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The Helena Huskies honored their seniors with a dominant run-rule win over Hueytown powered by a five-run second inning. (For the Reporter/Jeremy Raines)

By ANDREW SIMONSON | Sports Editor

HELENA – The Helena Huskies honored the Class of 2024 in a big way as they easily handled the Hueytown Golden Gophers in an 11-1 win on Monday, March 18 at Helena High School.

After a scoreless first inning, Hueytown struck first with two outs in the top of the second. A walk and a single led to a Golden Gophers runner stealing home to put them up 1-0.

However, the Huskies bounced back in the bottom of the second and responded in a big way.

Hayden Berry hit a leadoff single to start the half-inning, but Helena was quickly put in a two-out hole after that.

Then, an error by the Hueytown shortstop allowed Caleb Higgins to reach base and Berry to bring the tying run home.

That opened the floodgates for a five-run second inning.

Ty Stricklin hit an RBI double to give the Huskies a 2-1 lead. After Jarret Scott drew a walk on the ensuing at-bat, Reece Mims launches a three-run home run to make the score 5-1.

A Berry double and a pair of walks loaded up the bases in the bottom of the third for Higgins who plated the sixth run of the game. After a wild pitch advanced both runners into scoring position, Stricklin hit a two-run double to put Helena up 8-1.

The fourth inning came and went without a run, but a Stricklin single and Scott walk in the bottom of the fifth set up the Huskies to score again.

Mims hit an RBI single to kick off three straight scoring plays. His hit was followed by a fielder’s choice by Nicholas Peters that scored a run and an RBI double by John Martin Williamson.

Williamson’s double triggered the run rule and gave Helena the 11-1 win.

Bennett Plowden earned the win with nine strikeouts in four innings against one run, two hits and a walk.

Stricklin finished the day 3-4 with three RBIs and two runs, Mims went 2-3 with a home run, four RBIs and a walk and Berry had a 2-3 night with two runs.

The Huskies will continue their big week with a rivalry matchup against Pelham on the road on Thursday, March 21 at 6:30 p.m.

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