EHS Beats Massac Co., Advances to Regional Final

HERRIN -- Effingham High School beat Metropolis Massac County 7-1 Wednesday after a four-run explosion in the first inning in the Class 3A Herrin Baseball Regional.

The Hearts scored in the first. Brett Koester got on and Michael Woltman bunted him over to second. An RBI single by Brent Beals, an error and a two-run single by Reed Schafer finished out the scoring.

Beals ended the game with two singles, a double and two RBI for the Hearts.

Lane Koenig recorded the pitching win. He allowed one run over six innings, eight hits, two walks and struck out seven. Colby Utz threw the seventh inning to finish off the game.

The Hearts held a 5-1 lead after three then built that lead to 6-1 with two runs in the fourth. Mason Hull started the frame with a double, scoring Beals.

The Hearts will play for the regional championship Saturday against either Benton or Marion. Those two teams play today at 4:30 p.m.

At Herrin

Massac Co.            100    000    0    --    1-  8-3

Effingham             410    200    x    --    7-10-1

WP -- Koenig. LP -- Benard.

Massac County -- Jennings, single; Austin, single; Weber, single, double; Farmer, single; McDusson, single; Palmer, 2 singles

Effingham -- Koester, 2 singles; Beals, 2 singles, double, 2 RBI; Koenig, single; Hull, double, 1 RBI; White, 1 RBI; Schafer, 2 singles, 2 RBI; Bateman, single