Hearts Win 3A Baseball Regional

The Effingham Hearts won the Class 3A Centralia Regional on Saturday, defeating Mattoon 3-2.

The Hearts waited until late to pull out the win, scoring a run in the sixth and two runs in the bottom of the seventh to capture the victory.

Mattoon had scored twice in the fourth inning to hold a 2-0 lead before the Hearts' late-inning heroics.

Effingham won the game on a walk-off walk to Gauge Massey.

The Hearts managed just three hits, with Jack Harper doubling, and Myles Maxedon and Evan Waymoth each singling. Harper and Waymoth each drove in a run in addition to Massey's game-winner. 

Pitching was the key. 

Brayden Pals went four innings for Effingham, allowing the two Mattoon runs on five hits, walking one and fanning three. Josh McDevitt got the win in relief, pitching the final three innings and allowing just one hit and no walks while striking out four Green Wave hitters.

With the win, Effingham advances to the Troy Triad Class 3A Sectional. The Hearts will play in the second game of a doubleheader on Wednesday, going up against Mascoutah at 4pm, following a contest between Triad and Mt. Vernon at 2pm. The Wednesday winners will play for the sectional championship at 11am Saturday.