By GRAHAM BROOKS / Staff Writer

HELENA–The Helena Lady Huskies softball team swept three area opponents in the Class 5A Area 7 tournament and captured the championship for the second consecutive year, capped off by a 10-0 win over Jemison on May 5.

Game 1. Helena 22–Central 0

Helena had no problem defeating No. 4 seed Central in the opening game of the area tournament as the Lady Huskies exploded with 15 runs in the bottom of the first inning, followed by seven more runs in the following inning to mercy rule the Lady Falcons.

Helena’s Reagan Curtis led the Lady Huskies at the plate with five RBIs on two hits.

Eight players had for Helena collected at least one hit in the game and as a whole finished with nine hits as a team.

Game 2. Helena 2–Calera 1

Helena proceeded to the winner’s bracket to take on the Calera Lady Eagles and had all they could handle, but held on for a tough 2-1 win to advance to the championship game.

The game was highlighted by tough pitching on both sides and runs were hard to come by.

Helena’s Avery Barnett pitched 6.2 innings and allowed just one run, three hits and struck out four in the win.

Calera’s Somer Roberson also had a solid outing on the mound but didn’t get much help offensively.

Roberson pitched six innings that included three strikeouts while giving up two runs in the loss.

Helena got on the board first after Calera surrendered a bases loaded walk to put the Lady Huskies ahead 1-0.

Helena scored another run in the bottom of the fifth inning and took a 2-0 lead heading into the last inning.

Calera threatened to make a comeback after Shelby Wright blasted a solo homerun over the centerfield wall but that was all the offense the Lady Eagles could generate as Helena held on to win 2-1.

Championship game. Helena 10–Jemison 0

With a 2-0 record heading into the final game of the double elimination area tournament, Helena needed to win at least one of the next two games to win the Class 5A Area 7 tournament.

Helena jumped on Jemison early in game one and made sure there’d be no chance of a second game as the Lady Huskies mercy ruled the Lady Panthers collecting 10 runs over five innings.

Helena scored five runs in the bottom of the first inning after a couple of Jemison errors, and RBI single by Laney Bruner and a two-run single by Avery Barnett to take a 5-0 lead.

Helena doubled its lead in the bottom of the fourth highlighted by Katie Lively doubling to score Jordan Ingram and Mekhi Mayfield.

Barnett was lights out on the mound for Helena as she pitched five shutout innings allowing just three hits while striking out one.

Helena will move on to the Class 5A South Central Regional tournament where they will face off against Dallas County on May 12 at the Troy Sportplex.