Gavin Zimmerman allowed only three hits over six innings of work and Rhett Detering belted a grand slam to lead the Salem Wildcats to a 7-2 victory Saturday over Effingham in the championship game of the Salem Class 3A Regional.

The Wildcats will now advance to the Troy Triad Sectional.

The game was scoreless when Salem came to bat in the third. The Wildcats used two walks and a single to load the bases. Detering then drove a 2-1 pitch over the leftfield fence to clear the bases and stake Salem to a 4-0 lead.

The Hearts got on the board in the bottom of the third. Kaiden Nichols led off with a walk. Cam Raddatz was hit by a pitch and Colton Webb walked to load the bases. Carter Braddy then drove in the run with a fly ball.

The Wildcats added a single tally in the fourth and two more in the sixth. The Hearts scored their final run in the bottom of the seventh. Again, they loaded the bases with one out and, again, Braddy drove in the run with a sacrifice fly.

Webb took the loss for Effingham. He went the first three innings, giving up two hits and four runs. Jude Trabe and Kaden Koeberlein both pitched a pair of innings.

The Hearts finished their season with a 21-11 record.