Hearts Lose Third Place Game in Extra Innings

(THE EFFINGHAM HEARTS RECEIVE THEIR MEDALS AFTER THEIR FOURTH PLACE FINISH AT THE STATE 3A BASEBALL TOURNAMENT...photo by Greg Sapp)

A wild pitch brought home the winning run as the Effingham Hearts fell to the Sycamore Spartans 2-1 in nine innings in the third place game of the Class 3A state baseball tournament Saturday. The game was heard on KJ Country 102.3 and www.kjcountry.com. 

Jack Harper was working in relief of Hearts starter Josh McDevitt after McDevitt hit the IHSA maximum pitch count. Back to back singles and a sacrifice put two runners in scoring position for Sycamore in the ninth and Effingham intentionally walked the next hitter to provide a possible force play at any base. The strategy worked as a ground ball to third base led to a throw home for the second out, but the wild pitch to Joey Puleo brought home the game winner.

McDevitt threw 118 pitches before leaving the game after eight innings, striking out 14 Sycamore hitters. The senior righthander allowed five hits and one unearned run, walking one. 

The loss was frustrating for the Hearts as they left 11 runners on base, collecting four hits and working five walks with two others reaching via an error. 

Still, the first trip to the state baseball tournament for EHS since 1942 will be remembered for many seasons to come.

(HEARTS COACH CURRAN McNEELY AFTER THE TEAM RETURNS TO EHS SATURDAY AFTERNOON...photo courtesy of Repking Media)

A reminder of a formal Welcome Home Sunday, with a procession at 2pm from the Route 45 interchange south to Washington Avenue, then a trip west on Washington to Jefferson Avenue, a journey west on Jefferson to Henrietta Street, then a trip south on Henrietta to EHS, where a reception will follow in the Hearts Rock Cafe at about 2:20pm with cupcakes, tea and lemonade, speakers, and a look at the hardware the Hearts team brought home Saturday evening.

At the plate for Effingham: Jack Harper intentional walk; Kaden Koeberlein single, walk; Camden Raddatz single, stolen base; Quest Hull walk, run scored; Myles Maxedon walk; Colton Webb single; Evan Waymoth walk; Spencer Fox single; Kaiden Nichols walk

On the mound for Effingham: Josh McDevitt 8 innings, one unearned run, five hits, one walk, one wild pitch, 14 strikeouts; Jack Harper 2/3 inning, one run, two hits, one walk, one wild pitch

Effingham finished the campaign at 22-17. Senior team members include Jack Harper, Quest Hull, Evan Waymoth, Myles Maxedon, Colton Loy, Andrew Donaldson, and Josh McDevitt. The rest of the squad included Kaden Koeberlein, Ethan Jones, Max Seachrist, Colton Webb, Braxton Lewis, Camden Raddatz, Kaiden Nichols, Spencer Fox and Braden Verdeyen. The Hearts are coached by Curran McNeely, along with Kyle Bourgeois, Deonte King and Justin Hayes. 

LaGrange Park Nazareth Academy won the 3A state championship 7-2 over Grayslake Central.