The Effingham Hearts were two outs away from their 2022 spring season being over.
But in the words of New York Yankees great Yogi Berra – “It ain’t over till it’s over.”
The Hearts put together a seventh-inning rally to keep their season alive.
Evan Waymoth got the game-tying RBI single and Gauge Massey drew a bases-loaded walk to give Effingham a walk-off 3-2 victory Saturday over Mattoon in the championship game of the Class 3A Centralia Regional.
The Hearts now advance to the Troy (Triad) Sectional. They will face Mascoutah at 4 p.m. Wednesday. The Indians, who sport a 27-6 mark, defeated Highland to win the Highland Regional.
Through five innings, the pitching of Jackson Helms had the No. 9 seed Green Wave looking for a second straight upset after knocking off top-seeded Marion in their post-season opener. Helms had a 1-hit shutout going and a 2-0 lead.
Evan Waymoth started the EHS sixth with a lead-off walk. Kaiden Nichols laid down a sacrifice bunt, and with two outs, John Harper came through with an RBI double to trim the lead.
After Quest Hull grounded out to start the bottom of the seventh, Joe Matteson walked and Camden Raddatz was hit by a pitch. Then with two outs, Waymoth delivered a base hit that brought home Matteson with the tying run.
After Nichols drew a walk to load the bases, Mattoon brought in Madden Johnson to relieve Helms. With the count at 2-2, Johnson threw two straight pitches outside the strike zone allowing Massey to walk and Raddatz to score the game-winning and regional-clinching run.
Josh McDevitt pitched the final three innings to get the win. He allowed only one baserunner, that coming on a walk, and struck out four. Brayden Pals was the starter and went the first four innings. He allowed four hits and two runs, while walking one and striking out three.
The Green Wave scored both of their runs in the fourth. After a one-walk walk, Andrew Wetzel had a run-scoring double and Kaden Junge then delivered an RBI single.
The Hearts, who have now won three straight, are 17-12 on the season.
Troy (Triad) and Mt. Vernon also won their regionals and will join Effingham and Mascoutah in the sectional. Those two teams will play at 2 p.m. Wednesday. The sectional championship is set for 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 4.
