The Helper Merchants played host to three Southern Division games, finishing 1-2 Friday and Saturday at Ernie Gardner Field in Helper.

Entering the weekend with a 5-1 division mark, the Merchants experienced inconsistencies at the plate with back-to-back losses to St. George and Skyline. Helper used a solid defensive effort in the final game of the weekend, avoiding a sweep with a 6-2 win over Skyline.

Now 6-3 in league play Helper will take the week off for the high school moratorium period. The Merchants will return to the field on Tuesday, July 10 with a home game against Roosevelt.

Below is a recap of each of the three games played this past weekend:

Friday:
St. George- 15, Helper- 1 FINAL/5 innings

Unable to match the offensive power of St. George, Helper suffered a lopsided 15-1 defeat Friday evening at home.

Shutout for the first four innings of the contest, Helper was held to just one hit in the setback. JP Powell crossed home plate for the team’s lone run, while Nate Olson recorded a single in the box.

Triton Abeyta was charged with the loss on the mound, allowing 11 hits and 10 earned runs in 1.2 innings of work. Jayden Flemett gave 2.2 innings of relief work, allowing five hits and five earned runs. Collin Lewis also saw time on the mound, striking out two batters.

Saturday:
Skyridge- 18, Helper-12 FINAL

After falling in an early hole the Helper Merchants were unable to battle back in an eventual 18-12 loss to Skyridge Saturday afternoon at home.

Trailing 14-2 entering the bottom of the third, Helper’s offense began to click. Despite outscoring Skyridge over the final three innings, the Merchants were unable to overcome the early deficit.

Cody Lowe knocked two home runs and recorded five RBIs in a 2-3 effort at the plate. Olson and Powell both knocked triples. Ty Anderson contributed two RBIs in the setback.

Lowe was tagged with the loss on the mound, allowing 11 hits and eight earned runs in 2.1 innings. Olson finished the remainder of the game striking out four batters while allowing six hits, two earned runs.

Saturday:
Helper- 6, Skyline- 2 FINAL

The Helper Merchants avoided a weekend sweep by defeating Skyline 6-2 Saturday evening at home, ending a two-game losing skid in the process.

Braxton Bennett pitched six full innings, striking out two and allowing eight hits and no earned runs. Nick Olson and Zac Bradley combined to log the final three outs of the contest.

As a team the Merchants combined for nine hits, compared to eight for Skyline. Jayden Flemmet and Jadon Robertson each recorded two doubles. Robertson and Olson also logged two RBIs in the win.