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By TYLER RALEY | Special to the Reporter

The Helena Huskies put on a masterclass in their first area series of the year, sweeping the Calera Eagles on April 3 and 4 while not giving up a single run in either of the games.

Helena’s first win of the series on Wednesday started slow, but Braydon Kendrick’s performance boosted the Huskies to a 10-0 victory.

After two full scoreless innings to begin the game, the Huskies got things going in the bottom of the third. Following a walk from Ty Stricklin, Jarret Scott hit a double on a line drive into right field, scoring Stricklin and giving Helena an early 1-0 lead.

Later in the inning, Nicholas Peters was hit by a pitch, which set Kendrick up to record his first hit of the day, a double into left field that scored Peters. This pushed the lead to two runs.

With two outs and a runner on in the bottom of the fourth, Stricklin sent a double of his own into left field to bring in the third run of the game. The Huskies built momentum to help propel them in this game.

The runs did not stop there. After a lead-off double and two recorded outs in the bottom of the fifth, Davis Kelley sent an RBI single into center field to extend the lead to 4-0.

Kelley was brought home on the next at-bat when John Martin Williamson doubled towards left field, making it a five-run advantage for Helena.

With the lead firmly in their grasp, the Huskies continued to extend the lead in the bottom of the sixth. After a pair of singles to begin the inning, Scott grounded into a fielder’s choice and scored Caleb Higgins, who made it home on an error.

Later in the inning, Kendrick doubled after a walk, scoring two runs in the process to extend the lead to 8-0. A single that immediately followed by Kelley scored another run for Helena.

Finally, Williamson singled into left field to score Kelley and ended the game via run-rule at 10-0.

The Huskies came back on Friday for more festivities. Led by Kelley, Helena put up another dominant performance to defeat the Eagles 13-0.

This time, the Huskies wasted no time in getting on the scoreboard. Following a lead-off strikeout, an error and two walks loaded the bases in the top of the first. Kendrick was then hit by a pitch to score the first run of the ball game.

After a run scored on a wild pitch in the next at-bat, Kelley hit a line drive single into left field that scored two and extended the lead to 4-0.

In the top of the second, a double by Hayden Berry and a walk by Stricklin set Scott up to single into center field. This hit scored Berry, making it a 5-0 game heading into the third.

Two back-to-back walks led off the third frame for Helena before Kelley struck again. This time, he singled again into left field, scoring one and making it a six-run lead for his squad. Berry picked up an RBI single later in the inning that extended the lead once again.

As the fourth inning began, nothing ever went right for Calera. A single, error and hit batsman loaded the bases early before Peters put down a squeeze that scored another run and made it an 8-0 ballgame.

Kendrick followed that up by grounding into a fielder’s choice, which ultimately brought in the Huskies’ ninth run of the game. After Kelley got hit by a pitch on the next at-bat, Williamson doubled into left field to score two more, making it 11-0.

The final lashes came late in the fifth inning. With the bases loaded and two outs, Bennett Plowden hit a single that scored a run for Helena. Williamson walked right after that, bringing the score to 13-0.

The Huskies put the Eagles down quickly in the bottom half of the inning, winning by mercy-rule yet again and securing an early area sweep.

Logan Barber earned the first win for the Huskies. He gave up no runs in four full innings of work, giving up two hits while striking out seven and walking two batters.

Brayden Dockery got the victory in game two, pitching all five innings of the contest. He only gave up one hit and struck out six hitters, while only giving out one free pass.

Will Harrison picked up the game one loss for Calera, going for 5.2 innings of work. He gave up nine runs on 10 hits, striking out four and walking three in the process.

Brodie Dennis was charged with the loss in game two, only pitching one inning on the day. He gave up four runs on one hit. He also struck out one and walked two.

Helena looks to continue this offensive showing in its next game after improving to 18-12 on the year. That game will be the beginning of an area series with the Chilton County Tigers on Monday, April 8. First pitch for that one is set for 6:30 p.m. at Chilton County High School.

Calera dropped to 14-11 on the year with the two losses. Its next game will be the beginning of a two-game non-area series, this one with Briarwood Christian on Tuesday, April 9. First pitch in that game will be at 6:30 p.m. at Calera High School.