The Effingham Hearts used some late scoring to pull away and post a 10-2 win Friday afternoon at home over Dieterich.
The Hearts held a slim 3-2 advantage when they came to bat in the bottom of the fifth inning. Kaiden Nichols led off with a double, went to third on an error and scored on a double steal. Cam Raddatz, who had four hits in the game, then doubled and scored on an RBI single by Brody Boehm to make it a 5-2 EHS lead.
Effingham wrapped up the scoring with a five-run sixth. Kaden Koberlein was hit by a pitch and came around to score on a double by Jude Traub. He eventually scored on a ground out by Spencer Fox. Raddatz then blasted a home run over the left field fence.
But the Hearts weren’t finished. Colton Webb and Boehm both singled and Braxton Lewis walked to load the bases. One run scored on a passed ball and the fifth tally came across on an RBI ground out by Koeberlein.
Peter Rosen started for EHS and pitched the first five innings to get the win. He allowed just three hits and two runs, while walking four and striking out four. Brayden Tucker pitched the final two innings and gave up just one hit.
The Hearts, now 9-2, will be home again today (Saturday). They will host Mahomet-Seymour in an Apollo Conference doubleheader.
By Steve Raymond
The News Report
Josh McDevitt knew he’d have his work cut out for him.
Sycamore averaged 10 runs and 12 hits a game, while accumulating 32 wins this season.
All nine starters hit .360 or better, with four of their hitters above .400.
But Effingham’s ace righthander was outstanding. That potent Spartans lineup was kept in check all day. It was no surprise when Sycamore’s long-time coach Jason Cavanaugh said, “that’s the best pitcher we’ve seen all year,” following the game.
The Spartans were still the team celebrating, however. They took advantage of a wild pitch in the bottom of the ninth inning Saturday morning to get a walk-off 2-1 win and capture third place in the Class 3A State Baseball Tournament, played at Duly Health & Care Field in Joliet.
“I’m super proud of these kids,” an emotional Effingham coach Curran McNeely said during the press conference. “We kept battling for nine innings. These kids gave it everything they had.”
There were actually two story lines from this contest.
The first was the final pitching performance by McDevitt, who will now take his talents to the University of Missouri.
The second was the inability to get a timely hit or two. The Hearts had plenty of runners on base. They just couldn’t deliver that hit that probably would have made the difference.
By Steve Raymond
ET Sports Report
The last time Effingham High School’s baseball team played in the state tournament the game was just a bit different.
There were no turf fields and all the uniforms were wool.
There were no pitch counts, courtesy runners, batting helmets or aluminum bats.
That was in 1942.
Thanks to the 2023 Effingham Hearts, that 81-year state tournament drought is now over.
That was accomplished Monday night when this “refuse to die” team posted a 4-0 victory over Champaign Central to capture the Decatur Super Sectional and earn a berth in the Class 3A State Baseball Tournament.
The Hearts, now 22-15, will face Grayslake Central (33-7) at 10 a.m. Friday at Duly Health & Care Field in Joliet.
Not bad for a team that many figured would be “one and done” when the postseason opened. But this group responded with four straight wins to go along with regional and sectional championship plaques.
Monday night’s win makes it five in a row with even more hardware for the school’s trophy case.
By Steve Raymond
The News Report
Unfortunately, there just wasn’t much to cheer about Friday morning.
The Effingham Hearts made an amazing run through the postseason, reeling off five straight victories and accumulating regional, sectional and super sectional championship plaques along the way.
But that streak came to an end Friday morning when the Hearts were dealt a 9-1 setback to Grayslake Central in a semifinal game of the Class 3A State Baseball Tournament, played at Duly Health & Care Field in Joliet.
The Rams, who were making their first state tourney appearance since 2014, jumped ahead early and then extended that lead, eventually owning a nine-run cushion.
The Hearts didn’t get their first hit or only run until the sixth inning.
“This was a learning experience,” said EHS coach Curran McNeely. “For our kids, it opened their eyes a little to the style of baseball they’re going to find at this level. Small things get amplified, especially when you play as good of a team as we did today.”
Small things like hit batters and walks. In addition to banging out nine hits, Grayslake Central received 10 additional baserunners – six via walks plus four hit batters.
And that started immediately.
By Steve Raymond
ET Sports Report
When the postseason pairings were released for Class 3A baseball, it’s safe to say few – if anybody – expected Effingham to be facing Champaign Central in the super sectional for a chance to make a trip to the state tournament.
Most so-called experts predicted it would be Mahomet-Seymour or Chatham Glenwood battling either Mascoutah or Troy Triad.
But – as the old sports saying goes – “That’s why you play the games.”
So, when that first pitch of the Decatur Super Sectional is thrown Monday night, it will be the Effingham Hearts and Champaign Central Maroons squaring off. The game is slated for 6 p.m. at the Workman Family Baseball Field, located on the Millikin University campus in Decatur.
The winner will advance to the Class 3A State Tournament, which will be held Friday and Saturday at the Duly Health & Care Field in Joliet.
The Maroons, winners of eight straight games, captured the Lincoln Sectional with a 4-2 win over Rochester.
The Hearts, winners of five in a row, used a big fifth inning to pull ahead and then rolled to a 6-3 victory over Mt. Vernon to claim the Centralia Sectional title.
“This postseason has been a testament to our kids,” said EHS coach Curran McNeely, who is completing his third season at the helm. “They really bought into our process. We had an up and down regular season, but they continued to work hard and improve on the routine things that help you win ballgames. We’re playing with a lot of confidence right now.”
That confidence got shaken a bit Saturday morning. After building a 2-0 lead, Mt. Vernon scored the tying runs in the bottom of the fourth, taking advantage of one hit, a walk and two errors.
But the Hearts responded immediately.
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