TROY, Mo. — Coley Hunt couldn't envision a worse start.
The Troy Buchanan junior designated hitter watched in shock as Helias scored seven times in the second inning on the way to a 9-7 win in the Class 5 District 4 championship softball game Monday in Lincoln County.
"Our biggest thing is to always try and stay away from that big inning," Hunt said.
This time, it was unavoidable.
Helias (22-6) brought out the big guns early on the way to its 10th successive victory.
The Crusaders will host defending state champion Francis Howell (21-9) in a quarterfinal game on Saturday in Jefferson City.
Troy (22-7) lost seven key players from last year's final four team but still won the GAC South Division title and made a serious postseason run.
"Everybody looked past us this year," Troy veteran coach Lance Richardson said. "I told the girls I couldn't be any more proud of them."
The Trojans did not go down without a fight, thanks in part to Hunt, who slammed a pair of homers and drove in five runs.
Hunt's two-run blast to right with two outs in the bottom of the seventh brought the hosts to within two. But Brynna Getz flied out to end the contest.
The red-hot Hunt also brought her club out of the early funk with a three-run blast in the fifth that chopped the deficit to 8-4.
"We always try to keep the energy up in the dugout and we did that today," Hunt said.
Richardson was proud of the way his team outscored Helias 7-2 over the last three innings.
"The story of the game was that rough inning," Richardson said. "After that we kept fighting, kept battling."
Troy freshman pitcher Avery Dennis gave up a run but recorded a pair of outs in the tell-tale frame and appeared set to get out without further damage.
Sierra Zuck ripped a two-run double and pitcher Cambri Van Loo added a hit to push the lead to 4-0. Jayli Howell then unloaded a three-run homer to close out the ambush.
"We needed every one of those runs," Helias coach Kelly Fick said of that second inning explosion. "The girls did a good job in that inning sticking with their game plan and trying to use the big part of field."
The Trojans fought back on successive hits by Ava Meyers, Kennedy Damron and Emma Tainter to get on the board. Hunt then drilled a long homer to get her team close.
Damron scored on an error with two outs in the seventh to set the stage for Hunt's second rocket of the game.
Helias, which was bumped to Class 5 after finishing second last season in Class 4, knocked off three of the area's better teams in Liberty, Fort Zuwmalt West and Troy. The Crusaders needed a late error to stay alive in the quarterfinal round against Liberty.
"These were three good programs that we faced," Fick said. "The way they performed, I am so proud of these girls."
Hunt had three of the Trojans' 10 hits. Tainter and Damron added two each.
''The finish of this game is a perfect example of what this team is about," Richardson said. "Never give up. Keep battling and keep fighting.
Class 5 District 4 softball final: Helias 9, Troy Buchanan 7
Troy watches a Helias at bat during the Class 5 District 4 softball championship between Helias and Troy, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, at Troy Buchanan High School in Troy, Mo. Michael Gulledge, Special to the Post-Dispatch
Michael Gulledge
Troy’s Avery Dennis (8) pitches during the Class 5 District 4 softball championship between Helias and Troy, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, at Troy Buchanan High School in Troy, Mo. Michael Gulledge, Special to the Post-Dispatch
Michael Gulledge
Troy’s Avery Dennis (8) pitches during the Class 5 District 4 softball championship between Helias and Troy, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, at Troy Buchanan High School in Troy, Mo. Michael Gulledge, Special to the Post-Dispatch
Michael Gulledge
Troy’s Emmie Daniels (14) throws to first base during the Class 5 District 4 softball championship between Helias and Troy, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, at Troy Buchanan High School in Troy, Mo. Michael Gulledge, Special to the Post-Dispatch
Michael Gulledge
Helias' Hailey Gipe (7) bunts during the Class 5 District 4 softball championship between Helias and Troy, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, at Troy Buchanan High School in Troy, Mo. Michael Gulledge, Special to the Post-Dispatch
Michael Gulledge
Troy’s Brynna Getz (5) bats during the Class 5 District 4 softball championship between Helias and Troy, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, at Troy Buchanan High School in Troy, Mo. Michael Gulledge, Special to the Post-Dispatch
Michael Gulledge
Helias' Cambri Van Loo (11) pitches during the Class 5 District 4 softball championship between Helias and Troy, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, at Troy Buchanan High School in Troy, Mo. Michael Gulledge, Special to the Post-Dispatch
Michael Gulledge
Helias' Jayli Howell (3) fields a hit during the Class 5 District 4 softball championship between Helias and Troy, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, at Troy Buchanan High School in Troy, Mo. Michael Gulledge, Special to the Post-Dispatch
Michael Gulledge
Troy lines up for the runner-up trophy following the Class 5 District 4 softball championship against Helias, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, at Troy Buchanan High School in Troy, Mo. Michael Gulledge, Special to the Post-Dispatch
Michael Gulledge
Helias' Harper Sherry (12) looks to the dugout during the Class 5 District 4 softball championship between Helias and Troy, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, at Troy Buchanan High School in Troy, Mo. Michael Gulledge, Special to the Post-Dispatch
