Something has clicked for the Helias Crusaders.
The Crusaders plated nine runs in the first three innings Tuesday on their way to a 12-4 win against the Salem Tigers in Class 4 sectional action at the American Legion Post 5 Sports Complex.
"We wanted to jump on them early," Helias coach Chris Wyrick said. "Confidence means a lot in this game, to get the lead like that gives you confidence and allows you to relax and just play baseball."
With the win, Helias (21-8, ranked No. 9 by the Missouri High School Baseball Coaches Association) advances to Thursday's quarterfinal at Aurora (26-3, ranked No. 5). Game time has not been announced.
"It's always good to play in late May and early June," Wyrick said.
Helias was ranked No. 1 in the preseason poll, only to tumble from the rankings after opening the season with two wins in its first five contests. But the Crusaders caught fire in midseason and have won 12 of their last 13 games to climb back into the state rankings.
"Our pitching has been strong all year, I think it's our defense that has really improved," Wyrick said. "We've started making the routine plays and have thrown in some very good plays as well.
"When teams have scored on us lately, it's been because of our defense."
The pitching and defense was strong through the first three innings Tuesday. Helias starter Clayton Winter opened with a trio of 1-2-3 innings his first time through the Salem batting order, striking out four Tigers.
Helias got a run in the bottom of the first. Drew Boessen was hit by a pitch and moved up a base on a wild pitch before scoring all the way from second on another wild pitch.
The Crusaders batted around in the second, scoring four times to break the game open.
Zach Stiles was hit by a pitch with one out before moving to second on a passed ball. Matthew Dampf followed with an RBI single to make it 2-0. Nick Carr then reached on an error as Dampf moved to third.
Nolan Sachse then singled to left to plate Dampf and move courtesy runner Alex Werner to second. After a strikeout, Alex Faddoul and Ryan Graessle hit RBI singles and it was 5-0.
"When we're aggressive at the plate, we are a good hitting team," Wyrick said. "When we get passive, that's when we struggle.
"We know we're not going to score 10-12 runs a game, that's not who we are. The kids accepted that at the beginning of the year and I think I've gotten around to accepting it. We're finding ways to score runs."
The importance of defense and good pitching was on display in the bottom of the third as Helias scored four runs without hitting a ball out of the infield. The Crusaders used a bunt single, two walks and two errors to score their runs.
Salem got on the board with three runs on two hits and two walks in the fourth.
The Crusaders used three hits and two Tiger errors to score three times in the bottom of the sixth. Dampf drove in two runs with a double, while Sachse had an RBI single.
Eight of the nine Helias starters reached base at least once Tuesday.
"A bunt, a sacrifice, a walk, everybody is doing something," Wyrick said. "We're putting a lot of pressure on the other team."
Salem got its final run in the seventh.
Winter went the distance to get the win, allowing five hits and three walks while striking out seven.
Kory Ramsey took the loss for Salem (14-12). He pitched two-plus innings, allowing six runs on five hits and two walks while striking out two. Jon Arzt worked the final four innings in relief.
With one win standing between them and a Final Four berth, the Crusaders are a confident squad.
"There's not much we haven't seen this year with the pitchers we've faced and the schedule we've played," Wyrick said.
It will be Aurora's first quarterfinal baseball appearance in 20 years.