Rogers dominates for Helias in Classic third-place game

Shade was at a premium on a sunny day Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021, where Rogers downed Helias for 3rd place at the Lady Jays Softball Classic at Binder Park.
Shade was at a premium on a sunny day Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021, where Rogers downed Helias for 3rd place at the Lady Jays Softball Classic at Binder Park.

It wasn't a no-hitter, but Mallorey Rogers had no-hit stuff.

Rogers gave up an infield single to the first batter of the game Saturday afternoon against Lee's Summit in the third-place game of the Lady Jays Softball Classic at Binder Park.

And that was it for the Lee's Summit offense.

"She was in command from the first pitch," Helias coach Kelly Fick said as the Lady Crusaders blanked the Tigers 6-0. "When she attacks hitters and fills up the zone, she's tough. Changing speeds, showing good command on her location, she was on today."

Omara Love of the Tigers started the top of the first with that infield single. She later stole second on a strikeout and moved to third on a groundout before Rogers recorded another strikeout to end the inning.

After stranding two runners in the bottom of the first, Helias got on the board in the second.

With one out, Payton Dudenhoeffer hit an infield single and moved to third on a single by Alex Wilde. Ava Morris followed with a bunt and Dudenhoeffer beat the throw home to make it 1-0.

The Lady Crusaders added two runs in the fourth. Morris and Liv Bloomer hit consecutive one-out singles before Ella Meyer lined a double off the fence in center to score Morris. When the throw to the plate was high, Bloomer came around to score to make it 3-0.

Helias scored its final three runs in the fifth.

Molly Berkey led off with a double to left-center and moved to to third on a grounder to first by Karoline Klebba. Fick cited Klebba, along with Morris in the second inning, with good hitting with a team approach.

"We bunted, we moved runners over when we needed to with a ground ball," Fick said.

Dudenhoeffer followed with a single to score Berkey to make it 4-0. She stole second before Wilde singled home Dudenhoeffer Wilde later scored on a single by Bloomer for the final run of the game.

"We challenged them when things get hard, stick with that approach and grind out at-bats," Fick said. "I was proud of how they bounced back to finish."

Rogers retired 19 straight Lee's Summit hitters after giving up the leadoff single. The streak ended with one out in the seventh when a short fly to the outfield bounced out of a glove for an error. That was the only ball the Tigers hit to the outfield in the game.

Rogers ended the game with a groundout and a liner to short.

Rogers struck out eight in the game. Four of those were looking and Fick said that's how you can tell how dominant Rogers was Saturday.

"That's when her stuff is moving well and she's changing speeds," he said. "She jumps out ahead of hitters and makes them have to hit her pitch."

Bloomer, Dudenhoeffer and Wilde had two hits each in an 11-hit Helias attack. The Lady Crusaders struck out just once in the game.

Earlier Saturday, Helias dropped a 2-1 decision to Fatima in the semifinals.

Helias had just three hits, two by Klebba. Bloomer scored the run for the Lady Crusaders.

Berkey took the loss, going the distance. She allowed just two hits and one walk while striking out nine.

"They cashed in with good team at-bats," Fick said.

Helias (11-4-1) will host Southern Boone on Tuesday at the American Legion Post 5 Sports Complex.