On a day with little offense, the Helias Crusaders were able to hang a crooked number early. And that proved to be enough.
The Crusaders tallied two runs in the bottom of the first inning Tuesday against the Fatima Comets on their way to a 3-1 win in their season opener at the American Legion Post 5 Sports Complex.
"For a first game, we played all right," Helias coach Chris Wyrick said. "But we can have better at-bats, we swung at some pitches that were out of the zone and that hurt us at times. But Fatima made some good plays to keep us off the board."
The Comets felt they allowed some scoring chances slip away as well.
"We got some pressure on them for a couple of innings, but that's just not enough," Fatima coach Scott Kilgore said. "Our approach at the plate has got to be better.
"I was pleased with the way we played, but you can't just string together a few hits early and then just die on offense. We watched too many good pitches go by, but as the season goes along, we'll get better that. We just need more reps."
Drew Bax's single and a double by Gage Bax put runners at second and third with two outs in the top of the first for the Comets. But Helias starter Connor McKenna got a strikeout to end that threat.
Zach Woehr led off the bottom of the first for Helias with a walk and stole second. One out later, Trevor Austin reached on an error before a walk to Dylan Hood loaded the bases.
Alex Buschjost followed with a first-pitch single to center to score Woehr and Austin. Fatima starter Ethan Backes got out of the inning with a strikeout looking and a flyout to keep it 2-0.
Fatima cut the deficit in half with a run in the second. Trey Herzing led off with a walk and moved to second on a wild pitch. He moved to third on an infield singe by Backes to put runners on the corners with nobody out.
A strikeout/caught stealing double play looked like it might get the Crusaders out of the inning before Brandon Dulle singled to center to score Herzing.
But McKenna proceeded to get 12 of the next 13 batters out before being pulled with one out in the top of the sixth.
"Connor got into a rhythm," Wyrick said. "Jamborees are fine, but there's nothing like Opening Day when you start playing for real. He struggled a little bit early, but he fought through it."
McKenna allowed four hits and one walk while striking out five.
"One run on four hits is going to win you games," Wyrick said.
Helias scored its other run in the fourth. Woehr hit a one-out single to center and stole second before moving to third on a groundout. Austin then beat out an infield single to score Woehr.
"It puts pressure on the defense when you can get down the line like Zach does," Wyrick said. "He's definitely going to be a weapon for us. If he can get on base twice a game, he's going to score some runs."
Austin came on in relief to get the final five outs, including a game-ending double play.
"He's got the arm to do the job, he can excel at it," Wyrick said. "It's for the betterment of the team and it's going to make him a better player."
Backes pitched the first four innings for Fatima, allowing four hits and four walks while striking out two.
"The only reasons I pulled him was his pitch count and it is cold," Kilgore said. "He did a good job of keeping them off-balance."
Ben Robertson pitched the final two frames for the Comets, giving up one hit and two walks while striking out one.
Fatima (0-3) will host Russellville on Friday for its home opener.
Helias (1-0) is on its way to Florida to play a total of four games Friday and Saturday.
"We should see some pretty good arms down there to prepare us for what we're going to see the rest of the season," Wyrick said.
Helias won Tuesday's JV game 6-0.