Callaway Smith and Trevan Sidwell combined to allow just one run, helping South Central post a 2-1 victory Wednesday afternoon at Effingham.
Smith went the first five innings to get the win. He gave up seven hits and one unearned run, while walking two and striking out four. Sidwell then pitched two scoreless innings to earn the save. He gave up only one hit and struck out three.
The host Hearts went on top in the opening inning. They actually had four hits during that at-bat, but scored just one run, that coming on an RBI single by Cam Raddatz. Effingham managed only four more hits the rest of the way and was unable to push another run across the plate. They ended up stranding nine baserunners.
South Central scored single tallies in the second and third innings.
The Hearts used four pitchers in the game. Kaiden Nichols was the starter and went two innings. Raddatz pitched the next two innings and got the loss. Kaden Koeberlein and Colton Webb finished up.
EHS, now 12-6, will play an Apollo Conference doubleheader Saturday at Charleston.
Ryder Sloss delivered a two-out RBI double in the bottom of the seventh inning Saturday, giving Mt. Carmel a walk-off 2-1 win at home over Effingham.
With two outs and nobody on base, Jaxon Browning singled to get the winning rally started. Then on a 3-2 pitch, Sloss lined a double for the game-winner.
It was a pitcher’s dual throughout. Effingham’s Kaiden Nichols and Mt. Carmel’s Dakota Mounts were both effective. Nichols allowed just one unearned run through four innings before being relieved by Colton Webb. Mounts went six innings, giving up one run on five hits. Neither starter, however, figured into the decision.
Andrew Gillihan pitched a scoreless seventh and got the win for the Golden Aces. Webb only allowed the two seventh-inning hits in 2.2 innings of work, but took the loss. He and Nichols combined to strike out 15 batters.
The Hearts scored their lone run in the top of the third inning. The lead-off hitter, Brody Boehm, was hit by a pitch and stole second. Then with two outs, Cam Raddatz delivered an RBI single.
Mt. Carmel tied the game with an unearned run in the fourth, combining two errors and a base hit to tie the game.
The Hearts, now 12-5 on the season, will return to action Wednesday. They will play at home against South Central.
The Effingham Flaming Hearts exploded for eight runs in the fifth inning Tuesday afternoon and went on to post a 12-4 win at Neoga.
The Hearts trailed 1-0 when they came to bat in the top of the fifth inning. Brody Boehm and Kaiden Nichols both singled to get the rally started. Kaden Koberlein followed with another base hit, but Boehm was thrown out trying to score.
Spencer Fox then walked to load the bases. That was the first of five walks in the inning – four of which forced in runs. Colton Webb and Braxton Lewis were the first two to walk with the sacks jammed and two more runs scored on a Neoga error.
Carter Braddy and Boehm both drew walks forcing in the fifth run of the frame. Nichols then delivered an RBI single and Koeberlein capped the inning with a two-run base hit, giving EHS an 8-1 lead.
The Hearts tacked on two more tallies in the sixth. Jude Traub drove in one with a base hit and Boehm added an RBI double.
Braddy pitched the first five innings and got the win. He allowed just one hit and one run, while walking four and striking out nine.
Effingham, now 12-4, will return to action Saturday at Mt. Carmel.
By Steve Raymond
The Sports Report
Brady Hatton and Brock Fearday proved to be a two-man wrecking crew.
Hatton blasted two long home runs and drove in four, while Fearday belted another “no-doubter” and pitched a complete game.
That proved to be a winning combination as the St. Anthony Bulldogs posted an 8-2 win Tuesday over Teutopolis at Paul Smith Field in Effingham.
The fireworks started early.
After the first two batters were retired in the bottom of the first, Fearday connected on an 0-1 pitch and launched it well over the centerfield fence to put the hosts on top to stay.
Connor Roepke followed with a double and Hatton then drove a 3-1 offering to almost the same spot as Fearday’s, staking St. Anthony to the 3-1 lead.
“Anytime you can grab the lead in a rivalry game like this, it’s huge,” St. Anthony coach Tony Kreke admitted. “We had a couple real good swings against a very good pitcher. That’s always good to see.”
St. Anthony added a single tally in the fourth without getting a hit and the Wooden Shoes got on the scoreboard in the top of the fifth on a sacrifice fly by Devin Kreke.
The bottom of the fifth proved to be decisive. Beau Adams reached on an error and Fearday, who had three hits in the game, looped a single into right field. Both runners moved up on a wild pitch and Roepke brought in a run with a sacrifice fly.
Hatton then went deep again. This time it was a 1-1 pitch that he hammered, and once again, it sailed over the centerfield fence to increase the St. Anthony lead to 7-1.
Colton Webb and Kaiden Nichols turned in stellar pitching performances Saturday, helping the Effingham Flaming Hearts post an Apollo Conference doubleheader sweep at Mattoon.
Webb gave up five hits and Spencer Fox and Cam Raddatz belted back-to-back homers, as the Hearts took the opener, 3-2.
In the nightcap, Nichols tossed a one-hitter and Raddatz drove in a pair, as the Hearts beat the Green Wave 4-1 to complete the sweep.
The first game was scoreless through 3½ innings. Fox changed that by driving a 3-1 pitch over the rightfield fence. Two pitches later, Raddatz followed suit, lining a pitch over that same rightfield fence, putting the Hearts up 2-0.
Mattoon tied the game in the top of the fifth, but the Hearts scored the winning run in the bottom of that frame. Nichols got a one-out walk and Raddatz singled. When Webb’s ground ball was misplayed for an error, Nichols was able to score.
Webb walked two and struck out two in his 96-pitch performance.
In the second game, Jude Traub got what proved to be the winning rally started with a one-out double in the bottom of the third. Nichols walked and Raddatz doubled to put the Hearts on top. Webb then walked to load the bases and Braxton Lewis was hit by a pitch to force in the second run.
The Green Wave got their only hit in the fourth and scored their only run on a sacrifice fly.
In the bottom of the fourth, the first two batters were retired. Traub, who had three hits in the game, then singled and came around to score on a double by Nichols. After Fox walked, Raddatz came through again, delivering an RBI single.
Nichols walked two and struck out eight, while throwing 93 pitches.
The Hearts improved to 11-4 overall and 4-2 in the conference. They will return to action Tuesday at Neoga.
Page 3 of 12
