It's a winning habit, but one Helias coach Chris Wyrick would like the Crusaders to get past.
"I'm glad to see the way we fought back again, but we need to quit putting ourselves into these situations," Wyrick said after Helias picked up its third straight come-from-behind win, this one a 5-4 decision Monday against the Camdenton Lakers at the American Legion Sports Complex.
"We need to play with a sense of urgency earlier in games."
The Crusaders (3-2) are now 2-2 in one-run games this season.
"We're doing a very good job of keeping games close," Wyrick said. "We're not quitting, we're battling."
The sixth inning was the pivotal frame Monday. With Camdenton holding a 4-3 lead, John McRoberts led off the inning with a double to center off Helias starter Cole Distler.
Wyrick brought Trevor Schnieders on in relief and the senior got out of the inning with a pair of strikeouts and a flyout.
"I think Trevor may have put them back on their heels a little bit because he's a different style pitcher than Cole," Wyrick said. "Trevor was outstanding, he threw a lot of strikes, especially with his off-speed pitches."
Helias tied it in the bottom of the inning. Hayden Lee hit a seeing-eye single with one out, then moved to second on a balk and to third on a wild pitch. He then scored on a sacrifice fly by Jordan Backes.
Schnieders retired the Lakers in order in the top of the seventh to set up the Crusaders' winning rally.
With runners at the corners and one out, Camdenton intentionally walked Joe Reinkemeyer to load the bases. After a strikeout, Alex Barton blooped a single to right to bring home Jared Bentlage with the game-winner.
Schnieders got the win, walking one and striking out three in two innings of relief. Distler pitched the first five-plus innings, allowing four runs six hits and a walk. He struck out three.
"Cole is going to learn each time out and I expect him to be better," Wyrick said.
The game was tied at 3 after two innings.
Helias picked up its runs on sacrifice flies by Schnieders and Reinkemeyer in the first and on an error in the second. Camdenton got a run in the first on a grounder by Tyler Cunningham and two in the second on a single by Jake Voorhees.
The Lakers took the lead on a fourth on a sacrifice fly by Voorhees.
"They were having a lot of good at-bats," Wyrick said.
This was Helias' first time either playing or practicing at the Complex this season because of the weather. The Crusaders are looking for the better weather to get into a routine.
"It's going to be good to be able to practice and play on a regular schedule," Wyrick said.
Helias is back in action Wednesday at Hickman before playing Friday and Saturday in the Capital City Invitational.
In Monday's JV game, Helias was a 5-4 winner against Camdenton to improve to 2-1 on the season.