Both coaches admitted the first couple innings were a little shaky and credited that to nerves. Winning the City Series has always been a big thing for both schools.

In the top of the first, St. Anthony’s lead-off hitter, Addyson Rio, blooped a single over the shortstop’s head on the first pitch of the game. Addie Wernsing then laid down a sacrifice bunt, but the throw to first was wild, allowing Rios to scoot all the way to third base.

With one out, Lucy Fearday put down a sacrifice bunt that allowed Rios to score the first run of the game. Anna Faber then got an infield single that brought Wernsing in and staked the Lady Bulldogs to a quick 2-0 lead.

But the Lady Hearts responded in the bottom of the frame.

Jerzi Bierman led off with a walk, stole both second and third base, and scored when Raegan Boone slapped a single to leftfield. Boone also stole second and third and raced home on a passed ball to tie the game.

Both teams added single tallies in the second.

St. Anthony’s Stacie Vonderheide was hit by a pitch. After the next two batters were retired, Addy Rios, Wernsing and Hailey Niebrugge each walked, forcing in the run.

But, again, Effingham responded.

Mya Harvey lined a double into the right-centerfield gap to start things for the Lady Hearts. Courtesy runner Saige Althoff went to third on a bunt and scored on a ground ball off the bat of Natalie Armstrong.

Beginning in the third inning, Fearday, the St. Anthony pitcher, really settled in. She ended up retiring 17 of the final 20 batters she faced.

The only other run she allowed came in the sixth. With one out, Sidney Donaldon singled for EHS and came all the way around to score when Abby Cunningham lined a double into left-centerfield to narrow the gap to 5-4.

But Fearday retired the final two batters of that inning and then set the side down in order in the seventh to secure the victory for the Lady Bulldogs.

“I can tell when Lucy is going to be on,” Taylor said. “I can just tell if she’s ready to bring it or if she’s going to need help from her defense. She threw about 25 pitches in that first inning, which is a lot for her. This series brings some nerves. But by that third inning, you could tell she had settled down.”

The two deciding runs for SAHS scored in the fourth and fifth.

After Cameron Rios led off with a base hit in the fourth, she stole second and scored when Wernsing grounded a single up the middle.

In the fifth, Abbie Hatton, who had three hits in the game, singled to center. After a sacrifice bunt and a passed ball, she was on third base when Cameron Rios grounded a base hit to left to give the Lady Bulldogs a two-run cushion, 5-3.

“We just couldn’t get enough key hits when we had runners in scoring position, especially early in the game,” said Effingham Coach Jerry Trigg. “But Lucy is a good pitcher. She moves the ball around and keeps you off-balance.”

Armstrong pitched all seven innings for the Lady Hearts and took the loss. She allowed 10 hits, while walking three and striking out two.

Fearday allowed five total hits. She walked just one batter and struck out six.

The Lady Bulldogs improved to 17-3 on the season, while EHS dipped to 17-9.

The two teams will meet again today (Thursday) at 4 p.m. Game 2 will be played at Bulldog Field at St. Anthony High School.

“These kids get really excited about this City Series,” Trigg said. “Both teams want to be the best team in town. It’s a good rivalry. It’s like a post-season game. I like having the series at the end of the year. With the regionals starting next, it’s a good tune-up for both teams.”