Effingham Posts Big Comeback Win to Take Charleston Regional Title

CHARLESTON -- Effingham High School posted a huge comeback victory to capture the championship of the Class 3A Charleston Baseball Regional Saturday, 6-5 over Mattoon.

The Green Wave took a 3-0 lead in the first inning as Jacob Spitz led off with a single. Garrette Branson doubled and Trevor Smyser hit a home run over the centerfield fence.

In the bottom half of the frame, the Hearts loaded the bases with one out. Mattoon got the second out on a grounder and the Hearts hit another grounder that was misplayed, allowing a run to score.

Mattoon's lead moved to 5-1 in the fifth. Gunner Laughhunn was issued a two-out walk. Branson then knocked one out of the park for the four-run lead.

But don't count the Hearts out. Effingham was the home squad and rallied in the bottom of the seventh. Brayton Poland drew a walk and Cooper Jackson was hit by a pitch. With one out and two runners on, two straight throwing errors allowed both runners to score and the Hearts were within 5-3.

Another throwing error allowed Tanner Gordon to score from second and EHS had pulled within one. Blake Lohman went to second on the error and Kendall Ballman followed with a ground-rule double to score Lohman and the game was tied. Brett Koester followed with a single and Ballman moved to third. Ryan Sandifer then drove in Ballman for the game winner.

The Hearts had seven hits in the contest led by Koester with a single and double, Sandifer with two singles and an RBI and Ballman with a double and an RBI.

Koester picked up the pitching win, going one inning. Mason Hull had pitched through six innings, allowing four runs on five hits, three walks and striking out eight for the no-decision.

The Hearts (25-5) will now face Rochester who won its own regional by beating Springfield Southeast 11-1 in six innings. In the second game Wednesday, Mount Zion will meet Chatham Glenwood at 6:30. Chatham Glenwood edged Jacksonville 4-3 in 11 innings while Mount Zion downed Champaign Central 3-2.

Listen Wednesday to the Hearts game on 979 XFM.

Class 3A Charleston Regional

Championship

Mattoon                   300    020    0    --    5-4-6

Effingham               100    000    5    --    6-7-3

WP -- Koester. LP -- Laughhunn.

Mattoon -- Spitz, single; Branson, double, home run, 2 RBI; Smyser, home run, 3 RBI

Effingham -- Ballman, double, 1 RBI; Koester, single, double; Hull, single; Sandifer, 2 singles, 1 RBI; Seachrist, single