Babbitt captains Hull’s ship to first title

By Ramon Scott
Updated: November 19, 2016

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— Helix Athletics (@HelixScotties) November 19, 2016

2016 EAST COUNTY PREP WATER POLO – CIF DIVISION 3 CHAMPIONSHIP

EastCountySports.com staff report

LA JOLLA – Senior WES BABBITT scored seven consecutive goals for Helix on Saturday, leading the Highlanders to an 8-6 victory over San Dieguito Academy in the San Diego CIF Division 3 championship game at Coggin Family Aquatic Complex.

Helix senior goalie DENNIS SWEENEY had 12 saves, including five in the fourth quarter. He also had a couple of big saves late in the third.

Helix (23-9) and San Dieguito Academy (18-13) were tied 5-5 after three periods. The Mustangs had tied it with 1:36 left in the third.

Babbitt scored his sixth goal of the game with 5:26 left to give Helix the lead once again.

Helix’s JONATHAN MABEY scored a goal with 2:35 left for an 8-5 lead.

SDA scored the final goal with 1:12 remaining.

The Waterdogs led 4-3 at intermission. SDA tied the game at 4-4 with five minutes left in the third.

Neither team could find the canvas early, as Babbitt final scored his first with :20 left in the opening period for a 1-0 lead. He later scored with 5:50 left in the second for a 2-0 advantage.

“My team did a great job getting the ball to me,” Babbitt said. “Last year, we didn’t even make the playoffs. We just worked all summer to get better.”

SDA got on the board with a penalty score.

Helix was 5-4 early on in the season, but finished the season with five-straight wins, including three playoff victories.

For Helix, it was the first polo title in school history for head coach JOEL HULL and the Scotties’ polo program.

“I played at Helix, even just getting here is the farthest we’ve ever gone,” Hull said.

When the buzzer sounded, Hull and the entire squad jumped in to celebrate with the rest of the team.