The Helias Crusaders pushed across a run in the bottom of the fourth inning Thursday to take a 2-1 lead against the Boonville Pirates.
But they also left two runners in scoring position in the inning. Then left the bases loaded in the fifth and sixth. And the Pirates took advantage.
Boonville scored twice in its half of the sixth on its way to a 3-2 victory against Helias at the American Legion Post 5 Sports Complex.
"It is like when we get guys on base, we tense up and put the pressure on ourselves instead of knowing the pressure is on the defense to stop us," Helias coach Chris Wyrick said.
"We're too passive at the plate and that's on me."
Helias scored a run in the third inning to take the lead. Kale Gerstner doubled to lead off the frame and one out later was balked to third. Alex Barton then doubled to give the Crusaders a 1-0 lead.
In the top of the fourth, three straight one-out singles loaded the bases for Boonville. The Pirates then tied it on a groundout.
Helias regained the lead in its half of the inning. With two outs, Chase Bexten reached on an error and moved to third on a single by Josh Feather. Helias then tried a double-steal and Bexten scored when the Boonville catcher threw the ball into center field.
In the fifth, the Crusaders sandwiched singles around a hit-batter to load the bases with one out. But Helias failed to score after a force out at the plate and a pop out.
The Pirates' rally in the sixth started with a walk with two outs and nobody on. Ethan Sander then doubled to right-center to drive home the tying run. After a wild pitch moved Sander to third, Alec Viertel blooped a single that dropped between three Helias players in left-center to give the Pirates the lead at 3-2.
"It's the little things, the other guys are taking advantage of our mistakes," Wyrick said. "I don't know how that play happened."
Helias had a chance to tie it or take the lead in the sixth. Gerstner hit a one-out single before Dylan Gaines was hit by a pitch. After a grounder back to the mound, Barton walked to load the bases. But a fly out ended the inning.
Boonville then loaded the bases with nobody out in the top of the seventh. But the Crusaders got an infield popout before picking up their third double play of the game on a flyout to Gerstner in right, who then threw out a runner at the plate.
Helias got a runner on with one out in the bottom of the seventh before the game ended with a pair of strikeouts.
Cole Donaldson took the loss for the Crusaders. He pitched 51/3 innings, allowing three runs on five hits and a walk while striking out two.
Donaldson did a good job of working down in the zone, getting 13 of his 17 outs on grounders.
"He pitched good enough to win the game," Wyrick said.
Clayton Winter worked the final 12/3 innings, allowing three hits.
Ta'Voious Brazil, the second of four Boonville pitchers, got the win for the Pirates (2-0).
Helias (0-1) will play four games starting Monday in Florida.
"Maybe we can beat somebody from another state," Wyrick said.
In Thursday's JV game, Drew Boessen allowed one hit and struck out five in a Helias 5-0 victory. Matt Dampf drove in two runs for the Crusaders.
III
A date for the resumption of Tuesday's game against Fatima halted by rain has not been decided. The game, tied at 1, will resume with Fatima coming to bat in the top of the ninth.