EHS Advances To Regional Title Game

The Hearts stepped out to a 3-0 first inning lead to take the momentum early. They held a 6-1 lead after two. Paris came back with a three-run fourth but the Hearts tacked on another run in the fifth and two in the sixth.

EHS had an eight-hit contest led by Nick Bishop with three singles and five RBI, Kendall Ballman with two singles and an RBI and Brayton Poland with a double and an RBI.

Matthew Loy went five innings on the mound, allowing four runs on four hits, two walks and striking out nine. He picked up the victory. Poland went an inning, allowing two hits while Jackson Lee went the final inning, allowing one run and striking out three.

The Hearts improve to 23-9 on the season.

Mattoon downed Champaign Centennial 6-2 in the second game.

EHS will now face Mattoon at 10 a.m. Saturday for the regional championship. The winner heads to the Springfield Sacred Heart Griffin Sectional Wednesday, May 29 to face the winner of the Quincy Notre Dame Regional, either Quincy Notre Dame or Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin.

Class 3A Paris Regional

Paris                      010    300    1    --    5-6-1

Effingham             330    012    x    --    9-8-1

WP -- Loy. LP -- King.

Paris -- Sullivan, double; Gates, double; Roberts, single, 1 RBI; Kohllmeyer, single; Martin, single, triple, 3 RBI

Effingham -- Ballman, 2 singles, 1 RBI; Gordon, single; Jackson, single; Poland, double, 1 RBI; Bishop, 3 singles, 5 RBI