PHOTOS BY JACOB KESSLER / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
HILLTOP RIGHT-HANDER … Cameron Shimp got the start and went three innings in the Cadets’ extra-inning win at Pettisville. VIEW 119 PHOTOS OF THIS CONTEST FOR FREE AT WWW.THEVILLAGEREPORTER.COM
MULTI-HIT GAME … Quinn Ripke rips one of his four hits for Pettisville in their BBC opener versus Hilltop.
By: Elliot Schneider
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
publisher@thevillagereporter.com
PETTISVILLE (April 9, 2026) — In a back-and-forth battle filled with big swings, defensive miscues, and late-game drama, Hilltop outlasted Pettisville 11-10 in extra innings in both teams’ first BBC matchup of the season.
Terry Rebeck and Brennan Dempsey powered the Cadets’ offense, combining for seven hits and six RBIs in a relentless attack at the plate. Pettisville countered with strong performances from Quinn Ripke and Rylee Bevard, who tallied five hits and two RBIs between them in the narrow defeat.
Hilltop wasted no time setting the tone. In the top of the first, Dempsey delivered a two-RBI single with the bases loaded, scoring Rebeck and Cameron Shimp. Alejandro Rubalcava followed with a sacrifice fly to bring home Brady Wagner, giving the Cadets an early 3-0 advantage.
Pettisville answered in the bottom half of the inning. Creighton Aeschliman reached second on an errant throw, stole third, and came home on a passed ball to cut the deficit to 3-1.
The Cadets extended their lead in the second when Rebeck lined a two-run double to left, scoring Toby Hartman and Ezra Mahlman to make it 5-1.
Momentum quickly shifted in the third, and in dramatic fashion. Pettisville capitalized on a string of defensive struggles, scoring five runs on five consecutive Hilltop errors. Aeschliman later added an RBI knock that, combined with another Cadet miscue, pushed the Blackbirds in front 7-6.
Pettisville continued to apply pressure in the fourth. Ripke scored on a passed ball before Bevard drove in Sam Hastings with an RBI single, extending the Blackbirds’ lead to 9-6.
Hilltop refused to go away. The comeback began in the sixth when Dempsey sparked the rally with an RBI double.
Moments later, Rubalcava reached on a play that resulted in another Pettisville error, allowing Wagner and Dempsey to score and tie the game at 9-9.
Pettisville responded once again in the bottom of the inning, as Bevard delivered a two-out RBI single to reclaim a 10-9 lead, putting the Blackbirds just three outs away from victory.
But the Cadets had one more answer. With two outs in the seventh, Mahlman came through in the clutch, ripping an RBI double to even the score at 10-10 and force extra innings.
In the eighth, Hilltop capitalized on a wild pitch to plate the go-ahead run, taking an 11-10 lead into the final frame.
Ripke gave Pettisville hope with a one-out double in the bottom of the inning, but Hilltop’s defense held firm the rest of the way, stranding the tying run and sealing the hard-fought extra-inning victory.
Hilltop will look to carry the momentum into a matchup with Edgerton on Monday, April 13, while Pettisville aims to bounce back against Continental on Friday, April 10.
HHS 321 003 11 – 11 11 4
PHS 106 201 00 – 10 9 6
WP – Brennan Dempsey (IP-5, R-3, H-4, K-6, BB-2)
LP – Luke Horning (IP-6, R-9, H-7, K-3, BB-5)
LEADING HITTERS: (Hilltop) Brennan Dempsey – double, 3 singles, 3 RBIs; Terry Rebeck – 2 doubles, single, 3 RBIs; (Pettisville) Quinn Ripke – double, 2 singles; Rylee Bevard – 2 singles, 2 RBIs
