Effingham Junior Legion Splits Wins At Firecracker Classic

MATTOON -- In a rain-delayed Mattoon Junior Legion Firecracker Baseball Classic Tuesday, American Legion Effingham Junior Post 120 picked up a 5-3 win over Macon County No. 1 but fell to Mattoon No. 1 8-2.

Effingham outlasted Macon County No. 1 after five lead changes, coming up with the win at Lake Land College. Post 120 finally managed to grab the lead after a strong fifth inning. A two-run error scored Michael Woltman and Lane Koenig and gave Effingham the lead for good. Koenig went a perfect 2-for-2 at the dish. He singled in the first and fifth innings, while Woltman went 2-for-4 with two runs scored.

Bryar Jansen recorded the win for Post 120. He allowed three runs over five innings. Jansen struck out two, walked three and gave up five hits. Kyle Finke was the game's losing pitcher. He lasted just six innings, walked three, struck out four, and allowed five runs. Effingham Junior Post 120 closer Colby Utz put away the final three outs to record the save.

Effingham Post 120 jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first. The attack began with a single from Woltman. Koenig singled, bringing home Jansen. Effingham then tacked on more runs when Woltman scored on an RBI single by Cory Osborn. Macon County No. 1 survived Post 120's surge and put up two runs of its own in the first. Macon County No. 1 scored on a sacrifice fly by Zach Bugg and an RBI single by Kohlby Ohl. Macon County No. 1 scored on a passed ball in the second.

Effingham Post 120 jumped out to an early lead, but was unable to hold on and lost 8-2 to Mattoon Post 88 No. 1. Mattoon took the lead in the fourth inning on a two-run single by Rappe. Hamilton recorded the win for Mattoon. He allowed two runs over seven innings. He struck out four, walked two and surrendered six hits. Mattoon Post 88 No. 1's Hamilton, Marrow and Gingerich combined for 10 hits and three RBIs.

Ryan Barnes took the loss for Effingham. He lasted six innings, walked none, struck out five, and allowed five runs. Post 120 answered Mattoon Post 88 No. 1's top inning with two runs of its own in the first. Effingham scored on an RBI single by Woltman and a bases loaded walk. Mattoon Post 88 No. 1 stayed on top until the final out after taking the lead in the fourth, scoring two runs. Mattoon Post 88 No. 1 increased its lead with two runs in the sixth. Mattoon added three more runs in the top of the seventh.

Other scores Tuesday were Newburgh, Ind. 5, Robinson 0; Shelby County 6, Danville 2; Moultrie Douglas 5, Rantoul 1; Macon County 4, Matton No. Two 2; Rantoul 10, Robinson 2; Moultrie Douglas 11, Danville  No. One 3; Newburgh 11, Macon County No. One 0; Danville No. Two 6, Toledo 0 and Mattoon No. One 7, Shelby County 1.

In today's final action, Moultrie Douglas takes on Danville Blue at 3:30 p.m. at Mattoon Higih School while Mattoon No. 1 faces Newburgh, Ind. at Lake Land College at 3:30 p.m. The winners then advance to the championship game at 8 p.m. at Grimes Field.

Firecracker Classic

Game 15

Effingham Post 120             210    020    --    5-8-2

Macon County No. 1            210    000    --    3-5-1

WP -- Jansen. LP -- Finke.

Effingham Post 120 -- White, single, 1 RBI; Jansen, single; Woltman, 2 singles, 2 RBI; Koenig, 2 singles, 1 RBI; Osborn, 2 singles, 1 RBI

Macon County One -- Davis, single; Bugg, 1 RBI; Ohl, 2 singles, double, 1 RBI; Bloc, single

Game 19

Mattoon Post 88 No. 1          100    202    3    --    8-18-0

Effingham Post 120               200    000    0    --    2-   6-1

WP -- Hamilton. LP -- Barnes.

Mattoon Post 88 No. 1 -- Hamilton, 2 singles, 2 doubles, 1 RBI; Crary, single; Rappe, 2 singles, 2 RBI; Schlach, single, 1 RBI; Collings, 2 singles; Phillips, single; Scocy, single; Marrow, 3 singles, 1 RBI; Gingerich, 2 singles, triple, 1 RBI

Effingham Post 120 -- Jansen, single; Woltman, single, 1 RBI; Koenig, single; Bateman, single; Buhrman, single, 1 RBI; Martin, single

Shelby County Post 289-411-725 split wins, taking the opener over Danville Post 210 6-2 before losing to Mattoon No. 1, 7-1.

In the first game, Shelby County took a 1-0 first inning lead. Danville came back with two runs to take the lead in the third. Shelby County tied in the fifth then scored four runs for the win in the seventh.

Josh Overbeck picked up the win, going all seven innings, allowing seven hits, one walk and striking out six. Zach Monroe and Christian Kessler had a single and double each.

Firecracker Classic

Game 16

Shelby County          100    010    4    --    6-7-0

Danville No. 1            002    000    0    --    2-7-1

WP -- Overbeck. LP -- Cordes.

Shelby County Posts 289-411-725 -- Moschenrose, 1 RBI; Monroe, single, double, 2 RBI; Easton, single, 1 RBI; Deremiah, single, 1 RBI; Kessler, single, double