Hearts Move Into Softball Regional Title Game

CHARLESTON -- Effingham High School's Aly Armstrong was tough on the mound as the Hearts blanked Taylorville 3-0 in the Class 3A Charleston Softball Regional Tuesday.

Armstrong allowed only one hit, no walks and struck out 11.

While the Tornadoes were off-balance, Effingham was on, garnering nine hits, four of those for extra bases.

Carsyn Fearday had two doubles and drove in two runs while Lauryn Douthit had a single and triple. Chloe Funneman had a double and drove in a run.

In the opening contest, Charleston pounded Decatur MacArthur 21-0.

The Hearts will now face Charleston at 11 a.m. Saturday for the regional championship. The Apollo Conference meeting with these two schools earlier in the season ended up with the Trojans taking the doubleheader 5-3 and 5-1. The Hearts are seeking revenge and if they win, will head to the Mount Zion Sectional Tuesday, May 29.

Class 3A Charleston Regional

Taylorville             000    000    0    --    0-1-0

Effingham             111    000    x    --    3-9-0

WP -- Armstrong. LP -- Behl.

Taylorville -- Larson, double

Effingham -- Budde, single; Douthit, single, triple; Fearday, 2 doubles, 2 RBI; Davis, single; A. Armstrong, single; Wittenberg, single; Funneman, double, 1 RBI

Class 1A Marissa Sectional

Marissa edged Oblong, 4-3 in its own sectional Tuesday.

Today's game will have South Central taking on New Athens at 4:30 p.m.

Marissa advances to Saturday's championship game against either South Central or New Athens at 11 a.m.