Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By ANDREW SIMONSON | Sports Editor

HELENA – The Helena Huskies can now claim a 2-0 record over their fiercest rival after taking the second leg of their regular season area series.

Helena defeated the Pelham Panthers 7-2 on Wednesday, April 2 at Helena High School to improve to 3-1 in Class 6A, Area 8 play.

After defeating the Panthers 5-1 on March 6, the Huskies found themselves in an early hole in the top of the first. Laini Stewart started the top of the first with a single before Taylor Howard reached on an error to put two on with nobody out. From there, Stewart came home off another infield error to take the 1-0 lead.

However, Marlee Parsons locked in to strike out the next two batters and force a first-pitch ground out to end the inning.

Macie Brashears kicked off the bottom of the first with a first-pitch single and advanced all the way to third on a Lily Sanderson sacrifice bunt. That allowed her to come home off an error by the Pelham infield off an Addison Draiss ground ball to tie the game at 1-1.

Hayden Traywick then reached off an error to put two aboard, and while the next batter struck out, Baleigh Sprouse launched a three-run home run to put the Huskies in front 4-1.

After allowing just one base runner in the top of the second, Macie Brashears increased Helena’s lead as she came up with a two-out solo home run for the 5-1 advantage.

The Huskies stayed in front thanks to Parsons’ strong day in the circle and added to their lead in the bottom of the fourth after a scoreless third for both teams.

Izabel Vice and Brashears got back-to-back one-out hits to put two runners in scoring position, and two batters later, Draiss overcame a two-out hole to rip a line drive double into center and score both runners. That increased the lead to 7-1, Helena’s largest advantage of the game.

Pelham wouldn’t break through until the top of the seventh when Stewart took a 1-2 pitch to deep left field for a solo home run, trimming the deficit to 7-2.

Parsons would then work three-straight infield ground outs to finish off the area victory. She ended the day with a complete-game win, striking out nine against one earned run, two total runs, five hits and two walks.

Brashears finished a perfect 4-for-4 with three runs, including her solo shot, and Draiss went 3-for-4 with three RBI and a run. Sprouse earned three RBI on the back of her three-run home run as she finished 1-for-3.

Stewart led the Panthers offense with a 2-for-4 day with two runs and an RBI off her solo home run.

Helena improved to 14-7-2 with the win and 3-1 in area play ahead of tournament action at Calera on April 4 and 5.

Pelham dropped to 8-12 overall and 0-4 in area play. The Panthers will return on Monday, April 7 when they travel to Mountain Brook to face the Spartans at 5 p.m.