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By TYLER RALEY | Staff Writer

TUSCALOOSA – As the season stood on the line on Saturday, April 19 at Northridge High School, the Helena Huskies needed to make one thing happen in order to put them in a good position to win—they needed to break a tie.

In the ninth inning of a decisive game three between the Huskies and the Northridge Jaguars, Lane Harris stood in the box with the bases loaded and one out. On the third pitch of his at-bat, he stroked a single into center field, driving in a run to give Helena the lead again for the first time since the first inning.

More importantly, that RBI was the catalyst for a string of hits, eventually allowing the Huskies to score six runs in the inning, and later win the game to keep the year going.

Helena defeated Northridge on the road in three games, winning game one 3-2, losing the middle 11-0 and winning the finale 10-4 to advance to the second round of the Class 6A state playoffs.

Game one of the weekend saw the emotions flare and set the tone for the series to come. With Brett Cannon sitting on second in the top of the first for the Huskies, Braydon Kendrick drove him in on a double into center field to make it 1-0.

Heading into the second, Cannon wanted to inflict more damage on the scoreboard. Following two singles by Samuel Odom and Nate Jones, Cannon singled on a line drive to left field, scoring Odom to extend the score to 2-0.

However, the Jags did not let the lead last for long. In the bottom half of the second, Northridge tied it up off of an RBI single and fielder’s choice, putting it at 2-2.

The offense then entered a drought on both sides, and while Helena saw runners get in scoring position in the fourth and fifth, it could not break through.

All that changed in the top of the seventh though, as with two runners on from walks, Jonathan Roberto smashed an RBI double to left field to break the tie, setting the score at 3-2. The Huskies then finished out the game in the bottom of the seventh to win a dramatic game one.

Brayden Dockery earned the victory in game one, putting forth a complete effort and a complete game with two runs given up on four hits while striking out four as well.

Following the win though, the tides shifted for Helena, who was unable to carry its heroics into game two.

The Jags brought the bats and were determined to not give the Huskies any chance to end their season. Northridge was so determined that in the top of the first inning, it chalked eight runs thanks to five RBI singles, a fielder’s choice and a passed ball off of starting pitcher Trey Lampman.

The Jags later scored one run in the top of the third and two runs in the top of the fifth to put the score at 11-0, eventually ending the game in five innings on a run rule.

That set up the most important rubber match either of the teams had played all year long, and the fireworks started early.

Following two singles in the top of the first, Kendrick laced a two-RBI single into right field to put Helena on top 2-0 early. A couple of batters later, Odom singled on an infield ground ball with runners at the corners, driving in a third run before Roberto singled into right field a couple of batters later to make it 4-0 at the end of the top half.

Brody Butler then took the mound to start the game, and after allowing the bases to immediately become loaded, struck out three consecutive hitters to get out of the jam.

He was not so lucky in the bottom of the second though, as after loading the bases again, two walks scored in two runs to cut the Northridge deficit to two runs.

The very next inning in the bottom of the third, Justin Mullenix relieved Butler, but also got into a jam. With the bases loaded, a sacrifice fly made it a 4-3 game, and on the next batter, the game was tied following a wild throw to catch a runner stealing at third.

Following that sequence, a pitcher’s duel ensued and the game proved to be at a stalemate for a while. The Jags threatened by getting the bases loaded off three consecutive singles in the bottom of the sixth with one out, but two outs to follow the hits saw Mullenix escape.

Eventually, with the game knotted at 4-4 after seven innings, the game went to extras, and after a silent eighth inning, things changed in the ninth.

Jarret Scott and Nick Peters walked in the top half for the Huskies before Kendrick got hit by a pitch to load the bases. Harris and Odom then hit back-to-back RBI singles to break the tie.

Later, Roberto also notched a two-RBI single to right field with two outs, making it 8-4 before Cannon laced a double two batters later to set the mark at 10-4 heading into the bottom half.

In four batters, Mullenix retired Northridge, winning the game for Helena and advancing it to the second round in exhilarating fashion. 

With the series win on the road, the Huskies now head on towards round two where they will host the Stanhope Elmore Mustangs on Friday, April 25 at Helena High School. First pitch times are yet to be announced.