Helena, AL - The 6A No. 2 Helena Huskies played host to the 7A No. 2 Hoover Buccaneers in what was a Top 5 Matchup, according to the recent Alabama Power 25 Rankings released on Monday. The Huskies flexed their muscles in this contest, scoring 13 runs in five innings to defeat the Bucs 13-3. The Huskies gave the ball to RHP Seth Gregory (2021), while Hoover countered with RHP Matthew Hawsey (2021). 

Scoring was at a premium in this game, especially for the Huskies, but Hoover was the first to get on the board in the first inning. Hitting in the leadoff spot, SS RJ Hamilton (No. 4, Vanderbilt) got things going early on with a double down the left field line on a 3-2 count. He later scored in the inning on a 1st & 3rd play to make the score 1-0 Hoover heading to the bottom of the first. 

Helena used two big innings en route to the victory, and one of those was the second inning as they hung up a four spot in the frame. Things got started with a walk to C Tyler Jon Santos (No. 157, Southern Union CC), a bunt single from OF Ryan Storey (No. 13, South Alabama), & a sacrifice bunt. DH Griff Minor (No. 120, Stillman) stepped up to the plate and ripped the first pitch he saw to right field to score Santos from 3rd base to tie things up at 1-1. After two straight outs with the bases loaded, the Huskies cleared the bases on a misplayed ball in left field to take a 4-1 lead heading into the third inning. 

The Bucs answered back with two runs of their own in the top of the third. Leading the inning off again for Hoover, SS RJ Hamilton (No. 4, Vanderbilt) was hit-by-pitch & made his way around to the 3rd base on a wild pitch and a pickoff error. OF/C Cade Carr (No. 13) eventually scored Hamilton on a ground out to shortstop to cut the lead to 4-2. 1B Lucas Steele (No. 14, Samford) took advantage of an elevated fastball and deposited it over the right field wall for a no-doubt home run to cut the lead even close to 4-3 heading to the bottom of the third. 

After a double from 3B Mac Turner (No. 27, Southern Union CC) & and error by the right fielder, the Huskies tacked on another run in the bottom half of the inning. With the runner at first base being caught in a rundown, that gave enough time for Turner to score from 3rd base and push the lead to 5-3 going to the fourth inning. 

After tossing a zero in the top of the fourth, the Huskies erupted for six runs in the frame, all coming with two outs. 2B Landon Leake (No. 44, Souther Union CC) & C Tyler Jon Santos (No. 157, Southern Union CC) highlighted the inning by combining to score three runner on doubles of their own. Three more runs were added from errors, and the Huskies took a commanding 11-3 lead heading to the fifth inning.

Helena came back up to bat in the bottom of the fifth inning after a scoreless top half, and continued the impressive offensive showing by adding more runs. After singles from 1B Jack Freeman (No. 134, 2021) & OF Noah Gwin (No. 97, 2021) to start the inning, SS Brody Moss (No. 37, Auburn) got in on the action by plating Freeman from 2nd base on a RBI single back up the middle to center field. Gwin advanced to 3rd base on a wild pitch, which allowed for 2B Landon Leake (No. 44, Southern Union CC) to score him on a sacrifice fly center field. This ended the game via mercy rule (10 runs after 5 innings) to give Helena an impressive 13-3 win.

 

Top Performers - Helena

SS Brody Moss - 2-3, 4 RBI's, R, BB

2B Landon Leake - 2B, 2 RBI's, R

C Tyler Jon Santos - 2B, 2 RBI's, BB

RHP Gavin Daniel - 2 2/3 IP, H, 0 R, 1 BB & 2 K's

 

Top Performers - Hoover

1B Lucas Steele - HR, RBI, R, BB

SS RJ Hamilton - 2B, 2 R's, BB

OF/C Cade Carr - 1B, RBI

 

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