| A Helper American Legion player makes a tough grab at third during a game last season. The legion team just returned home following a tournament. |
The local American Legion team continued their season on June 13 with a home game vs. Highland. Helper lost a close contest, 15-13.
This was the teams first league loss and according to Coach Jeff Cisneros the defeat came in large part to the teams problems on defense.
“We hit the ball very well that night, we just played terrible defense,” explained the Helper coach.
The team commited six errors on the night and walked 10 batters.
In the first inning Arron Sandoval singled, Trevor Thomson doubled, Kyler Edgehouse singled, JJ Blue doubled and Jordan Moynier doubled putting Helper up 6-0 at the conclusion of the first inning.
With three walks an error and a grand slam in the third put Highland up 8-7 after three innings
Helper rallied to score four runs in the seventh but came up short in the evening contest.
Notable for Helper was JJ Blue with two doubles and a triple.
In their next contest Helper traveled to Burley, Idaho for the Minco RBI Tournament. The local team played tournament host Minco in their first contest and lost 12-0.
“Once again errors and walks cost us several runs,” said Cisneros. “Overall Brady Wilde pitched a good game, he threw four innings and never really got any offensive help.”
On June 15 Helper played a double header. They beat Vallivue, Idaho, 3-2 with AJ Mitchelson throwing a good game and taking the win, according to Cisneros.
Notable for Helper in the contest was Wilde, Blue, Edgehouse and Sandoval who all had multiple hits in the contest.
“This was a better game for us both offensively and defensively,” commented the Helper skipper.
Helper’s next outing was vs. Highland, Idaho and the team once again struggled, losing the contest 17-7.
Moynier started the game pitching and ran into trouble in the first and second inning with Highland scoring a total of 12 runs in the two innings.
“Haden Basinger came on in relief and pitched the next three innings. He really did a great job once he got over his nerves. Haden is only 14 years old so this is a new experience for him. I have been very happy with the way he has played at second base and now pitching three scoreless innings,” explained Cisneros.
To close the Helper Legion team stomped Box Elder 15-2 in a shortened five inning contest.
Edgehouse pitched a one hitter and the Helper team exploded offensively with 18 total hits.
“This is what I expect from this team, day in and day out,” stated Cisneros.
Sandoval, Sherman, Zaccaria and Moynier all had multiple hits and Blue had another homerun.
“Everyone played great. This was a great way to end our road trip. Hopefully this will put us on a role for the coming week,” concluded the Helper coach.