There was plenty of offense to go around in Friday’s Class 4 softball state championship game at Killian Softball Complex. Kearney had a bit more offense than Helias, and provided plenty of power to go with it. The Lady Bulldogs hit four home runs, and two of them were hit by Elysia Hand, who drove in eight runs. Kearney captured its first state title since 2005 with a 14-9 victory against the Lady Crusaders.
It was a game the Helias Lady Crusaders might have wanted to forget. But it was one that may have gotten them to where they are today: the Class 4 softball semifinals. On Oct. 3, Helias jumped out to an early 4-0 lead against Capital City. But the Lady Cavaliers didn’t quit and rallied for a 5-4 victory against the Lady Crusaders. It may have been the wake-up call Helias needed as it will take a six-game winning streak into today’s Class 4 semifinal game against Washington. First pitch is scheduled for noon at the Killian Softball Complex in Springfield.
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 Helias Lady Crusaders softball team finished second in the two-day Southside Classic that concluded Saturday. Molly Berkey threw a perfect game Saturday as Helias advanced to the title game with a 4-0 win against Francis Howell Central.