It was one of the first truly good baseball days of the season.
But it wasn't a good baseball day for the Helias Crusaders.
"We didn't play today," Helias coach Chris Wyrick said Wednesday after a 5-0 loss to St. Dominic in a clash of Crusaders at the American Legion Post 5 Sports Complex.
Helias had just two hits in the game - a leadoff double in the fourth inning by Trevor Austin and a two-out single in the fifth by Jason Binkley. Three Crusaders reached on walks, while Helias struck out five times.
"We needed to do have better approaches at the plate," Wyrick said. "We were swinging at balls we couldn't handle."
St. Dominic took the lead with two runs in the third off Helias starter Dawson Meyer. Jack Niggemeier hit a one-out single and stroke second. Matt Hanson then advanced to all the way to second on an infield error as Niggemeyer scored. After a flyout, Nick Bone singled home Hanson.
"We didn't play catch on the easy stuff and that cost us," Wyrick said.
St. Dominic (7-2) added its final three runs in the fifth on four singles and an error.
Meyer took the loss, working 4 1/3 innings. He allowed three runs on five hits, striking out two.
"He's been throwing a lot in the last week in a half, but he's the best pitcher we have when it comes to throwing strikes," Wyrick said. "He did enough to keep us in the game."
Austin pitched 1 2/3 innings in relief, allowing two runs on three hits. Jacob Hartman set down St. Dominic in order in the seventh.
Helias had just three of its normal starters in the lineup Wednesday.
Helias (8-3) is back in action Friday and Saturday at the Waynesville Tournament. The Crusaders will play Neosho and Lutheran: St. Charles on Friday before facing the host school Saturday.