Baseball

Going into the 2021 spring season, pitching was considered a real strength for the Effingham baseball team.

After the first two games, that certainly appears to be the case.

Jackson Lee and Josh McDevitt combined to throw a one-hit shutout in the season opener Friday.

Jack Blickem followed suit Saturday. He went five innings, allowing just two hits and one unearned run, while walking two and striking out eight in five innings of work.

In those first two contests, the three pitchers have also combined to walk just four and strike out 16.

In addition to his arm, Blickem also used his bat, collecting three hits and driving in three runs, helping the Hearts post a 15-1, five-inning victory at Olney.

EHS banged out 11 hits and scored in every inning.

A four-run first was all the support Blickem needed. And it started quick. Lead-off batter Preston Latch was hit by a pitch, Jackson Lee followed with an RBI triple and Blickem got a base hit to drive in Lee. With one out, Christian Raddatz ripped a run-scoring double and Quest Hull capped the inning with an RBI single.

An error, two stolen bases and a wild pitch provided a scoring opportunity in the second and Blickem and Max Hardiek delivered base hits to drive in runs and increase the lead to 6-0.

The Hearts broke the game open with a six-run third. With one out, Dylan Cunningham had a double and Max Nelson followed with a base hit. Gabe Eaton drove in a run with a ground ball, one run scored on a passed ball and another on an error. Latch and Blickem had RBI singles and Raddatz added a run-scoring double to make it 12-0.

EHS added two runs in the fourth and another in the fifth thanks to walks, a hit batter, a wild pitch and a couple errors.

The Hearts are now 2-0 on the young season. They will return home to face Shelbyville on Wednesday and then travel to Newton on Thursday.

Curran McNeeley earned his first victory as coach of the Effingham baseball team Saturday after his Hearts posted a 13-0, five-inning win at home over Marshall.

Effingham benefited from nine walks and four Marshall errors to go along with five hits.

The Hearts also got a strong pitching performance. Jackson Lee went the first four innings and allowed just one hit – a single in the fourth inning – while walking two and striking out eight. Josh McDevitt pitched the fifth and struck out the side.

Effingham scored what proved to be the winning runs in the opening inning. With one out, Jack Blickem and Lee received back-to-back walks and advanced a base on a wild pitch. Joe Matteson’s sacrifice fly drove in the first run and the second tally scored on a passed ball.

The Hearts broke it open with a seven-run third. They received six walks, including two with the bases loaded, scored a run on a passed ball and another on a wild pitch. Quest Hull also delivered a two-run single and George Massey added an RBI base hit to give EHS the 9-0 lead.

Three Marshall errors, a wild pitch and a double by Preston Latch led to four more tallies in the fourth and wrap up the scoring.

Massey and Hull both had a pair of hits for the Hearts and Latch had the fifth hit.

Effingham, 1-0, will play Friday at Mt. Vernon and Saturday at Olney.