Hearts Win First-Ever Baseball Sectional Championship

(THE EFFINGHAM HEARTS GATHER AROUND TO RECEIVE THEIR CLASS 3A BASEBALL SECTIONAL PLAQUE)

The Effingham Hearts won the first-ever baseball sectional championship in school history Saturday, defeated Chatham Glenwood 4-2 to capture the Springfield Sacred Heart Griffin 3A Sectional Tournament. The contest was heard on 979XFM and www.979xfm.com. 

Effingham fell behind 1-0 after Chatham Glenwood plated a run in the second inning. A leadoff single by Jake Jurgens was followed by two Zach Lee strikeouts, but Evan Rightnower then doubled home Jurgens.

The Hearts took their first lead in the fourth. Cooper Jackson led off the inning with a single, but was forced at second on a ball by Brayton Poland. Jackson Lee then hit a big blast over the centerfield fence, which is 380 feet from home plate, to make 2-1 Effingham.

The lead was short-lived, as Rightnower singled home Gavin Wahlbrink in the bottom of the inning to tie the game 2-2.

The Hearts scored in the fifth, though. Kendall Ballman singled to lead off the inning and stole second. A wild pitch moved Ballman to third base and Jackson singled him home to put the Hearts up 3-2.

The Hearts added a run in the seventh on a leadoff double by Poland and a run-scoring single by Jackson Lee to account for the final score.

Zach Lee went 6-2/3 innings to pick up the win, allowing two runs on four hits, walking three while fanning 11 batters. He reached his pitch count limit with one out to go. Matthew Loy entered the game and struck out Jurgens to end the game and preserve the Hearts' win.

Effingham improved to 26-9. The Hearts will play Waterloo on Monday at 4pm at the 3A Super-Sectional at GCS Ballpark at Sauget. We will broadcast the game.

Waterloo won the Salem Sectional, defeating Carbondale 3-1.

Monday's winner will head to Joliet Friday and Saturday for the 3A Final Four.