Gaddis turns in dominant mound performance; bottom of the lineup produces offensively; Shoes capture regional championship
By Steve Raymond
ET Sports Report
When a coach talks about his pitcher being “dialed in” or “in the zone” or “dealing it,” that’s not generally a good thing for opposing hitters.
It certainly wasn’t for Flora.
Teutopolis lefty Garrett Gaddis had all his pitches working Saturday morning and consistently pounded the strike zone. The Wolves didn’t even hit many balls hard. They had four total baserunners and only two hits.
To say T-Town’s senior hurler was dominant would be an accurate description.
Offensively, the Shoes did enough, especially the bottom of the lineup.
And when the final out was recorded, it was the Shoes being handed the regional plaque.
Teutopolis posted a 6-1 victory over Flora to claim its own Class 2A regional title. It was the 14th time in the last 15 years the Shoes have won a regional.
And after taking a year off from coaching, it was an especially nice feeling for THS coach Justin Fleener.
“It is nice to be back in the winner’s circle,” he admitted. “It’s fun to be a part of this. But every game is going to get tougher from here on out.”
Fearday's pitching helps Bulldogs beat Newton; claim regional title
It’s always nice to have an ace on the staff that can step up and deliver in the most important situations.
Such was the case Saturday in Marshall.
St. Anthony’s Brock Fearday turned in a pitching gem, allowing just six hits and coming within one out of registering a complete game.
While Fearday was dominating on the mound, his teammates were providing plenty of offensive support, banging out 14 hits and scoring in four of the innings.
The combination of all this was an 8-2 win over Newton in the championship game of the Marshall Class 2A Regional.
St. Anthony’s junior righthander walked just one and struck out seven, helping the Bulldogs claim their third straight regional title.
Offensively, SAHS went to work immediately.
Lady Bulldogs capture 4th straight regional championship; Vonderheide goes deep, drives in three in 6-4 win over T-Town
By Steve Raymond
ET Sports Report
The St. Anthony seniors will leave the softball program knowing they never lost a regional game.
The Lady Bulldogs kept that streak alive Friday afternoon with a hard-fought 6-4 victory over their rival, the Teutopolis Lady Shoes, in the championship game of the St. Anthony Class 2A Regional.
For this group, it was their fourth straight regional title.
“It never gets old,” SAHS coach Makayla Taylor admitted. “We battled through some adversity today. But at this point of the season, it’s all about survive and advance. In the postseason, a win is a win.”
St. Anthony is known for its potent offense. In Tuesday’s 17-2 rout of Sullivan in the semifinals, the Lady Bulldogs scored 11 runs in the opening inning and finished with 17 hits.
T-Town pitchers Alyssa Tipton and Olivia Hemmen made sure the SAHS bats were not as potent, and as a result, the game at Bulldog Field was close throughout – although there was a threat of a big first inning.
Addie Wernsing led off with a drive over rightfielder Kayleigh Zerrusen’s head that went for a double. After one out, Abbi Hatton and Sydney Kibler both walked to load the bases. Maddie Kibler than received a third straight walk to force in the first run of the game and Stacie Vonderheide was then hit by a pitch to make it 2-0.
The Lady Bulldogs were set up for a big inning, but Tipton retired the next two batters.
EHS is No. 2 seed in Salem Class 3A Baseball Regional
The Effingham Flaming Hearts were named the No. 2 seed in the Salem Class 3A Regional, which will open play on Monday, May 20.
There are five teams in that regional, including Olney (Richland County), Charleston, Mattoon and Salem.
The winner of the Salem Regional will advance to the Troy Triad Sectional, which is scheduled for May 29-June 1. Winners of the regionals at Marion, Jerseyville and Waterloo will advance to Troy Triad.
Here is the schedule for the Salem Regional:
Monday, May 20
Game 1 – 4:30 p.m. – Olney (#8) at Charleston (#7)
Wednesday, May 22
Game 2 – 4:30 p.m. – Effingham (#2) vs. Winner Game 1
Thursday, May 23
Game 3 – 4:30 p.m. – Mattoon (#3) vs. Salem (#6)
Saturday, May 25
Game 4 – 11 a.m. – Winner Game 2 vs. Winner Game 3 (championship)
Lady Hearts will compete in the Highland Class 3A Regional
The Effingham Lady Hearts are the No. 3 seed in the Highland Class 3A Regional, which will open play on Monday, May 20.
There are five teams in that regional. The other teams are Mattoon, Olney (Richland County), Highland and Salem.
The winner of the Highland Regional will advance to the Waterloo Sectional, which is scheduled for May 28-31. Winners of the regionals at Bethalto Civic Memorial, Carbondale and Troy Triad will also advance to the Waterloo Sectional.
Here is the schedule for the Highland Regional:
Monday, May 20
Game 1 – 4:30 p.m. – Mattoon (#9) at Olney (#8)
Tuesday, May 21
Game 2 – 4:30 p.m. – Effingham (#3) vs. Highland (#7)
Wednesday, May 22
Game 3 – 4:30 p.m. – Salem (#2) vs. Winner Game 1
Friday, May 24
Game 4 – 4:30 p.m. – Winner Game 2 vs. Winner Game 3 (championship)
Four-run third propels Hearts to 8-3 win at Civic Memorial
The Effingham Hearts used a four-run third inning to take the lead and went on to post an 8-3 victory Friday afternoon at Civic Memorial in Bethalto.
The hosts grabbed a 2-0 lead in the opening frame, but the third proved to be pivotal for EHS.
Kaiden Nichols led off with a walk. With one out, Cam Raddatz singled and both runners moved up on a fly ball. Spencer Fox then delivered a clutch two-run single to tie the game. An error allowed another run to cross the plate and Braden Verdeyen capped the inning with an RBI double.
A sacrifice fly by Fox accounted for a single tally in the fifth and the Hearts provided some additional cushion with a three-run sixth. Two singles and a walk loaded the bases. A sacrifice fly by Raddatz brought home the first run and Colton Webb delivered a two-run single.
Nichols pitched the first four innings to get the win. He allowed five hits and two runs, while walking three and striking out four. Jude Traub pitched the final three frames to earn the save.
The Hearts improved to 19-9 on the season. They will be right back in action Saturday, finishing their regular season with a doubleheader at Centralia. The first game is scheduled for 11 a.m.