COLUMBIA, Mo. - Austin Sachse went the distance Friday night as the Helias Crusaders opened Class 5 District 9 play with a 7-2 victory against the Battle Spartans at Rock Bridge.
With the win, third-seeded Helias (19-8) advances to take on second-seeded Rock Bridge in the semifinals at 7 p.m Monday.
Sachse scattered five hits and four walks while striking out 11.
Alex Faddoul had three hits, one a 400-foot home run to left, and drove in four runs for the Crusaders. He also scored three times. Hayden Lee had two hits in a nine-hit Helias attack.
Helias scored three times in the first and once in the fifth before putting the game away with three runs in the sixth.
Rock Bridge advanced with an 8-4 win against Camdenton.