Pitching dominated Tuesday’s Apollo Conference doubleheader in Charleston.
The Effingham Hearts allowed just one hit in both games, but only managed a split in the twin-bill.
Charleston’s Luke Bonstetter and Aidan Archibald combined to keep the Hearts off the scoreboard in the opener, finishing with a 1-0 victory.
In the nightcap, Effingham’s Kaiden Nichols came within two outs of a complete game shutout. But his teammates provided plenty of support, as EHS gained the split with a 7-0 win.
In the first game, the host Trojans scored what proved to be the winning run in the bottom of the fifth. Bonnstetter reached on an error, went to second on a balk and scored when Corbin Parker got his team’s only hit of the contest, an RBI single.
The Hearts had four hits and left five runners stranded in the first three innings. But over the final four innings, only one runner was left on.
Colton Webb was the tough-luck loser. He allowed just the one hit and one unearned run in his six innings of work. The lefty walked two and struck out six.
Nichols was in total control in the second game. He allowed only one hit, a two-out single in the third, while walking two and striking out nine in his 107-pitch performance. Jude Traub came in and recorded the final two outs.
The Hearts scored all the runs they needed in the first inning. Two walks and a single by Webb loaded the bases with one out. Spencer Fox forced in a run with a walk, another scored on a wild pitch and Braxton Lewis and Carter Braddy capped the four-run frame with RBI singles.
Effingham added a single tally in the second and two more in the fourth to wrap up the scoring.
The Hearts are now 13-7 overall and 5-3 in the conference. They will return home Friday to play Flora and will then travel to Taylorville on Saturday for another Apollo Conference doubleheader.
Callaway Smith and Trevan Sidwell combined to allow just one run, helping South Central post a 2-1 victory Wednesday afternoon at Effingham.
Smith went the first five innings to get the win. He gave up seven hits and one unearned run, while walking two and striking out four. Sidwell then pitched two scoreless innings to earn the save. He gave up only one hit and struck out three.
The host Hearts went on top in the opening inning. They actually had four hits during that at-bat, but scored just one run, that coming on an RBI single by Cam Raddatz. Effingham managed only four more hits the rest of the way and was unable to push another run across the plate. They ended up stranding nine baserunners.
South Central scored single tallies in the second and third innings.
The Hearts used four pitchers in the game. Kaiden Nichols was the starter and went two innings. Raddatz pitched the next two innings and got the loss. Kaden Koeberlein and Colton Webb finished up.
EHS, now 12-6, will play an Apollo Conference doubleheader Saturday at Charleston.
By Steve Raymond
The Sports Report
Brady Hatton and Brock Fearday proved to be a two-man wrecking crew.
Hatton blasted two long home runs and drove in four, while Fearday belted another “no-doubter” and pitched a complete game.
That proved to be a winning combination as the St. Anthony Bulldogs posted an 8-2 win Tuesday over Teutopolis at Paul Smith Field in Effingham.
The fireworks started early.
After the first two batters were retired in the bottom of the first, Fearday connected on an 0-1 pitch and launched it well over the centerfield fence to put the hosts on top to stay.
Connor Roepke followed with a double and Hatton then drove a 3-1 offering to almost the same spot as Fearday’s, staking St. Anthony to the 3-1 lead.
“Anytime you can grab the lead in a rivalry game like this, it’s huge,” St. Anthony coach Tony Kreke admitted. “We had a couple real good swings against a very good pitcher. That’s always good to see.”
St. Anthony added a single tally in the fourth without getting a hit and the Wooden Shoes got on the scoreboard in the top of the fifth on a sacrifice fly by Devin Kreke.
The bottom of the fifth proved to be decisive. Beau Adams reached on an error and Fearday, who had three hits in the game, looped a single into right field. Both runners moved up on a wild pitch and Roepke brought in a run with a sacrifice fly.
Hatton then went deep again. This time it was a 1-1 pitch that he hammered, and once again, it sailed over the centerfield fence to increase the St. Anthony lead to 7-1.
Ryder Sloss delivered a two-out RBI double in the bottom of the seventh inning Saturday, giving Mt. Carmel a walk-off 2-1 win at home over Effingham.
With two outs and nobody on base, Jaxon Browning singled to get the winning rally started. Then on a 3-2 pitch, Sloss lined a double for the game-winner.
It was a pitcher’s dual throughout. Effingham’s Kaiden Nichols and Mt. Carmel’s Dakota Mounts were both effective. Nichols allowed just one unearned run through four innings before being relieved by Colton Webb. Mounts went six innings, giving up one run on five hits. Neither starter, however, figured into the decision.
Andrew Gillihan pitched a scoreless seventh and got the win for the Golden Aces. Webb only allowed the two seventh-inning hits in 2.2 innings of work, but took the loss. He and Nichols combined to strike out 15 batters.
The Hearts scored their lone run in the top of the third inning. The lead-off hitter, Brody Boehm, was hit by a pitch and stole second. Then with two outs, Cam Raddatz delivered an RBI single.
Mt. Carmel tied the game with an unearned run in the fourth, combining two errors and a base hit to tie the game.
The Hearts, now 12-5 on the season, will return to action Wednesday. They will play at home against South Central.
The Effingham Flaming Hearts exploded for eight runs in the fifth inning Tuesday afternoon and went on to post a 12-4 win at Neoga.
The Hearts trailed 1-0 when they came to bat in the top of the fifth inning. Brody Boehm and Kaiden Nichols both singled to get the rally started. Kaden Koberlein followed with another base hit, but Boehm was thrown out trying to score.
Spencer Fox then walked to load the bases. That was the first of five walks in the inning – four of which forced in runs. Colton Webb and Braxton Lewis were the first two to walk with the sacks jammed and two more runs scored on a Neoga error.
Carter Braddy and Boehm both drew walks forcing in the fifth run of the frame. Nichols then delivered an RBI single and Koeberlein capped the inning with a two-run base hit, giving EHS an 8-1 lead.
The Hearts tacked on two more tallies in the sixth. Jude Traub drove in one with a base hit and Boehm added an RBI double.
Braddy pitched the first five innings and got the win. He allowed just one hit and one run, while walking four and striking out nine.
Effingham, now 12-4, will return to action Saturday at Mt. Carmel.
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