Michael Gulledge
Helias' Claire Morris (2) throws to first base during the Class 5 District 4 softball championship between Helias and Troy, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, at Troy Buchanan High School in Troy, Mo. Michael Gulledge, Special to the Post-Dispatch
Michael Gulledge
Helias' Claire Morris (2) turns on a pitch during the Class 5 District 4 softball championship between Helias and Troy, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, at Troy Buchanan High School in Troy, Mo. Michael Gulledge, Special to the Post-Dispatch
Michael Gulledge
Troy’s Avery Dennis (8) pitches during the Class 5 District 4 softball championship between Helias and Troy, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, at Troy Buchanan High School in Troy, Mo. Michael Gulledge, Special to the Post-Dispatch
Michael Gulledge
Helias' Jayli Howell (3) fields a hit during the Class 5 District 4 softball championship between Helias and Troy, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, at Troy Buchanan High School in Troy, Mo. Michael Gulledge, Special to the Post-Dispatch
Michael Gulledge
Helias' Brianna Brenneke (13) steals second base as Troy’s Kennedy Damron (11) reaches to tag during the Class 5 District 4 softball championship between Helias and Troy, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, at Troy Buchanan High School in Troy, Mo. Michael Gulledge, Special to the Post-Dispatch
Michael Gulledge
Helias' Addy Wilson (1) bats during the Class 5 District 4 softball championship between Helias and Troy, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, at Troy Buchanan High School in Troy, Mo. Michael Gulledge, Special to the Post-Dispatch
Michael Gulledge
Helias' Jayli Howell (3) fields a hit during the Class 5 District 4 softball championship between Helias and Troy, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, at Troy Buchanan High School in Troy, Mo. Michael Gulledge, Special to the Post-Dispatch
Michael Gulledge
Helias celebrates a home run during the Class 5 District 4 softball championship between Helias and Troy, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, at Troy Buchanan High School in Troy, Mo. Michael Gulledge, Special to the Post-Dispatch
Michael Gulledge
Helias' Sophie Heckenkamp (9) bats during the Class 5 District 4 softball championship between Helias and Troy, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, at Troy Buchanan High School in Troy, Mo. Michael Gulledge, Special to the Post-Dispatch
Michael Gulledge
Troy’s Kennedy Damron (11) bats during the Class 5 District 4 softball championship between Helias and Troy, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, at Troy Buchanan High School in Troy, Mo. Michael Gulledge, Special to the Post-Dispatch
Michael Gulledge
Helias' Cambri Van Loo (11) pitches during the Class 5 District 4 softball championship between Helias and Troy, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, at Troy Buchanan High School in Troy, Mo. Michael Gulledge, Special to the Post-Dispatch
Michael Gulledge
Helias celebrates after defeating Troy for the Class 5 District 4 softball championship, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, at Troy Buchanan High School in Troy, Mo. Michael Gulledge, Special to the Post-Dispatch
Michael Gulledge
Troy lines up for the runner-up trophy following the Class 5 District 4 softball championship against Helias, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, at Troy Buchanan High School in Troy, Mo. Michael Gulledge, Special to the Post-Dispatch
Michael Gulledge
Helias' Hailey Gipe (7) turns on a pitch during the Class 5 District 4 softball championship between Helias and Troy, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, at Troy Buchanan High School in Troy, Mo. Michael Gulledge, Special to the Post-Dispatch
Michael Gulledge
Helias' Harper Sherry (12) runs to first base during the Class 5 District 4 softball championship between Helias and Troy, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, at Troy Buchanan High School in Troy, Mo. Michael Gulledge, Special to the Post-Dispatch
Michael Gulledge
Troy’s Kennedy Damron (11) bats during the Class 5 District 4 softball championship between Helias and Troy, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, at Troy Buchanan High School in Troy, Mo. Michael Gulledge, Special to the Post-Dispatch
Michael Gulledge
Helias' Cambri Van Loo (11) bats during the Class 5 District 4 softball championship between Helias and Troy, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, at Troy Buchanan High School in Troy, Mo. Michael Gulledge, Special to the Post-Dispatch
Michael Gulledge
Helias' Claire Morris (2) bats during the Class 5 District 4 softball championship between Helias and Troy, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, at Troy Buchanan High School in Troy, Mo. Michael Gulledge, Special to the Post-Dispatch
Michael Gulledge
Troy’s Kennedy Damron (11) grabs a fly ball during the Class 5 District 4 softball championship between Helias and Troy, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, at Troy Buchanan High School in Troy, Mo. Michael Gulledge, Special to the Post-Dispatch
Michael Gulledge
Helias' Claire Morris (2) throws to first base during the Class 5 District 4 softball championship between Helias and Troy, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, at Troy Buchanan High School in Troy, Mo. Michael Gulledge, Special to the Post-Dispatch
Michael Gulledge
