The Helias Crusaders start Class 5 District 9 Tournament play today in Columbia.
They're going into it with a positive feeling.
"I think it's a good thing to play just before districts start, it helps get you focused, especially when you win," Helias assistant coach Brent Schnieders said after the Crusaders topped the Sedalia Smith-Cotton Tigers 6-2 on Thursday at the American Legion Post 5 Sports Complex.
"We're getting ready to start a brand new season and we're going in feeling pretty good."
The Crusaders put together strong outings on the mound and at the plate Thursday.
Wyatt Porter went the distance to get the win. The senior lefty allowed five hits and three walks while striking out five.
"Wyatt threw a pretty decent game and that helped save us some pitching for districts," said Schnieders, speaking for head coach Chris Wyrick, who had to leave immediately after the game for a family function.
Helias finished with 10 hits to continue a strong string of good offensive outings. The Crusaders have now won nine of their last 11 games, averaging just under 12 runs in their victories.
The Crusaders scored three times in the first inning.
Austin Sachse drew a one-out walk to start the rally. Alex Faddoul followed with a single before a Hayden Lee single scored Sachse to make it 1-0. One out later, Todd Buschjost singled to score Faddoul and Lee.
Helias added three more runs in the third.
Lee beat out an infield single with one out. After another out, Buschjost singled to score Lee, who had stolen second. Buschjost then stole second before moving to third on a Garrett Buschjost single. John Rhea followed with a hard-hit grounder that bounced off the glove of the Smith-Cotton second baseman to score both Buschjosts to make it 6-0.
The Tigers (14-7) took advantage of a pair of Crusader infield throwing errors to score both of their runs in the fifth. Errors have plagued Helias at times this season.
"You can't change anything, you just have to keep teaching and working on it," Schnieders said. "But it's something we have to clean up."
Porter then worked out of a jam in the sixth. The Tigers used a hit-batter, a walk and an infield single to load the bases with two outs before Porter got a strikeout to end the threat.
Garrett Buschjost led Helias with three hits. Todd Buschjost and Chase Bexten had two hits each. Both of Bexten's hits were doubles.
Helias (18-8) is the No. 3 seed in the district tournament and will face No. 6 Battle at 7 p.m. today at Rock Bridge in the final of three-first round games.
"I think we have a good chance at making some noise in districts," Schnieders said. "Our pitching has been pretty solid all year, our hitting has really come around."
Hickman, the fourth seed, will face fifth-seeded Sedalia at 3 p.m. today. Second-seeded Rock Bridge will take on seventh-seeded Camdenton at 5 p.m.
Jefferson City, the No. 1 seed, has a first-round bye.
The Helias-Battle winner will face the Rock Bridge-Camdenton winner in the semifinals at 7 p.m. Monday.
The championship game is slated for 6 p.m. Wednesday.