Coming off a disappointing extra-inning loss Tuesday, the Helias Lady Crusaders were looking for better things Wednesday night.
It turned out to be another loss. But it wasn't a total loss.
"This was better, last night was a disaster," Helias coach Dan Campbell said after the Lady Crusaders dropped a 9-1 decision to the Hickman Kewpies at the American Legion Post 5 Sports Complex.
"The focus was there, the intensity was there. We just needed a few different things to happen and it could have been different."
Hickman took the lead with two runs in the second inning off Helias starter Tabitha Imhoff. The Kewpies used two singles, a walk and and an
error to score after two were out and nobody was on.
"We had some plays we should have made, but they hit the ball hard," Campbell said.
The Kewpies then made it 3-0 with a run in the third before the Lady Crusaders got one in the bottom of the inning.
Abbi Pringer led off with an infield single and advanced to second on a bunt single by Taylor Woehr. Both runners moved up a base on a fly out before Pringer scored on sacrifice fly by Kenley Haslag.
The bottom of the fourth was pivotal in the game. Helias had runners on second and third with two outs when Pringer hit a long fly to deep left-center that was tracked down for the final out.
"I think if Abbi's ball gets down, it's a whole different game," Campbell said. "If we tie it, who knows what could happen? It was a nice catch."
Hickman then put the game away by scoring three times in the sixth and adding three more in the seventh.
"Hickman is solid - they have good pitching, hitting and team defense," Campbell said.
"They have a lot of offensive weapons, a lot of speed," Campbell said. "But I think we hung in there well."
Imhoff went the distance in the circle for the Lady Crusaders.
"That was a good seven innings, I was very pleased with her effort," Campbell said.The Lady Crusaders had at least one hit in each of the first five innings before going down in order against Kewpie starter Emily King in the sixth and seventh.
Helias had seven hits in the game.
Helias was without pitcher Lauren Howell, who had to leave Tuesday night's game at Fatima with an illness.
Campbell hopes to have Howell back this Friday and Saturday when Helias (12-4) travels to the Springfield Tournament. The Lady Crusaders will play twice Friday and three times Saturday.
"It's going to be a long couple of days," Campbell said.
Hickman is now 13-6.
III
Before the varsity game, Helias held Senior Night. And it truly was Senior Night as Lydia Young, Helias' lone senior, was honored.
"Lydia is a great worker and has been with us all four years," Campbell said. "We know she's going to do well for herself no matter what she chooses to do in life."