – single; Carter Lavinder – single
