Myles Gresham News Today

Earlier this month, a Maryland couple attended graduation at North Carolina Central University and accepted the diploma for their son, who was killed just days...

A college student from Upper Marlboro, Maryland, was shot and killed in North Carolina just days before his graduation. Police found North Carolina Central...

Myles Amadi Gresham and NCCU student from Upper Marlboro, Maryland, died after he crashed his car in Durham, police said he had been shot

In Week 6, it was Helias 43, Capital City 17. In Week 12, that result means nothing as top-seeded Helias (9-1) prepares to take on third-seeded Capital City (8-3) in the Class 5 District 5 championship game tonight at Ray Hentges Stadium. “We’re expecting a really tight ballgame,” Helias coach Chris Hentges said.

The 2020 edition of the Helias Crusaders had a championship-quality defense. There’s a Class 4 state title banner hanging in Rackers Fieldhouse to prove it. The 2023 edition of the Crusaders did them one better. Actually, seven better. The Helias defense posted its second shutout of the season Friday night as the Crusaders wrapped up an undefeated Central Missouri Activities Conference campaign with a 63-0 victory against the Sedalia Smith-Cotton Tigers.

The Jefferson City American Legion Post 5 Seniors Auxiliary team came away with a 13-4 victory Saturday against the Post 5 Juniors in the Sedalia Tournament. The Post 5 Seniors scored five runs in the top of the first inning and six more in the second to build an 11-0 lead.

The approach remains the same, no matter the opponent. “Have good at-bats, pump the strike zone, make the routine plays,” Helias coach Chris Wyrick said Tuesday after the Crusaders defeated the Owensville Dutchmen 11-1 in five innings at the American Legion Post 5 Sports Complex. “That has to be the philosophy.”

For the longest time, it looked like one run would be enough. Just two batters into Monday’s game, the Blair Oaks Falcons led 1-0 against the Helias Crusaders. That remained the score until Helias sent the game to extra innings with a run in the bottom of the seventh, then won it 2-1 with a run in the ninth at the American Legion Post 5 Sports Complex. “When it got to crunch time, we performed,” Helias coach Chris Wyrick said.

The Helias Crusaders didn’t play their best game. But when they needed it, they put enough together to find a way to win. “The last couple of innings, we shored things up and got the win,” Helias coach Chris Wyrick said after the Crusaders defeated the Fatima Comets 5-3 on Thursday at Lions Field.

The Helias Crusaders did a little too much watching. “We didn’t have many competitive at-bats for the majority of the game,” Helias coach Chris Wyrick said Tuesday after the Crusaders dropped a 5-1 decision to the Ozark Tigers at the American Legion Post 5 Sports Complex. “Nine strikeouts, five looking, we weren’t competing. Their pitchers were good, but that doesn’t mean we can’t compete.”