They all knew it. Earlier this month, the Helias Lady Crusaders jumped out to a 4-0 lead in a game against the Capital City Lady Cavaliers. Capital City then scored five unanswered runs to rally for a 5-4 victory. On Saturday, the Lady Crusaders led the Lady Cavaliers 4-0 after three innings in the Class 4 District 5 Tournament championship game at the American Legion Post 5 Sports Complex. Helias remembered what happened the last time. “Absolutely, no doubt,” Helias coach Kelly Fick said. Capital City remembered what happened the last time. “That’s exactly what we talked about,” Capital City coach Brett Skinner said.
It was a pitcher’s duel the first time they met. There was no reason to think the second time would be any different. Molly Berkey of Helias and Avrey Reynolds of Jefferson City battled again in the circle Thursday night in the Class 4 District 5 Tournament semifinals at the American Legion Post 5 Sports Complex.
Helias’ bats came alive in the third inning. The Lady Crusaders scored four runs in the third and seven in the fourth, sending a combined 23 batters to the plate, to win 12-0 in five innings Wednesday against the Hannibal Lady Pirates at the American Legion Post 5 Sports Complex.
The little things added up to a big win. “We preach that, you do the little things, try to put pressure on your opponent, and good things can happen,” Capital City coach Brett Skinner said after Monday night’s 5-4 win against the Helias Lady Crusaders at Capital City High School. “You execute, you can come out on the winning end. That’s something we need to remember the rest of the season.”
The Rock Bridge Bruins took advantage of a lot of little things. The Helias Lady Crusaders didn’t get many little things to take advantage of from the Bruins. “We just didn’t do what we needed to do today,” Helias coach Kelly Fick said after Monday’s 8-1 loss to Rock Bridge in Central Missouri Activities Conference action at the American Legion Post 5 Sports Complex. “We weren’t good enough in all facets of the game today to come out with a win against a quality opponent.”