Colton Webb and Kaiden Nichols turned in stellar pitching performances Saturday, helping the Effingham Flaming Hearts post an Apollo Conference doubleheader sweep at Mattoon.

Webb gave up five hits and Spencer Fox and Cam Raddatz belted back-to-back homers, as the Hearts took the opener, 3-2.

In the nightcap, Nichols tossed a one-hitter and Raddatz drove in a pair, as the Hearts beat the Green Wave 4-1 to complete the sweep.

The first game was scoreless through 3½ innings. Fox changed that by driving a 3-1 pitch over the rightfield fence. Two pitches later, Raddatz followed suit, lining a pitch over that same rightfield fence, putting the Hearts up 2-0.

Mattoon tied the game in the top of the fifth, but the Hearts scored the winning run in the bottom of that frame. Nichols got a one-out walk and Raddatz singled. When Webb’s ground ball was misplayed for an error, Nichols was able to score.

Webb walked two and struck out two in his 96-pitch performance.

In the second game, Jude Traub got what proved to be the winning rally started with a one-out double in the bottom of the third. Nichols walked and Raddatz doubled to put the Hearts on top. Webb then walked to load the bases and Braxton Lewis was hit by a pitch to force in the second run.

The Green Wave got their only hit in the fourth and scored their only run on a sacrifice fly.

In the bottom of the fourth, the first two batters were retired. Traub, who had three hits in the game, then singled and came around to score on a double by Nichols. After Fox walked, Raddatz came through again, delivering an RBI single.

Nichols walked two and struck out eight, while throwing 93 pitches.

The Hearts improved to 11-4 overall and 4-2 in the conference. They will return to action Tuesday at Neoga.

The Effingham Hearts used some late scoring to pull away and post a 10-2 win Friday afternoon at home over Dieterich.

The Hearts held a slim 3-2 advantage when they came to bat in the bottom of the fifth inning. Kaiden Nichols led off with a double, went to third on an error and scored on a double steal. Cam Raddatz, who had four hits in the game, then doubled and scored on an RBI single by Brody Boehm to make it a 5-2 EHS lead.

Effingham wrapped up the scoring with a five-run sixth. Kaden Koberlein was hit by a pitch and came around to score on a double by Jude Traub. He eventually scored on a ground out by Spencer Fox. Raddatz then blasted a home run over the left field fence.

But the Hearts weren’t finished. Colton Webb and Boehm both singled and Braxton Lewis walked to load the bases. One run scored on a passed ball and the fifth tally came across on an RBI ground out by Koeberlein.

Peter Rosen started for EHS and pitched the first five innings to get the win. He allowed just three hits and two runs, while walking four and striking out four. Brayden Tucker pitched the final two innings and gave up just one hit.

The Hearts, now 9-2, will be home again today (Saturday). They will host Mahomet-Seymour in an Apollo Conference doubleheader.

Gavin Bailey belted a grand slam in the top of the seventh inning Saturday, lifting Mahomet-Seymour to a 4-3 victory over Effingham in the first game of an Apollo Conference doubleheader at Evergreen Hollow Park.

The visiting Bulldogs completed the sweep with a 12-1 win in the nightcap.

In the opener, the Hearts held a 3-0 lead and starting pitcher Kaiden Nichols was cruising along with a three-hit shutout. But with one out in the seventh, Nichols reached his limit of 108 pitches and had to be taken out of the game.

The Bulldogs responded. A single, walk and an error loaded the bases with two outs. And on a 3-2 pitch, Bailey drove the ball over the rightfield fence for what proved to be the game-winner.

Mahomet-Seymour reliever Caden Starrick allowed a two-out hit in the bottom of the seventh, but got the final out to secure the win.

Effingham took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on an RBI double by Colton Webb. The Hearts added two more tallies in the fourth. Braxton Lewis singled and Braden Verdeyen walked. Kaden Koeberlein drove in the first run with a base hit and the second run came across after a double steal.

Nichols made that stand up through 6.1 innings of work. The lefthander walked just one and struck out 10. Jude Traub relieved first and Koeberlein came in two batters later and took the loss.

EHS also took a 1-0 lead in the opening frame of the nightcap after back-to-back doubles by Spencer Fox and Cam Raddatz. But the Hearts had only one hit the rest of the way, a third-inning single by Nichols.

The Bulldogs put together six-run frames in both the third and fourth to take control. They combined four hits and three errors in the third and then had four hits and three walks in the fourth.

Webb pitched the first three innings for Effingham and took the loss. He allowed six hits and six unearned runs. He walked three and struck out five. Carter Braddy and Raddatz came on in relief.

The Hearts dropped to 9-4 overall and 2-2 in the conference. They will return to action Thursday at North Clay.

By Steve Raymond

The News Report

Josh McDevitt knew he’d have his work cut out for him.

Sycamore averaged 10 runs and 12 hits a game, while accumulating 32 wins this season.

All nine starters hit .360 or better, with four of their hitters above .400.

But Effingham’s ace righthander was outstanding. That potent Spartans lineup was kept in check all day. It was no surprise when Sycamore’s long-time coach Jason Cavanaugh said, “that’s the best pitcher we’ve seen all year,” following the game.

The Spartans were still the team celebrating, however. They took advantage of a wild pitch in the bottom of the ninth inning Saturday morning to get a walk-off 2-1 win and capture third place in the Class 3A State Baseball Tournament, played at Duly Health & Care Field in Joliet.

“I’m super proud of these kids,” an emotional Effingham coach Curran McNeely said during the press conference. “We kept battling for nine innings. These kids gave it everything they had.”

There were actually two story lines from this contest.

The first was the final pitching performance by McDevitt, who will now take his talents to the University of Missouri.

The second was the inability to get a timely hit or two. The Hearts had plenty of runners on base. They just couldn’t deliver that hit that probably would have made the difference.

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