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.
It was the perfect time for her first home run of the season. Ava Morris hit a solo home run with one out in the bottom of the sixth inning Wednesday to break a tie at 2 as the Helias Lady Crusaders defeated the Camdenton Lady Lakers 4-2 in the Class 4 softball quarterfinals.
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.
It’s a game the New Bloomfield Lady Wildcats enjoy playing. “Helias is Helias, every single year,” New Bloomfield softball coach Zach Moore said Thursday after the Helias Lady Crusaders edged the Lady Wildcats 8-7 at the American Legion Post 5 Sports Complex. “Our girls get up for this game big-time. “I couldn’t be happier with the way we played. I’m obviously not happy with an 8-7 loss in a walkoff, but this game should wake us up and show us what we can do.”