EHS Wins Softball Regional Opener, Casey-Westfield Beats Altamont

The Hearts stepped out to a 3-0 opening inning lead on the Green Wave. But Mattoon came back to move ahead 5-3 in the top of the fourth.

EHS tied the score at 5-5 in the bottom of the fourth and moved ahead with a run in the fifth. But, here came Mattoon again with a run in the top of the sixth to knot the score at 6-6.

The Hearts then won in dramatic fashion in the bottom of the seventh. Jerzi Bierman led off with a bunt single and then stole second on the first pitch. Raegan Boone lined an 0-2 pitch to the left/center gap that the centerfielder dove for and had in her glove until she landed and the ball came out and Bierman scored the winning run.

The Hearts banged out 11 hits in the contest led by Myra Harvey with a double, home run and two RBI, Abby Cunningham with two doubles and three RBI, Raegan Boone with a single, double and an RBI and Sidney Donaldson with two singles.

Saige Althoff was the winning pitcher, coming on in the fifth, allowing one run on three hits, one walk and striking out one.

The Hearts, seeded third, will now take on No. 2 Charleston at 4:30 p.m. Friday for the regional championship. The winner advances to the HIghland Sectional Wednesday to face the winner of the Bethalto Civic Memorial Regional at 5 p.m.

Class 3A Centralia Regional

Mattoon                    000    501    0    --    6-10-2

Effingham                300    210    1    --    7-11-0

WP -- Althoff. LP -- Cross.

Mattoon -- Conlin, home run, 4 RBI; Cross, 3 singles; Phililps, single; Otto, single, home run, 2 RBI; Philips, single; Perry, single; Lee, double

Effingham -- Bierman, single; Boone, single, double, 1 RBI; R. Cunningham, single; Donadlson, 2 singles; A Cunningham, 2 doubles, 3 RBI; Harvey, double, home run, 2 RBI; Jamieon, single

Class 1A South Central Sectional

Casey-Westfield ended Altamont's season by a 15-0 count at the South Central Sectional Wednesday.

Pagie Cutright kept the Indians off base by throwing a no-hitter with no walks and 13 strikeouts

The Warriors edged out to a 2-0 first inning lead then tallied four in the second, three in the third, one in the fourth and ended the contest with five in the fifth.

Kam Smith led Casey-Westfield with a double, triple and five RBI while Lucy Moore had a double and an RBI and Maya Redman two singles and an RBI.

The Indians ended a season that saw them struggle, finishing with a 10-22 record but they won a regional championship.

Grace Lemke suffered the loss on the mound, throwing a six-hitter with nine strikeouts and four walks.

Altamont finished with nine errors in the contest while Casey-Westfield played flawless.

Casey-Westfield now advances to face another National Trail Conference team, Windsor/Stewardson-Strasburg, for the championship Friday at 4 p.m. The winner advances to the Johnston City Super-Sectional Monday.

Class 1A South Central Sectional

Casey-Westfield                243    15    --    15-6-0

Altamont                            000    00    --      0-0-9

WP -- Cutright. LP -- Lemke.

Casey-Westfield -- Goble, 1 RBI; Redman, 2 singles, 1 RBI; Cribelar, 2 RBI; Smith, double, triple, 5 RBI; Warfel, single, 1 RBI; Moore, double, 1 RBI

Altamont -- no hits