Helias softball claims state title on second day of final four action
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (KMIZ)
Helias took home the class four crown to highlight the second of three days at the state championships.
Five mid-Missouri teams were in action on Friday competing in the final two rounds of the state softball tournament. The Crusaders were on the hunt for gold, while Southern Boone, Centralia, Fatima, and Marceline were all hoping to advance to the final match.
Helias opened its final four run with a walk off win in the semi's over Platte County, and took on Parkway West for the class four championship. The Crusaders wasted no time getting in front, opening up a 4-0 lead in the first fame of play. An eight-run fourth inning powered them to a 12-0 advantage, and after pitcher Harper Sherry kept the Longhorns off the board, the game ended in a mercy-rule victory.
At the class three level, Southern Boone and Centralia were competing for a spot in the gold medal game on Saturday. The Eagles were locked in a pitchers duel against Oak Grove, where neither side found a score in the first four innings. Eventually, that stale mate broke, with the Pantehrs taking a 2-0 advantage that couldn't be made up, as Southern Boone fell 2-1.
On the other side of that bracket, Centralia was in a 1-1 deadlock until the sixth inning. Junior Blakely VanDyke was the deciding factor, as she crushed a bases loaded triple to take a three run lead. Pitcher and Mizzou commit Jaylynn Brown hammered a home run in the top of the seventh for insurance, and the Panther take a 5-1 win to advance.
Both Fatima and Marceline competed in class two semi-finals matches. The Comets found temselves in a 6-0 hole against Chaffee early on, and despite a two-run fourth, they couldn't complete the comeback, falling 7-2.
Meanwhile the Tigers found themselves in a similar situation, going down 4-0 in the first three innings. Mid-Buchanan kept that momentum going throughout the game, taking a 7-0 win.
Fatima and Marceline would go on to meet in the third place game, where the Comets took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first, and never gave it back, securing the bronze trophy with a 3-1 win. Back at class three, Southern Boone took on Notre Dame following their losses. Both sides traded blows in the early part of the game, but a late comeback from the Eagles fell short, as they finish fourth in class three.
Centralia will now take on Oak Grove for the class three championship, with first pitch slated for 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 31.
