Hearts Cruise Past Charleston, 8-2

Effingham High School beat Charleston Monday 8-2 iin opening round play of  the Class 3A Mattoon Baseball Regional.

The Hearts scored four runs in the sixth on an RBI double by Kevin Daugherty, a sacrifice fly by Preston Walker, a wild pitch and a sacrifice fly by Carter Hayes. Hayes got a hit in each of his two at-bats.

Walker held Charleston scoreless for six innings. He struck out seven and allowed only one walk. He finished with a two-hitter. Both Trojan runs came in the seventh.

The Hearts tallied a run in the first on an RBI double by Hayes. EHS piled on three more in the bottom of the fifth. Swayde Sanders hit a double to score Walker. Michael Woltman's double brought home Hayes and Sanders.

Hayes finished with a single, double and two RBI while Sanders had a single, double and one RBI. Woltman chipped in with a double and two RBI.

"We had a great pitching performance by Preston Walker," said EHS Coach Chris Fleener. "Our defense made some big plays. It was a good team win."

EHS is now 19-13 on the season and back in regional action Wednesday against Salem at Mattoon at 4:30 p.m. The second game features Mattoon against Olney at 7 p.m.

Class 3A Mattoon Regional

Charleston          000    000    2    --    2-5-1

Effingham           100    034    x    --    8-8-1

WP -- Walker. LP -- Mcinereg.

Charleston -- Carver, single; Gough, double; McGahee, single; Smith, single; Moore, single; Thomas, 1 RBI

Effingham -- Walker, single, 1 RBI; Hayes, single, double 2 RBI; Sanders, single, double, 1 RBI; Woltman, double, 2 RBI; Poland, single; Daugherty, double, 1 RBI