Softball

It took awhile for the bats to come alive, but when they did, the St. Anthony Lady Bulldogs rolled.

After being shutout for the first four innings, the Lady Bulldogs exploded for nine runs over the final three innings, en route to a 9-4 win over Effingham Friday afternoon in the final game of the annual City Series.

SAHS swept the three-game series to claim the championship plaque for the second year in a row and have extended their winning streak to 15 games.

The Lady Bulldogs trailed 2-0 when they came to bat in the top of the fifth. With one out, Stacie Vonderheide and Cameran Rios singled. Then with two outs, Addie Wernsing tied the game with a two-run double.

Effingham scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth on a pair of wild pitches, but St. Anthony came right back in the sixth. Lucy Fearday and Sydney Kibler both got base hits to get things started. One run scored on a passed ball and Abbie Hatton delivered a two-run double that put the Lady Bulldogs on top to stay.

SAHS then used the long ball in the seventh to take control. After Hailey Niebrugge walked and Kibler singled, Anna Faber unloaded, driving a pitch over the centerfield fence for a three-run homer. Hatton then stepped to the plate and launched another home run, this time over the leftfield fence.

Cameran Rios and Kibler both had three hits to lead St. Anthony’s 12-hit attack. Faber and Hatton both had three RBI, while Wernsing drove in a pair.

Kibler pitched the first five innings to get the win. She allowed six hits and four runs, while walking two and striking out five. Fearday pitched the final two innings.

The Lady Hearts took a 2-0 lead in the second. With one out, Abbie Cunningham singled and went to second on a ground out. Jennifer Jamison then had an RBI single, stole second and scored on a base hit by Natalie Armstrong.

Effingham is now 17-11 on the season.

The Lady Bulldogs improved to 19-3 and will now open postseason play in the Teutopolis Regional. They will face either Pana or Paris in a semifinal game at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday. The winner of that game will play for the regional championship at 4:30 p.m. Friday.

Laney Coffin belted a home run, Hailey Niebrugge drove in a pair of runs and Lucy Fearday scattered six hits Thursday afternoon, helping the St. Anthony Lady Bulldogs post a 7-0 victory over Effingham and clinch the City Series championship for the second year in a row.

The Lady Hearts still lead the overall series 14-9.

After winning the series opener 5-4 the day before, the Lady Bulldogs dominated Game 2 at Bulldog Field.

They scored the only runs they would need in the second inning. Niebrugge and Fearday both singled. A passed ball and an error then allowed both runners to score and put SAHS ahead 2-0.

The Lady Bulldogs added single tallies in the third and fifth. In the third, Cameron Rios and Addyson Rios both singled and Niebrugge drove in the run with a sacrifice bunt. Niebrugge added an RBI single in the fifth after a double by Addyson Rios.

St. Anthony broke it open in the sixth. After Anna Faber walked, Abbie Hatton lined a double that brought Faber in. Laney Coffin then blasted a two-run homer over the leftfield fence to cap the scoring.

That was more than enough support for Fearday. She didn’t walk a batter and struck out two in an efficient 61-pitch, seven-inning performance.

Jennifer Jamison had two hits for the Lady Hearts and Natalie Armstrong took the loss. She allowed 10 hits, while walking just one and striking out four.

The Lady Bulldogs have now won 14 in a row and improved to 18-3 on the season. EHS dipped to 17-10.

Game 3 of the City Series is scheduled for today (Friday) at 4 p.m. at Effingham Field.

The St. Anthony Lady Bulldogs are the No. 1 seed in the Teutopolis Class 2A Regional, which will open play on Monday, May 15.

There are five teams in that regional, including the host Teutopolis Lady Shoes, who are the No. 7 seed. The other teams are Pana, Paris and Westville.

The winner of the Teutopolis Regional will advance to the Tolono (Unity) Sectional, which is scheduled for May 23 and May 27. Winners of the regionals at Maroa-Forsyth, Bloomington Central Catholic and Sullivan will also advance to Tolono.

Here is the schedule for the Teutopolis Regional:

Monday, May 15

Game 1 – 4:30 p.m. – Pana (#9) vs. Paris (#8)

Tuesday, May 16

Game 2 – 4:30 p.m. – St. Anthony (#1) vs. Winner Game 1

Wednesday, May 17

Game 3 – 4:30 p.m. – Westville (#4) vs. Teutopolis (#7)

Friday, May 19

Game 4 – Winner Game vs. Winner Game 3 (championship)

By Steve Raymond

ET Sports Report

Cameron Rios had to take an important college-level AP test late Wednesday afternoon.

As a result, she was a little late getting to the ballfield.

But better late than never.

When she entered the game in the fourth inning, she made her presence felt immediately.

Rios singled on the first pitch she saw and later scored the go-ahead run.

Then in the fifth, she delivered a two-out RBI single to drive in what proved to be the deciding run, helping the St. Anthony Lady Bulldogs post their 13^th straight victory, a 5-4 decision over Effingham in the opening game of the annual City Series.

“She’s our sparkplug,” said St. Anthony Coach Makayla Taylor. “This City Series is a neat atmosphere. Our girls just want to keep plugging away at getting wins. We beat a good Effingham team today.”