Firecracker Classic Underway, Effingham, Teutopolis Each Go 1-1, Shelby County Goes 2-0 Friday

Friday action at the 2016 Firecracker Classic Baseball Tournament in Mattoon saw Effingham American Legion Post #120 and Teutopolis Post #924 each go 1-1, while the Shelby County Legion squad won both of their contests.

Shelby County won 2-1 over Effingham, following a 14-0 win over Clinton, Indiana.

Effingham took a 1-0 lead in the first inning as Zac Bateman drove home Tyler Zuber, but that was the extent of the squad's scoring in the game.

That 1-0 lead stood up until Shelby County scored its two runs in the fifth, as Taylor Coleman's single scored Devin Deremiah and then Quinn Martz drove in Trevor Moore with what turned out to be the game-winner.

Kyle Bourgeois was the tough luck loser for Effingham, as both runs he allowed were unearned. Bourgeois went 5-2/3 innings, allowing just three hits and a walk while striking out one batter. Reid Kocher got the last out.

Meanwhile, Altamont High School graduate Klaiton Wolff was dealing for Shelby County, allowing the one run on three hits and two walks in seven innings of work while striking out five.

At the plate for Effingham: Tyler Zuber--two singles, run; Zac Bateman--RBI; Nick Miller--single; Lane Koenig--walk; Ethan Greene--walk

At the plate for Shelby County: Quinn Martz--RBI; Josh Overbeck--walk; Devin Deremiah--two singles, run; Trevor Moore--walk; Taylor Coleman--single, RBI

Shelby County won later in the day, 

Effingham bounced back to win its second game, 4-2, over Danville Post #210.

Effingham scored all four of its runs in the third inning. Brandon Puckett and Bryar Jansen each singled to start the inning, and Blake White and Lane Koenig then each walked, forcing Puckett home with the first run. Michael Woltman's single then drove home both Jansen and White to make it 3-0, and then Zac Bateman singled home Koenig for the fourth run.

Danville scored single runs in the fifth and seventh innings, but Effingham starter Colby Utz and reliever Koenig combined to hold down the damage, leading to the win. Utz pitched into the seventh, allowing both runs on seven hits, walking a batter and fanning one. Koenig got the final three outs, allowing one hit and striking out one batter.

At the plate for Effingham: Bryar Jansen--single, run; Blake White--walk, run; Lane Koenig--two walks, run, RBI; Michael Woltman--single, 2 RBI; Zac Bateman--single, RBI; Reid Kocher--walk; Nick Miller--single; Brandon Puckett--two singles, run

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Teutopolis Post #924 had to go extra innings to post a 1-0 win over Rantoul.

Teutopolis didn't have a legitimate scoring chance until the bottom of the seventh. Devin Smith led off the inning with a double. Rantoul was walking the next batter when they picked Smith off second to end the threat.

Teutopolis bounced back to score the game's only run in the eighth inning. Brock Bueker led off the frame with a single and was sacrificed to second. With two outs, Carson Hartke singled Bueker home with the gamewinner.

Teutopolis lost later in another low-scoring contest, 2-0, to Lincoln.

ALL OF THE FRIDAY SCORES:

Shelby County 14, Clinton, Indiana 0

Shelby County 2, Effingham 1

Teutopolis 1, Rantoul 0

Ford/Iroquois County 6, Piatt County 5

Lincoln 7, Macon County 4

Effingham 4, Danville 2

Ford/Iroquois County 6, Clay County, Indiana 5

Lincoln 2, Teutopolis 0

Danville 8, Moultrie-Douglas 2

Clay County, Indiana 4, Robinson 0

Rantoul 5, Macon County 0

Mattoon 4, Piatt County 1

Clinton, Indiana 5, Moultrie-Douglas 2

Mattoon 8, Robinson 0

Today, Effingham plays at 10am at Grimes Field at Peterson Park and at 2pm at Lake Land College. Teutopolis plays at 10am at Mattoon High School and at 2pm at Mattoon High School. Shelby County plays at 6pm at Grimes Field and at 8pm at Grimes Field.