Kaden Helsel would be fine if the Jefferson City Renegades wanted to have South Callaway Night every time he pitched at Vivion Field.
If the Renegades wanted to supply him with four home runs and stellar defense, the way they did Sunday night in a 12-2 win against the Nevada Griffons, that would be a nice added bonus.
"This has been a big step for me," said Helsel, who picked up his first career MINK League win on the mound. "I've had to grow up a lot mentally and physically, especially with these college hitters I've been facing."
After the game, Renegades coach Mike DeMilia told his players Sunday was their most complete game of the season, in regard to the three facets of the game: pitching, hitting and defense.
"When we show up and play the way we're capable of, we can do some really special things," DeMilia said.
The game got off to a rough start for Helsel, a South Callaway graduate. He allowed a leadoff triple to begin the game but gave up just one run in the top of the first.
"I just needed to settle down and get the ball over the plate," Helsel said.
Helsel struck out three of the next batters he faced, then retired the side in order in the second. He went six innings and gave up two runs on five hits while walking four and striking out six.
His defense got him out of some jams as well.
In the fourth, catcher Jady Reese threw out Tanner Maskey attempting to advance to second base on a ball in the dirt. In the fifth, center fielder Tyler Bracht threw out Tony Rask attempting to stretch a single into a double.
The Renegades turned a double play to end the top of the fifth, saving a run. Then in the sixth, Jordan Smith snagged a line drive at shortstop and doubled off Connor Gage at first base for a double play.
"It's awesome for a pitcher to be able to let the ball get put into play and have my defense do the work they did tonight," Helsel said.
The four home runs - which tied a Renegades single-game record set twice last season - turned the win into a rout.
Logan Hudson hit the second pitch he saw in the bottom of the first inning over the the right-field fence for a home run to tie the game at 1. He added another solo shot to right-center in the sixth, giving the reigning MINK League player of the month three home runs in his last four games.
Hudson's last three home runs have all been to the opposite field for the right-handed hitter.
"I've always done well going the other way," Hudson said. "Ever since I was little, it's the way my dad taught my swing and it's the way my hitting coaches have helped with my swing."
Connor Dupuy, who hit the leadoff triple against Helsel in the first, followed with a solo home run to left field in the third, giving the Griffons a 2-1 lead.
The Renegades scored the game's next 11 runs.
Quincy Jones put Jefferson City ahead for good in the bottom of the third with a three-run home run to right field. The Renegades added two more runs in the inning to take a 6-2 lead.
Jones finished runner-up in the MINK League home run derby last month, but Sunday's shot was his first homer of the summer.
"Right off the bat, I knew it was gone," said Jones, who recently announced he was transferring from Saginaw Valley State (Mich.) to play baseball next spring at William Woods. "It's always a good feeling watching it go over."
The Renegades added four more runs in the seventh - including a solo homer from Austin Blazevic - to extend their lead to 11-2.
Blazevic scored on a single by Bracht in the eighth to end the game by run rule.
Jefferson City's bullpen had struggled in its previous three games. DeMilia said it was a big boost to get two scoreless innings of relief from Andrew Frank, who struck out four.
"If he can throw multiple pitches for strikes, he's going to be hard to hit," DeMilia said.
Hudson finished 3-for-5, adding a double in the third, to improve his league-leading batting average to .390. Blazevic and Bracht each had two hits and Reese added two singles and two RBI.
Jefferson City (15-15) hosts Nevada (15-13) at 7 p.m. today, which will also be Blair Oaks Night at Vivion Field. Fans wearing Blair Oaks apparel can get into the game for $3 admission.