Lauren Howell was nearly perfect Thursday night.
The Helias sophomore pitcher allowed just an infield single against the Borgia Lady Knights, facing the minimum 21 batters in the Lady Crusaders' 3-0 win at American Legion Post 5 Sports Complex.
"We just made all the routines plays, which is what we've got to do," Helias coach Dan Campbell said. "If we can do that, give her a few runs, we're going to be tough to beat."
Howell finished the game with 14 strikeouts, fanning at least two batters in each of the first six innings. She retired the first 13 batters she faced, then got a high and outside strike call on a full count for the 14th straight out.
"She's tough anyway, but when she's hitting the corners and hitting her spots, she's doubly tough," Campbell said. "I thought she threw really well tonight."
The perfect game ended when the next batter, Brianna Moritz, reached on an infield single tapped 15 feet in front of home plate. Howell's throw was a tad late and got past first baseman Kenley Haslag.
Moritz was Borgia's only baserunner of the game, and she wouldn't stay on the basepaths for very long. As she turned to head toward second base, Helias right fielder Emily Harrison backed up the overthrow and threw to shortstop Abbi Pringer, who made the tag on Moritz to end the inning.
"That just tells you that your player is in the game," Campbell said of Harrison. "If you've got a pitcher striking out a lot of players, you can get flat-footed and not be expecting the ball. She was spot-on, backed that play up and it paid off."
Borgia hit the ball out of the infield twice against Howell, both by No. 3 hitter Josie Lindemann, who flied out to Taylor Woehr in center field in the first and then flied out to Harrison in right to end the fourth.
Helias supplied Howell with enough run support in the bottom of the first inning. Woehr reached on a bunt single and stole second base, then scored on a double to left-center by Rylee Kolb.
"We've gotten one (run) in the first inning the last two nights," Campbell said. "That takes a little pressure off your hitters."
Three straight Borgia errors in the fourth inning led to another run for the Lady Crusaders, making the score 2-0.
With the bases loaded and two outs in the sixth, Holly Hentges hit a ground ball deep in the hole at shortstop. Sophia Carr won a footrace to third base to avoid a force out, allowing pinch runner Tori Hartman to score to give Helias a three-run lead.
The Lady Crusaders finished with three hits, getting a two-out single from Woehr in the fifth.
Helias is now 4-0 playing on its home field, which is now located on the north side of the Complex, winning all three games there this week.
"They love it," Campbell said. "We got a little more foul ground here, it's a little bit bigger. We've got a beautiful fence and the infield is really good. I haven't seen hardly any bad hops, it's just a good playing surface.
"We're liking it. We're liking it a lot."
Helias (9-0) will get a much-needed break, having played seven games in the past seven days. The Lady Crusaders next play Tuesday at Blair Oaks in the Honor our Heroes Game. The JV will play at 5 p.m., followed by the varsity game around 6:45 p.m. A short ceremony for military veterans will take place between games.
"It's been a long week," Campbell said. "The girls are tired and we're going to take a little time off, get back on the practice field this weekend. We're going to take a little time and enjoy the week."
Thursday's loss snaps a six-game win streak for Borgia (6-3).
Helias also won the JV game 2-0. Cori Verslues and Abigale Hoelscher each had one double. Tabitha Imhoff and Jessica Graessle combined to pitch a three-hit shutout.