Jefferson City senior Mychael Jett had her last shot at pitching the Lady Jays to a victory against Helias on Wednesday.
"She's been wanting to beat them bad," Jefferson City coach Zac Miller said. "Senior, last shot to get them, heck yeah she's going to have a little extra."
Jett only allowed four hits and struck out five as the Lady Lays won 1-0 at Vogel Vield at Riverside Park, breaking a three-game losing streak to the Lady Crusaders.
The crosstown showdown had the makings of a pitchers duel from the start.
The first 13 batters of the game were retired. Helias got on base first when Riley Heckenkamp smacked a one-out single to center field in the third. Emily Harrison then reached on an infield single but a strikeout and fielder's choice kept it scoreless.
Helias pitcher Lauren Howell sent down the first 11 Lady Jays she faced.
"She threw great," Helias coach Dan Campbell said. "She did all she could do. We've got to support her."
The 12th batter Howell faced scored the game's lone run. Kara Daly bounced a hard grounder off the third baseman's glove for a double down the left-field line. Daly ended up scoring after a wild pitch and an error.
"Just beating ourselves," Campbell said. "We did three things wrong on one play and it cost us a run, cost us the game."
Megan Green followed with a single but Howell didn't allow another hit the rest of the way. Howell struck out four and walked two while allowing two hits and an unearned run.
"I thought, this is going to be a grinder," Miller said. "Kara gets a big hit down the line, throw a ball away and here we go, 1-0."
The Lady Crusaders had a chance to get on the board in the fifth after Sophia Carr placed a bunt down the first-base line for a single and Heckenkamp reached on an error.
A groundout put the runners in scoring position but a flyout to center field ended the threat.
"I think her and coach (Aubrey) Moss had a great game plan tonight," Miller said of Jett. "It's all about execution. It doesn't matter how hard you throw or where you throw if you can't execute. She executed her pitches and put them in the right spots."
The Lady Jays had a chance to add to their lead in the sixth as Brooke Bates drew a walk, Daly was hit by a pitch and Green was intentionally walked.
"You just know one swing of the bat can tie it up," Miller said. "We were hoping for some insurance and definitely had the opportunity for it and still put a good swing on the ball."
Jett sent a fly ball to right field, but Holly Hentges made the catch to sent it to the seventh.
Howell gave Helias life with a one-out triple down the left-field line. A strikeout and flyout to right ended it.
"I had faith we could get a hit or at least hit a fly ball," Campbell said. "We hit the fly ball one out too late."
Helias (4-3) will host Fatima on Friday. The JV game will start at 5 p.m. with the varsity to follow at about 6:30 p.m. at the American Legion Post 5 Sports Complex.
Jefferson City (2-1) plays at 4:30 p.m. Friday at Camdenton.
Jefferson City won Wednesday's JV game 6-1. Olivia Wood was the winning pitcher. Ella Berendzen had two hits and two RBI for the Lady Jays.