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By ANDREW SIMONSON | Sports Editor

GARDENDALE – The Helena Huskies extended their season-opening win streak to nine games thanks to a deep run in the Gardendale Tournament at Bill Noble Park.

While they suffered their first loss of the season to the Gardendale Rockets on Saturday, Feb. 22, Helena walked away with a 4-1 record thanks to a 4-1 win over the Hamilton Aggies, a 2-0 win over Gardendale, a 5-3 victory over the Mortimer Jordan Blue Devils and a 6-2 win over the Hayden Wildcats.

In the opening game of the tournament on Friday, Feb. 21 against Hamilton, the Huskies loaded up the bases in the bottom of the first off a single, walk and fielder’s choice before a passed ball plated the first two runs of the game.

Helena held on to that 2-0 lead until the bottom of the third when it became 4-0 thanks to a Tatum Cooper two-run single with two outs.

Hamilton got on the board in the top of the fourth off an RBI groundout after two hits to start the inning, but the Huskies saw out the fourth and fifth innings to take the 4-1 win.

Carrington Schiefer got the win by earning five strikeouts in four innings while working around one run, five hits and a walk.

In the next game against Gardendale, Helena took an early lead again, this time off a two-out RBI single from Destiny Brashears to take a 1-0 lead.

Marlee Parsons helped the Huskies keep the Rockets off the scoreboard, securing the complete-game shutout in five innings while earning five strikeouts and allowing just two hits and a walk.

Helena added another run in the top of the fifth after a Gracie Storey lead-off double turned into a run off a Lily Sanderson pop-out, capping off the 2-0 win.

The next day against Mortimer Jordan, both teams went scoreless for the first two innings before the Blue Devils scored three runs in the top of the fourth off an RBI double and a two-run home run.

Hayden Traywick quickly responded with a solo shot to start the bottom of the third. While two of the next three batters popped out, Macie Brashears’ walk and stolen base let Sanderson hit an RBI single to cut the deficit to 3-2.

Schiefer came up big in the circle as she got all three of the batters she faced out in the top of the fourth to give Helena a chance to win in the bottom of the inning.

While the first batter lined out, a Schiefer single and Henley Traywick walk set up Storey to load the bases with a single.

The Huskies nearly tied the game up off an error, but Baleigh Sprouse got out at home. However, Addison Draiss came up with a three-run RBI double to secure the walk-off 5-3 win.

Hayden Traywick earned the win with three strikeouts in three innings against three runs, three hits and three walks, and Schiefer’s perfect fourth gave her the save after she inherited a walked batter from Traywick.

In the next game against Hayden, the Wildcats took the early lead in a defensive duel thanks to a passed ball in the top of the third with two outs.

However, Hayden hit a batter and walked the next one to start the bottom of the third, and just like against Mortimer Jordan, Draiss came up big, this time with a three-run homer to take a 3-1 lead.

The next two batters got out, but a Destiny Brashears walk and Sprouse double kept the inning alive long enough for Hayden Traywick to send a three-run home run to center and extend the lead to 6-1.

From there, the Wildcats could only get a run off a wild pitch in the top of the fourth as Helena advanced with a 6-2 win.

Hayden Traywick went 2-for-2 with her three-run home run while Draiss’ three-run homer was one of just four hits from the Huskies in the game. Parsons took the complete game win, striking out seven batters while working around two unearned runs, a hit and a walk.

From there, Helena fell behind early against Gardendale before going down 4-1 in the top of the second. The Huskies scored three of the next four runs to make it a one-run game going into the fourth, but the Rockets got a two-run home run in the top of the fourth to take a 7-4 win.

Sanderson went 2-for-2 with two home runs, a solo shot in the bottom of the first and a two-run blast in the bottom of the third. Hayden Traywick had a perfect 2-for-2 game with an RBI single and Parsons struck out four in a losing effort.

Helena will have a tough test for its 9-1 record when it faces Thompson at home on Tuesday, Feb. 25 at 4:30 p.m.