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The numbers are there. The Helias Lady Crusaders return eight starters from a softball team that finished second in the Class 4 state tournament last fall. That should have the Lady Crusaders thinking about a second straight trip to Springfield in October for the Final Four. But the Lady Crusaders aren’t getting ahead of themselves.
A total of 22 players were selected to the all-state softball teams, which were released last weekend by the Missouri High School Fastpitch Coaches Association.
There was plenty of offense to go around in Friday’s Class 4 softball state championship game at Killian Softball Complex. Kearney had a bit more offense than Helias, and provided plenty of power to go with it. The Lady Bulldogs hit four home runs, and two of them were hit by Elysia Hand, who drove in eight runs. Kearney captured its first state title since 2005 with a 14-9 victory against the Lady Crusaders.
It was a game the Helias Lady Crusaders might have wanted to forget. But it was one that may have gotten them to where they are today: the Class 4 softball semifinals. On Oct. 3, Helias jumped out to an early 4-0 lead against Capital City. But the Lady Cavaliers didn’t quit and rallied for a 5-4 victory against the Lady Crusaders. It may have been the wake-up call Helias needed as it will take a six-game winning streak into today’s Class 4 semifinal game against Washington. First pitch is scheduled for noon at the Killian Softball Complex in Springfield.
The Helias Lady Crusaders will play for a state championship, taking advantage of breaks and coming up with outs when they needed them to win 5-1 in Thursday's Class 4 semifinal game against the Washington Blue Jays at Killian Softball Complex. Helias (28-6), ranked No. 2 in Class 4, will face eighth-ranked Kearney (25-8) for the state title at 10 a.m. Friday. Kearney defeated Warrenton 6-3 in Thursday's other semifinal game.