The Helias softball team is going back to the Class 4 Final Four for a second straight season, so there will be plenty of familiarity for the Lady Crusaders during their visit to Springfield. But the familiarity doesn’t end there.
It wasn’t going to be easy. The Helias Lady Crusaders were taking on the Warrenton Warriors in the title game of the Class 4 District 5 Tournament on Monday night at Jefferson City High School in a meeting of two teams that advanced to the Class 4 Final Four last season.
The Helias Lady Crusaders weren’t going to go away. Trailing 2-0 after just three batters Tuesday against the Southern Boone Lady Eagles, the Lady Crusaders knew their was plenty of game yet to be played. “It’s tough to have to battle and claw our way back, but I’m proud of the way we did it today,” Helias coach Kelly Fick said after the Lady Crusaders defeated the Lady Eagles 7-4 at the American Legion Post 5 Sports Complex.
All it took for the Blair Oaks Lady Falcons was one inning. Despite committing five errors and falling behind early to the Helias Lady Crusaders, Blair Oaks used a three-hit fifth inning to score all of its runs and hold on for a 3-2 victory Tuesday night at the Falcon Athletic Complex.
The Helias Lady Crusaders took advantage of their opportunities and it made a big difference Wednesday night. The Lady Crusaders scored five runs with two outs while the Jefferson City Lady Jays stranded nine baserunners, helping Helias run away with a 9-2 victory in Central Missouri Activities Conference play at the American Legion Post 5 Sports Complex.