It took a while for Effingham’s bats to come alive, but when they did, the hits and runs quickly piled up.
The Hearts collected 8 of their 11 hits and scored all 10 of their runs over the final three innings Tuesday and came home with a 10-3 victory over Taylorville.
The host Tornadoes held a 3-0 lead when EHS came to bat in the fifth. A two-out RBI single by Evan Waymoth got the Hearts on the scoreboard and the comeback was started.
Effingham took the lead with a three-run sixth. John Harper singled and then with two outs, Max Hardiek lined an RBI double and Joe Matteson followed with a two-run blast that sailed over the rightfield fence.
The Hearts then put the game away by pushing six runs across in the seventh. Kaiden Nichols walked, Harper singled and Quest Hull was hit by a pitch to load the bases. One run scored on a wild pitch and Hardiek delivered a two-run single. After Matteson and Camden Raddatz walked to load the bases again, EHS scored a run on an error and Gauge Massey capped the inning with a two-run single.
Raddatz, the third pitcher of the day for Effingham, relieved in the fifth and got the win. He pitched two innings of scoreless baseball. He didn’t allow a hit, while walking two and striking out two.
The Hearts improved to 12-10 on the season overall and finished Apollo Conference play with a 5-6 record. They will now play in the annual City Series. They will face St. Anthony today (Wednesday), Thursday and Friday. The games Wednesday and Friday will be played at Paul Smith Field in Community Park and Thursday’s contest will be at Evergreen Hollow Park. Game time each day is 7 p.m.