Troy’s Emma Tainter (12) hugs Coley Hunt (20) following the Class 5 District 4 softball championship against Helias, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, at Troy Buchanan High School in Troy, Mo. Michael Gulledge, Special to the Post-Dispatch
Michael Gulledge
Troy’s Kennedy Damron (11) bats during the Class 5 District 4 softball championship between Helias and Troy, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, at Troy Buchanan High School in Troy, Mo. Michael Gulledge, Special to the Post-Dispatch
Michael Gulledge
Troy’s Coley Hunt (20) celebrates a home run during the Class 5 District 4 softball championship between Helias and Troy, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, at Troy Buchanan High School in Troy, Mo. Michael Gulledge, Special to the Post-Dispatch
Michael Gulledge
Troy’s Coley Hunt (20) celebrates a home run during the Class 5 District 4 softball championship between Helias and Troy, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, at Troy Buchanan High School in Troy, Mo. Michael Gulledge, Special to the Post-Dispatch
Michael Gulledge
Troy’s Emma Tainter (12) hugs Coley Hunt (20) following the Class 5 District 4 softball championship against Helias, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, at Troy Buchanan High School in Troy, Mo. Michael Gulledge, Special to the Post-Dispatch
Michael Gulledge
Helias' Jayli Howell (3) bats during the Class 5 District 4 softball championship between Helias and Troy, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, at Troy Buchanan High School in Troy, Mo. Michael Gulledge, Special to the Post-Dispatch
Michael Gulledge
Troy’s Coley Hunt (20) celebrates a home run during the Class 5 District 4 softball championship between Helias and Troy, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, at Troy Buchanan High School in Troy, Mo. Michael Gulledge, Special to the Post-Dispatch
Michael Gulledge
Troy’s Emma Tainter (12) hugs Coley Hunt (20) following the Class 5 District 4 softball championship against Helias, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, at Troy Buchanan High School in Troy, Mo. Michael Gulledge, Special to the Post-Dispatch
Michael Gulledge
Troy lines up for the runner-up trophy following the Class 5 District 4 softball championship against Helias, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, at Troy Buchanan High School in Troy, Mo. Michael Gulledge, Special to the Post-Dispatch
Michael Gulledge
Troy’s Kennedy Damron (11) grabs a fly ball during the Class 5 District 4 softball championship between Helias and Troy, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, at Troy Buchanan High School in Troy, Mo. Michael Gulledge, Special to the Post-Dispatch
Michael Gulledge
Troy’s Emma Tainter (12) hugs Coley Hunt (20) following the Class 5 District 4 softball championship against Helias, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, at Troy Buchanan High School in Troy, Mo. Michael Gulledge, Special to the Post-Dispatch
Michael Gulledge
Helias' Hailey Gipe (7) turns on a pitch during the Class 5 District 4 softball championship between Helias and Troy, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, at Troy Buchanan High School in Troy, Mo. Michael Gulledge, Special to the Post-Dispatch
Michael Gulledge
Troy’s Emma Tainter (12) bats during the Class 5 District 4 softball championship between Helias and Troy, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, at Troy Buchanan High School in Troy, Mo. Michael Gulledge, Special to the Post-Dispatch
Michael Gulledge
Troy’s Coley Hunt (20) celebrates a home run during the Class 5 District 4 softball championship between Helias and Troy, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, at Troy Buchanan High School in Troy, Mo. Michael Gulledge, Special to the Post-Dispatch
Michael Gulledge
Troy’s Avery Dennis (8) catches a fly ball during the Class 5 District 4 softball championship between Helias and Troy, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, at Troy Buchanan High School in Troy, Mo. Michael Gulledge, Special to the Post-Dispatch
Michael Gulledge
Troy’s Ava Meyers (18) jumps in celebration of home run hit by Coley Hunt (20) during the Class 5 District 4 softball championship between Helias and Troy, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, at Troy Buchanan High School in Troy, Mo. Michael Gulledge, Special to the Post-Dispatch
Michael Gulledge
Troy’s Ava Meyers (18) jumps in celebration of home run hit by Coley Hunt (20) during the Class 5 District 4 softball championship between Helias and Troy, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, at Troy Buchanan High School in Troy, Mo. Michael Gulledge, Special to the Post-Dispatch
Michael Gulledge
Troy’s Emma Tainter (12) bats during the Class 5 District 4 softball championship between Helias and Troy, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, at Troy Buchanan High School in Troy, Mo. Michael Gulledge, Special to the Post-Dispatch
Michael Gulledge
Troy’s Kennedy Damron (11) throws to first base during the Class 5 District 4 softball championship between Helias and Troy, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, at Troy Buchanan High School in Troy, Mo. Michael Gulledge, Special to the Post-Dispatch
Michael Gulledge
Troy’s Kennedy Damron (11) stands on deck during the Class 5 District 4 softball championship between Helias and Troy, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, at Troy Buchanan High School in Troy, Mo. Michael Gulledge, Special to the Post-Dispatch
Michael Gulledge
Get in the game with our Prep Sports Newsletter
Sent weekly directly to your inbox!