| Derick Anderson tries to get under a foul ball as it is pushed by the gale force winds on Tuesday night. Helper downed Kearns 10-1 in five. |
The Helper American Legion baseball squad opened its 2008 season with three straight dominating wins. First up was a double-header in Vernal on Monday. The first game they crushed Vernal 17-8. The score of the second game ended 12-4 with a Helper win and last night they had their first league game against Kearns. By evening’s end the score was 10-1.
In their season debut against Vernal, Helper hit the ball very well. Hayden Basinger and JD Sherman each had three hits. Kyle Esquibel, Ron Herrera and Matt Salas added a pair each.
On the mound Josh Dennison started off with three good innings. Austin came on and threw three good innings. Ron Herrera closed out the game with one inning on the mound.
Coach Jeff Cisneros summed up that game “Overall, this was the first game of the season and we made a few mistakes but I thought we played very well and the game was not even as close as the score indicates.”
He went on to comment on the second game, “I got a chance to play all of my younger kids in this game and they played just as well as the older kids did in the first game. Gatlon Huntington and Jordan Gee pitched and both did a very good job.”
Showing big slugging power, Colby Snow had three hits. Of the three, two were doubles and one sailed over the fence for a homer. Chris Coleman had three hits as well.
“As a team we hit very well again. Overall these were two good games to start our season. This was the same Vernal team that beat Price twice last week here in Carbon County.” Cisneros added.
Despite gale force winds, the Tuesday game went on. It only lasted five innings. Legion rules include a nine run mercy rule after five innings.
Kyler Edgehouse took the mound and pitched a complete game for the win. Kearn’s only run came on a walk in the third inning.
Ron Herrera had a single and a pair homers to lead the powerful Helper offense. Kyle Esquibel had two doubles and triple.
“This was a great way to start our league season and hopefully it will carry over to our tournament this weekend in Burley, Idaho,” summed up Cisneros.
Helper will be back at home Monday night at 7 p.m. against Murray.