| Catcher Blake Mortensen blocks the plate as he tags out a Cyprus runner. Helper downed Cyprus 6 to 4 on six hits and three errors. |
On Monday June 25th Helper American Legion traveled to Murray. At the time Murray was one game ahead of Helper in the Legion standings. With an 8-5 win over Murray, running their league record to 5-1, Helper climbed into a tie for second place.
Fernando Martinez pitched a complete game and had a wonderful night. After giving up four runs in the first 2 innings, he settled down and gave up only one over the next 5 innings. Helper scored a run in the 2nd inning on a single by Marcus Zaccaria and a double by Blake Mortensen. They scored three runs in the 3rd inning on a 3 run homer by JJ Blue. A bunt single by Tyler Turcasso and 3 walks gave the team another run in the fourth.
The final three runs for Helper came in the seventh to put the game out of reach. Back to back singles by Jordan Moynier and Zaccaria were followed by a double by Bradey Wilde to score them. These proved to be the big hits in the inning.
“This was a very good team effort win. Anytime you can beat Murray at Murray you should be happy with your performance. This was also our 4th road win in a row,” boasted Coach Jeff Cisneros.
R H E
Murray 5 6 2
Helper 8 10 2
WP-Martinez, LP-Lawence. 2b-Mortensen(H), Wilde(H), Anderson(M), Sturgess(M) HR-Blue(H).
On Wednesday night the team was at home against Cyprus. At the start of the game Helper was one game ahead of Cyprus in the standings But the home team ended up losing 6-4. With the loss Cyprus moved into a tie for second place with Helper.
Both pitchers really controlled the game up to the forth inning. Kyler Edgehouse pitched a complete game and did a very good job once again. However, a couple of walks and 3 errors over the last 3 innings cost the team a very important win.
Both teams were scoreless until the third when Aaron Sandoval went deep for a solo shot. Cyprus scored 3 runs in the 4th on 2 walks and 2 doubles.It didn’t take Helper long to respond with 2 runs in the bottom of the 4th to tie the score at 3. A walk to Mortensen was followed up by a 2 run blast by Wilde.
Helper took the lead in the 5th as JD Sherman doubled, moved to 3rd on a single by Edgehouse and scored on a sacrifice fly by Blue. But Cyprus responded in the 6th with three runs on 2 hits and 3 errors. The local boys were unable to score and took the loss.
“This was a frustrating loss because we gave the game away in the final 2 innings. We did not hit the ball well all night, but we still had a chance for the win.” Cisneros commented after the game. “Errors and walks have cost us in both of our league losses now and it something that we are going to have to keep improving on before we hit the state tournament.”
R H E
Cyprus 6 5 1
Helper 4 6 3
WP-Eisheiz LP-Edgehouse. 2b-Sherman(H), Butler(C), Ikari (C), Shakspear(C) HR-Sandoval(H), Wilde(H).
Friday night saw Timpview come into town. Helper took the game 7-3.
Brett Johnson pitched a complete game and had some good stuff going despite getting behind in the early innings. Timpview scored twice in the first inning on a triple, a walk and a couple of fielders choice ground balls.
Helper bounced right back when they scored in the first on a walk and back to back singles by JJ Blue and Bradey Wilde. Timpview scored once more in the third on a single and a couple of passed balls to keep the lead.
Helper scored two more in the third on four walks and a couple of passed balls to tie it up. Then added two more in the fourth inning on two walks an error and a single by Sandoval. Saving the best for last, they finished the scoring in the sixth inning. A single by Haden Basinger and a two run homerun by Sandoval was enough to get the win.
“We played just good enough to get the win. This was a very lazy game by both teams. The game lacked enthusiasm and excitement. I was not very happy with my teams focus and effort. Even though you get a win, there is still a lot to a game.
Getting better day in and day out is something I stress very much to our team. I don’t think we accomplished this on Friday night,” commented a frustrated Cisneros.
R H E
Timp. 3 7 2
Helper 7 6 2
WP-Johnson, LP- Gorren. 3b-Griffin(T). Hr-Sandoval(H).
Helper’s league record is at 6-2. Helper will have one game this week when they take on Olympus on Monday and off the rest of the week. They are at home against first place Kearns/Taylorsville on Monday July 9th. Kearns and Taylorsville have combined to form one team this year and are sitting in first place.