They scored a pair of runs in the fourth on just one hit. With one out, Mendella walked and courtesy runner Beau Adams went to second on an errant pickoff attempt. Eli Levitt then lined a double into the right-centerfield gap, scoring Adams with the go-ahead run. The second run scored when Levitt stole third and traced home when the throw got by the third baseman.

St. Anthony scored its third run in the fifth. With two outs, Eli Moore hit a high fly ball that was lost in the lights and dropped in for a double. He scored after a pair of wild pitches.

“We had just enough offense tonight,” Kreke admitted. “They have some very good pitchers, too. We had a couple opportunities and took advantage of some breaks.”

The Hearts had scoring chances in the third, fourth and fifth innings.

In the third, Quest Hull walked and Gauge Massey singled with two outs. In the fourth, Joe Matteson singled, but courtesy runner Brayden Pals was thrown out trying to steal second. Max Nelson then reached on an error and Dylan Cunningham singled, but both runners were stranded.

Then in the fifth, Hull walked and Massey was hit by a pitch, but Antrim struck out the next two batters. The senior lefty then retired the final six batters to secure the win.

“He threw the ball very well,” EHS coach Curran McNeely said. “My hat is off to him. He got ahead early in the count and mixed up his pitches. We also swung at some pitches we shouldn’t have.

“We did not have a very good approach at the plate tonight, which isn’t typical for us,” McNeely added. “We were over-swinging. When you do that against a kid that’s around the zone, he becomes even harder to hit.”

With a key Apollo Conference game scheduled for Saturday at Mattoon, McNeely will be juggling his pitching staff during this three-game City Series. He started the ace of his staff, Jackson Lee, but pulled him after 44 pitches so he could come back and pitch against Mattoon.

“I want to win every game, but winning the conference is our No. 1 goal,” McNeely said. “St. Anthony is a good team; a very good team. But I’ve got to juggle things this week so we’re set for Mattoon.”

Lee went 2.2 shutout innings, allowing two hits and a walk, while striking out four. Matthew Loy pitched the next two innings and got the loss. Massey, Jack Blickem and Josh McDevitt also pitched in the game.

The City Series will resume at 7 p.m. today (Thursday) at Evergreen Hollow Park and conclude at 7 p.m. Friday back at Paul Smith Field.

St. Anthony improved to 12-1 on the season, while the Hearts dipped to 10-2.

“This is something the guys look forward to every year,” Kreke said. “When the seniors were asked what they missed most last year, it was playing in the City Series. These are competitive games and we have great crowds. Anybody would want to play in the City Series.”