It was Senior Day for the Helias Crusaders.
And in their baseball opener Saturday at the American Legion Post 5 Sports Complex, those seniors had a very good day.
With every senior either starting or seeing extended playing time, Helias pounded out 14 hits in a 15-0 blanking of the Owensville Dutchmen in five innings.
"When you get 14 hits, you can't complain about your offense," Helias coach Chris Wyrick said. "We're doing a good job at the plate, we're adjusting to pitches a little quicker than we have been earlier in the season."
After a scoreless first inning, Helias broke the game open with a nine-run second. The Crusaders sent 13 men to the plate, scoring on a combination of five hits, three walks and two Dutchmen errors.
Hayden Lee had a two-run single in the inning, while Garrett Buschjost had a two-run double.
The Crusaders, visitors on the scoreboard, added a run in the top of the third to make it 10-0. Helias then used five hits and two walks to score five more in the fourth.
Andy Devine got the start for the Crusaders, allowing three hits in three innings.
"He just gets people out and gives us a chance," Wyrick said.
Wyatt Porter came on to pitch the final two frames, allowing a walk while striking out one.
"Wyatt came in and threw pretty decent," Wyrick said. "He and Andy are a c0uple of guys we're going to need down the stretch."
Twelve Crusaders had hits in the win. John Rhea and Austin Sachse led with two each. Alex Faddoul scored three times, while Todd Buschjost, Rhea, Matt Rehagen, Kale Gerstner and Sachse all score twice.
Garrett Buschjost drove in three runs, while Sachse and Lee had two RBI.
Helias has nine seniors - Lee, Brock Gerstner, Devine, Sachse, Rhea, Garrett Buschjost, Rehagen, Porter and Tryston Bax.
"It's a big group, one of the biggest I've ever had come through," Wyrick said. "It's a testament to their work ethic and their dedication to stick with it for four years. We're going to miss them.
"To a man, they've gotten better each year since they were freshmen. That's all you can ask from a player."
III
Helias then squared off against Nixa in a game later Saturday, falling 5-1.
The Crusaders had just four hits in the game, while committing three errors and walking six Eagle batters.
Nixa scored one run in the third, added two in the fourth then got single tallies in the sixth and seventh.
Helias' one run came in the bottom of the seventh.
Todd Buschjost had two hits and scored Helias' run, driven in by Rhea.
Sachse took the loss, allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits and three walks while striking out two. Todd Buschjost pitched 1 2/3 innings, giving up two earned runs on three hits and three walks with two strikeouts. Rehagen recorded the final out.
Helias (15-7) will play Wednesday at Pacific.