By GRAHAM BROOKS / Staff Writer

HOOVER–The Helena Huskies baseball team traveled to Hoover High School on Saturday, March 5, to take on 7A host Hoover, as well as the Houston High School Hilltoppers of Mississippi.

The Huskies took down Hoover 7-4 in an exciting extra-innings game but fell in the second game by a score of 9-6 to the Hilltoppers to go 1-1 on the day.

Game 1. Helena 7 – Hoover 4

In a back-and-forth game that saw multiple lead changes, Helena led 4-2 and needed three more outs to defeat the Class 7A Hoover Buccaneers.

The Bucs did not go down without a fight, as Hoover rallied to score two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to send the game to extra innings.

With two outs and in need of a run, Hoover’s Reid Chandler singled scoring Garrett Farquhar to tie the game 4-4.

Helena would respond in the top of the eight inning, as Huskies outfielder Nash Adams blasted a three-run home run to score Kade Jones and Riley Davis to give Helena a 7-4 lead.

Helena relief pitcher Brett Walton ended any chance the Bucs had of a comeback in the bottom of the eighth as Walton retired the side in order after two strikeouts and a groundout to give Helena the 7-4 win.

Game 2. Helena 6 – Houston, Miss. 9

In game two, Helena had a lead late in the game similar to game one but this time the Huskies were unable to hold the lead and fell 9-6.

With Helena leading 6-5 heading to the bottom of the fifth inning, Houston’s Luke Hancock roped an RBI triple to score Wes Parker and tie the game 6-6.

With one out in the inning, the Hilltoppers Hunter Moore hit a fly ball to left field, scoring Hancock on a sacrifice fly to give Houston a 7-6 lead.

The Hilltoppers would acquire two more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to preserve the three-run victory.