Helias leads early, rallies late to beat Blair Oaks 8-7

Trevor Austin (left) celebrates with his Helias teammates after he scored on a bases-clearing double in the second inning of Tuesday's game against Blair Oaks at the American Legion Post 5 Sports Complex. The Crusaders won 8-7 on a walk-off hit by Zach Davidson in the seventh inning.
Trevor Austin (left) celebrates with his Helias teammates after he scored on a bases-clearing double in the second inning of Tuesday's game against Blair Oaks at the American Legion Post 5 Sports Complex. The Crusaders won 8-7 on a walk-off hit by Zach Davidson in the seventh inning.

Momentum was busy jumping between the dugouts Tuesday.

It finally ended up with the Helias Crusaders as Zach Davidson's single with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning drove home Trevor Austin with the game-winning run in an 8-7 victory against the Blair Oaks Falcons at the American Legion Post 5 Sports Complex.

"I'm proud that we didn't just drop our heads and roll over when we could have," Helias coach Chris Wyrick said. "We fought."

For the Falcons, it was a disappointing, but still positive experience.

"It was a good learning experience for us," Blair Oaks coach Mike DeMilia said. "We're going to have important games like this down the road and it's good to get the chance to go through one like this."

Helias scored one in the bottom of the first when a groundout by Davidson scored Austin, who led off with a double.

The Crusaders then added three runs in the second to extend their lead. Zach Paschal drove in all three with a bases-clearing double to right-center.

"Helias has been a mental block for us," DeMilia said. "I've been here three years and I think we get tight against them. I know we started tight tonight."

All three baserunners reached when they were hit by pitches from starter Parker Bax, who finished with six hit-batters in 12/3 innings.

"He hasn't been like that all year," DeMilia said. "Maybe he was a little tight, he just didn't have it today."

The final two hit-batters reloaded the bases before Hunter Forck came on in relief to get the final out of the inning.

Helias defeated Blair Oaks 12-2 in five innings earlier this month in the Capital City Invitational. Up 4-0 early, the Crusaders were ripe for a letdown.

"I'm sure that entered the minds of some of the players." Wyrick said. "You can't relax, no matter what the score is, because the team on the other side is trying to beat you."

Ian Nolph reached on a walk to lead off the third for Blair Oaks and eventually came in to score on a two-out infield single by David Dell to make it 4-1.

Helias got that run back in the bottom of the inning when Griffin Buschjust scored on a bloop single to center by Austin that dropped between three Blair Oaks players.

The Crusaders could have gotten a couple of more runs but Falcons centerfielder Nolan Hair made a diving catch with runners at second and third to end the inning.

"That saved two runs," DeMilia said.

Helias stranded seven runners in the first three innings, six in scoring position.

"I think we get in defensive mode when the pressure isn't on us, it's on the pitcher and the defense to get us out," Wyrick said. "We're helping pitchers out in some situations"

Blair Oaks tied the game with a four-run fourth. Reid Dudenhoeffer led off with a single and moved to second on a walk to Maclaine McCarter. Nolph followed with a two-run double to left-center to make it 5-3. Jacob Stegeman then walked as the Crusaders sent in Dawson Meyer to relieve the starter Davidson.

"We got a couple of free passes, we got a couple of knocks and our confidence was up," DeMilia said.

After recording two outs, Dell hit a double to left to score Nolph and Stegeman to knot the game at 5.

"They kept with it, they battled," Wyrick said.

Hair made another great catch to start the bottom of the fourth, tracking down a long fly by Jacob Weaver near the fence in left-center.

"That would have been a double, if not a triple, and that changes the complexion of the whole inning," DeMilia said.

The next two Crusaders reached base before Forck got a flyout and strikeout to end the threat.

A two-out rally in the fifth gave the Falcons their first lead of the game. McCarter and Nolph singled to put runners and first and second, then each moved up on a stolen base. Stegeman then singled home McCarter.

In the bottom of the fifth, Forck was pulled after allowing a leadoff walk.

"He did a great job of keeping it close and that's all you can ask from a reliever," DeMilia said.

Nolph came on to pitch for Blair Oaks. After a fielder's choice, Paschal hit a 1-2 pitch for a double to left to score Austin and tie the game at 6. Zach Woehr followed with a double to left to give the Crusaders the lead.

"The only positive is they had to hit to get the lead back," DeMilia said. "When they swing the bats to do it, I can live with that."

Neither team scored in the sixth and Austin came on in relief of Meyer to try to close out the win for the Crusaders.

Bax led off the inning with a solid single to center. After a lineout to Austin, Bax advanced to second on a wild pitch. Austin then got the second out on a strikeout before Nolph singled to left to score Bax to tie the game at 7.

"They didn't miss many mistakes on the mound, when we made one, they hit it," Wyrick said.

After an infield error put runners on the corners, Austin got out of the inning with a popout to short.

Austin reached on a single to start the bottom of the seventh and moved to second on a walk to Paschal. Woehr then beat out a bunt between home and the mound to load the bases.

After a strikeout, Davidson hit a 3-1 pitch over the pulled-in outfield to score Austin.

"They kept the pressure on us and got the job done," DeMilia said.

It was the second one-run loss in two days for Blair Oaks, who fell 7-6 in eight innings Monday at Hallsville.

"We didn't play well at all against Hallsville, we didn't compete," DeMilia said. "But we competed in this game and that's what we're looking for on a daily basis."

Blair Oaks (10-11, ranked No. 3 in Class 3) is off until Saturday when it plays South Callaway and Scott County in a doubleheader at Mokane.

Helias (13-2, ranked No. 2 in Class 4) will play Thursday at Eldon before hosting Jefferson City on Friday.

"We're 13-2, fine," Wyrick said. "But we've got to play more consistent. We haven't really put a lot of entire games together this season. Hopefully that's still coming."

On Friday, the JV game will be played first at 5 p.m. The varsity game will follow around 6:45 p.m.