The Helper American Legion squad split a doubleheader Friday in St. George, earning a number-one seed in the upcoming playoffs that begin on Monday.
Cold bats doomed Helper in game one, as the visitors were only able to muster six hits in the 6-2 loss. Cole Fossat homered in the sixth inning to cut the St. George lead to 5-2. Taylon Abeyta doubled in the second inning, scoring the team’s first run. Mitch Olson went the distance on the mound, taking the loss. After scoring five runs in the first inning, St. George added just one more the rest of the game.
“I felt after the first inning we really outplayed them but just could not get a lot going on offense,” head coach Jeff Cisneros said.
Game two proved to be the exact opposite for Helper. St. George got on the board first, scoring two runs off of starter Fossat in the opening inning. St. George added another in the third for the 3-1 lead when the bats got going for Helper. Fossat led off the fourth with a single, followed by a Cody Lowe double. Chase Morgan then laced a two-run single right after. Olson scored later in the inning on a fielder’s choice to regain the lead, 4-3.
Fossat homered again in the fifth inning, followed by hits from Lowe and Abeyta to plate three more for the 7-3 advantage. St. George then cut the lead after two runs in the bottom of the frame, 7-5. Again Helper answered in the next inning, adding four more runs after hits by Anderson and Anthony Maclean after a couple of walks.
“We not only hit the ball well but we played great defense as we had numerous diving plays and great pitching,” Cisneros said. “This was a complete game and team win and I really thought we played well.”
Helper will wrap up the season with a doubleheader at Vernal on Tuesday. The state American Legion tournament will commence Monday at Layton High School. Complete state tourney information had yet to be released.