Raiders have frustrating day against Helias

By JASON VIOX/Daily Journal Sports Writer

BONNE TERRE - Saturday was a perfect day for a game of baseball, but unfortunately, things didn't go in favor of the North County Raiders when they hosted the Jefferson Helias Crusaders. Solid pitching by Kelly Fick made it very difficult for North County to get anything done in a 4-1 defeat.

Helias scored the first run of the game in the top of the second inning. Jason Lansford nailed a pop fly to the outfield which was fumbled for a two-base error. Following a perfectly placed bunt single by Zach Eiken, Calvin Keth hit a ground ball to the shortstop for a 6-4-3 double play, allowing Lansford to reach home safely.

Matt Amick drew a walk and stole a base to keep the inning alive. Nick Brondel smashed a ground ball to center field while Amick attempted to cross home plate. North County's Dan Harris made a beautiful throw to catcher Nick Hulsey, who applied the tag to end the inning and the threat.

Helias wasn't satisfied with the one-run lead as they struck again in the fourth inning. An infield error, hit batsman, and a solid bunt quickly loaded the bases with no outs. Two additional runs scored on another hit batsman and a wild pitch.

With the bases still loaded, a ground ball by Hane Hughes drove in one more run. However, while the lead baserunner stopped at third base, the trailer tried to advance to third base, leading to a rundown. North County tagged the trailing runner to end the inning as Helias maintained a 4-0 advantage.

The Raiders' lone run came in the bottom of the seventh inning. Nick Eckl came through with his second single of the game, stole two bases, and scored on a RBI ground out by Hulsey.

"Fick did a nice job. He only made the pitches when he needed to and got us to swing at some things that weren't strikes," stated North County's head coach Kyle Yount. "You got to tip your hat to a guy like that. He came out and he did his job. He got a lead early in the ball game and did a nice job pitching with it."

"We got ourselves in a little bit of trouble," Yount commented regarding the fourth inning. "We didn't make a couple of plays that inning. We put ourselves in a tough spot."

The Raiders, now 3-1, will try to get back on the winning track when they travel to Ste. Genevieve for a conference match-up on Tuesday.

Helias - 010 300 0 - 4 2 1

North County - 000 000 1 - 1 3 2

Helias:

Hitting - Eiken 2

Pitching - Fick (W) 7i 3h 1r 1er 1bb 7k

North County:

Hitting - Eckl 2, Hulsey 1. 2b - Hulsey 1

Pitching - Blankenship (L) 5i 2h 4r 0er 4bb 5k 2hp, Hawkins 2i 0h 0r 1bb 1k 1hp.