St. Anthony Captures 2022 City Series

In yet another slugfest, the St. Anthony Bulldogs defeated the Effingham Hearts 16-9 to capture the 2022 Softball City Series two games to one. The game was heard on KJ Country 102.3 and www.kjcountry.com. 

Game 3 followed a 15-8 Effingham win in Game One and an 11-7 St. Anthony win in Game Two.

Effingham took a 2-0 lead in the first on walks to Grace Bushur and Daelyn Dunston and a sacrifice fly by Abby Cunningham.

St. Anthony quickly responded with a seven-run bottom of the first. That included a triple by Cameron Rios, a sacrifice and RBI by Addie Wernsing, a double by Hayley Niebrugge and a three-run homer by Maddie Kibler. Sydney Kibler walked, Anna Faber singled, Abby Hatten reached on a fielder's choice, a single by Grace Karolewicz, and a run scoring single by Cameron Rios. 

Effingham got a run in the second on a double by Sawyer Althoff and a run-scoring single by Bushur.

The Bulldogs, though, poured it on even more, scoring six more runs on a hit batsman to Niebrugge, a walk to Maddy Kibler, a run-scoring double by Sydney Kibler, a hit batsman to Faber, and a two-run single by Abby Hatton. The inning ended with a RBI single by Cameron Rios to make it 13-3.

St. Anthony scored twice in the fourth on an Alexis Stephens single and a RBI double by Cameron Rios to give the Bulldogs a 15-3 lead.

Then, it was the Hearts' turn to make it interesting. 

Bushur reached on an error, Dunston singled, Cunningham walked, and Sidney Donaldson doubled in a run. Jennifer Jamison got a run-scoring ground ball. It was a four-run inning to get the Hearts back within 15-7. 

Effingham scored two more runs in the sixth when Bushur singled and Dunston's ground ball scored her, then Donaldson singled home Dunston and it was 15-9. 

That's where the rally stopped though, and the Bulldogs scored a final run in the bottom of the sixth on a walk, a single and an error to account for the 16-9 final.

Addie Wernsing got the win for St. Anthony, going 4+ innings and allowing seven runs, four earned with four waks and four strikeouts.

Lucy Fearday pitched the final three innings, allowing two runs, one earned, on four hits with five strikeouts against no walks.

Saige Althoff started the game for Effingham but she was taken out of the game after a collision at home plate when Abby Hatten scored without a slide. Althoff was covering the plate when the collision occurred. She gave up seven earned runs in 2/3 of an inning. Bria Beals pitched the final 6-1/3 innings, giving up nine runs, six earned, on eight hits while walking two. No St. Anthony batter struck out in the game.

Cameron Rios had a monster game for St. Anthony, going 5 for 5 with three RBI.