Hearts Edge Bulldogs In City Baseball Series Game One

Effingham High School edged Effingham St. Anthony 4-3 in the opening game of the City Baseball Series Tuesday. The game was moved from a Wednesday start to Tuesday to avoid rain in the forecast.

The Bulldogs took a 2-0 first inning lead. Bryar Jansen reached base on an error and stole second. Jacob Guy then singled. With two on, Drew Gibson doubled and drove in Jansen. Greg Utz then followed with a single, driving in Guy.

After a rocky start allowing the first four runners on base, Effingham's Lane  Koenig then struck out the next three batters to get out of the inning without further damage.

The Hearts had an opportunity to score in the bottom of the frame when Ryan Sandifer opened with a single. He was out on a fielder's choice. With two outs, Koenig and Mason Hull drew back-to-back walks to load the bases. But the Bulldogs got out of the inning on a ground out.

Things were quiet for both teams through the second with three up and three down.

St. Anthony put a runner on base in the fourth but couldn't get him past second.

Effingham then took a 3-2 lead in the third. Once again Sandifer led off with a single. Brett Koester drew a walk. The Bulldogs got one out before Koenig had hit a sacrifice fly to score a run. Hull came up and doubled home the second run to tie the score. Zac Bateman then reached on an error which scored the third run.

The Hearts pushed that lead to 4-2 in the top of the fourth. With one out, Sandifer tripled and came home later on a single by Brent Beals.

That run was crucial as the Bulldogs pulled back within 4-3 in the fifth. With one out, Guy was hit by a pitch. Gibson garnered a walk and both runners moved over on a wild pitch. Greg Utz then singled home a run. Zach Lee came on to pitch and got the Hearts out of the inning with two strikeouts.

Koenig threw 4.1 inings, allowing five hits, three runs, three walks and striking out eight for the victory. Lee threw 2.2 innings, allowing two runs and striking out seven for the save.

The second game of the City Series will take place today at 7 p.m.

City Series -- Game 1

St. Anthony             200    010    0    --    3-5-1

Effingham               003    100    x    --    4-5-1

WP -- Koenig. LP -- Levitt.

St. Anthony -- Jansen, single; Guy, single; Gibson, double, 1 RBI; Utz, 2 singles, 2 RBI

Effingham -- Sandifer, 2 singles, triple; Beals, single, 1 RBI; Koenig, 1 RBI; Hull, double, 1 RBI