It was a gem on the mound for the Helias Crusaders.
It wasn't pretty, but it was a gem.
Tyler Cassmeyer and Trevor Austin combined on a no-hitter Thursday night as the Crusaders defeated the Blair Oaks Falcons 5-1 to open pool play in the Capital City Invitational at the American Legion Post 5 Sports Complex.
"Tyler was mentally focused and mature out there," Helias coach Chris Wyrick said. "Tyler has a chance to be a really, really good pitcher. He showed me some things tonight that when it comes to crunch-time, he can be a good pitcher.
"That's a good team, to hold them to no hits says something about the way we pitched tonight."
Cassmeyer worked the first six innings before leaving because of the pitch-count rule. The senior walked five and struck out nine, including the first six Falcons of the contest.
"Hats off to Tyler Cassmeyer, he threw a very good game," Blair Oaks coach Travis Henke said. "You have to give him credit, he mixed his pitches well. He had a good fastball, his slider and his change-up were working.
"He really kept up off-balance. It was a good effort by him."
Austin, a freshman, retired the side in order in the bottom of the seventh in his first varsity pitching appearance.
On the other side, Blair Oaks starter Ryan Paschal had a bit of tough luck in taking the loss. He pitched the first 51/3 innings, leaving because of the pitch count rule, allowing three hits and two walks while striking out eight.
"Falling behind a few batters is an issue," Henke said. "That can get your pitch count up quickly."
Both of Paschal's walks came in a three-run Helias sixth that broke a tie at 1.
"His curve was good tonight, we were off-balance a lot against him," Wyrick said.
In the Helias sixth, Alex Buschjost led off with a single and was sacrificed to second by Parker Schnieders. Walks to Drew Boessen and Austin Fennewald loaded the bases before Paschal was relieved by Jason Rackers.
"We preach no free passes, but it's baseball and it happens," Henke said. "You have to minimize the damage after that."
Rackers got the second out of the inning on a popup bunt. He then got strike three on Brandon Ferguson, but when the ball got past the Falcon catcher, Ferguson beat the throw to first as Buschjost scored to make it 2-1.
"It's tough when you drop a third strike that could have ended the inning," Henke said. "I think that's a matter of focus and we didn't have it tonight."
Zach Stiles then singled up the middle to drive home two runs and it was 4-1.
"He hit a hard ground ball, took it right back up the middle and good things happened," Wyrick said.
The Falcons had a runner at third with one out in the bottom of the sixth, but he was stranded after a popout and strikeout.
"Tyler bounced back, to keep them off the board there were huge," Wyrick said.
Boessen drove home Alex Buschjost in the top of the seventh for an insurance run.
Austin then set down the Falcons 1-2-3 in the bottom of the inning.
Helias got on the board in the first when Stiles led off the game with a single and later came home on a sacrifice fly by Matt Dampf.
Blair Oaks tied in the third. Two walks with one out put runners at first and second. One out later, another walk loaded the bases before Paschal walked to drive in a run to even the game at 1.
"To keep an offense to one run, you did your job in that inning," Henke said. "As an offense, we need to find a way to get those guys in when he's giving us free passes and we didn't do that."
Blair Oaks (4-1) continues Invitational play today with games against Lutheran: St. Charles at noon and Blue Springs at 4:30 p.m.
"Each team knows each other, neither team wants to lose this game," Henke said. "Hopefully this lights a fire under us."
Helias (2-3) will take on Blue Springs at 2:15 p.m. today, followed by a game against Lutheran: St. Charles at 6:45 p.m.
"Hopefully this game will loosen us up and allow us to just come out and play from now on," Wyrick said.
The tournament will conclude with a single game for each team Saturday.