Helena’s strong start powers area win at Spain Park

Published 9:40 am Wednesday, March 19, 2025

By Andrew Simonson

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By ANDREW SIMONSON | Sports Editor

HOOVER – In a clash of two perennial state tournament teams, the Helena Huskies used a fast start at the plate to set up a big area win over the Spain Park Jaguars.

Helena defeated Spain Park 7-2 on Tuesday, March 18 at Spain Park High School behind six runs in the first two innings.

Addison Draiss kicked off the scoring in the top of the first with a one-out RBI single to score Lily Sanderson and take a 1-0 lead. She came home two batters later when Hayden Traywick came up with a two-out RBI double to double up the advantage.

The Huskies worked a one-two-three bottom of the first before busting the game wide open in the top of the second.

After Tatum Cooper reached off a lead-off error, Gracie Storey brought her home off an RBI double to start off the scoring. Two batters later, Macie Brashears walked and then advanced to second to get in scoring position for Sanderson. She then came home off an RBI single for the 4-0 lead.

Draiss then took the plate and battled through three-straight foul balls to come up with a two-run double to make the lead 6-0 at the end of the second.

Marlee Parsons kept dealing from there, keeping the Jags scoreless for the first six innings in a dominant showing. She finished with nine strikeouts against just two runs, two hits and two walks in seven innings.

Helena added to its lead in the top of the fifth after a pair of walks set up Cooper’s two-out RBI single for the 7-0 lead.

That was the last bit of offense for the Huskies, but Spain Park didn’t go down without a fight. After a lead-off single by Chloe Wade in the bottom of the seventh, Allie Whitaker took a 1-0 pitch deep to left for a two-run home run to make the final score 7-2.

Draiss had a team-high three RBI while finishing 2-for-4 with a run. Sanderson secured three hits in a 3-for-4 day with two runs and an RBI.

Helena improved to 14-7-2 overall and 2-0 in area play. The Huskies will look to go 3-for-3 against area opponents ahead of spring break when they face Chelsea on Thursday, March 20 at 4:30 p.m. at the Chelsea Sports Complex.

As for Spain Park, it dropped to 14-8 ahead of a Wednesday, March 19 home matchup with the Springville Tigers at 4:30 p.m.

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