Helena goes 2-0 on day one of Buccaneer Classic
Published 3:42 pm Thursday, March 29, 2018
By GRAHAM BROOKS / Staff Writer
HOOVER–After running through the 2017 Buccaneer Classic undefeated to take the crown one season ago, the Helena Huskies baseball team is off to another strong start in its attempt to repeat as champions in a spring break tournament that features more than a dozen quality high school baseball teams.
On day one, the Huskies took care of both Springville and Hazel Green by scores of 20-0 and 7-2 to begin pool play 2-0. Below are recaps of how both games went down on Wednesday, March 28.
Game 1. Helena 20 – Springville 0
In game one of the Buccaneer Classic, Helena exploded for 20 runs on 16 hits in five short innings to defeat Springville 20-0.
The Huskies scored two runs in the first inning, 10 in the second, three in the fourth and five runs in the fifth as 11 different players recorded at least one hit in the game.
After already leading 2-0, Helena essentially put the game out of reach in the second inning.
After back-to-back singles to start the inning, Brody Moss cleared the bases on a two-RBI single to make it 4-0 Helena.
Springville then gave up three straight walks, a balk and an RBI single by Landon Green stretched the lead to 7-0. Five more runs were plated in the inning after an error, RBI groundout and a pair of RBI singles.
At the plate, the Huskies were led by Nick Ragsdale and Moss. Ragsdale went 3-for-4 with one run, three RBIs and a walk. Moss went 2-for-2 with four runs scored, four RBIs and two walks.
Not to be overshadowed was the performance of Helena starting pitcher Brooks Tolbert who gave up just one hit in five innings and recorded five strike outs to get the win. Tolbert threw 40 strikes on 59 total pitches.
Game 2. Helena 7 – Hazel Green 2
Helena starting pitcher Richard Fitts has been outstanding through the first half of the season and that would continue against Hazel Green in game two of the Buccaneer Classic on March 28.
Fitts pitched a complete game and fanned 11 Hazel Green batters while giving up just three hits to record the win.
Fitts got plenty of run support as the Huskies collected 14 hits in the game.
Helena grabbed a quick 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning on a fielder’s choice and an RBI single by Landon Green.
The next inning, Helena started a two-out rally which resulted in three more runs plated. After an error and intentional walk, back-to-back RBI singles by John Stephen Heacock and Colton Hood made it 5-0 Huskies.
Helena’s final two runs of the game came in the top of the fourth inning after a walk and three straight Helena batters were hit-by-pitch to score Green. An RBI single by Luke Stamba scored Hood to make it 7-1.
Green went a perfect 4-for-4 with one RBI at the plate for Helena while Hood went 2-for-4 with three RBIs and one run scored.
With the win, Helena improved to 13-8 on the season as they hope to continue strong play in the Buccaneer Classic.
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