Effingham Wins Class 3A Softball Regional Opener

The Hearts held a 2-1 lead after the first inning, then tacked on six runs in the second and three in the third to lead 11-1. But Highland rallied with four runs in the top of the fifth. The Hearts came back with two in the bottom of the frame.

Once again Highland rallied with a run in the top of the seventh only to fall short.

EHS banged out 14 hits in the contest. Raegan Boone led the Hearts attack with four singles and two RBI. Sidney Donaldson and Natalie Armstrong had a single, home run and three RBI each. Alyssa Martin had a single, home run and two RBI. Jerzi Bierman added a single, double and an RBI.

Saige Althoff went the distance on the mound, giving up six runs on 11 hits, not allowing a walk and striking out four.

The Hearts move on to the championship game Friday at 4:30 p.m. against either Mattoon or Salem. Those two teams play today at 4:30 p.m.

The winner of Friday's championship contest will move on to the Waterloo Sectional facing the winner of the Bethalto Civic Memorial Regional.

Class 3A Highland Regional

Highland                   100    040    1    --      6-11-3

Effingham                 263    020    x    --    13-14-1

WP -- Althoff. LP -- Wilson.

Highland -- Schultz, double, 1 RBI; Becker, single, double, 1 RBI; Schultz, 3 singles, home run, 3 RBI; Wilson, single, 1 RBI; Fey, single; Newingham, single; Mettler, double

Effingham -- Boone, 3 singles, double, 2 RBI; Bierman, single, double, 1 RBI; Donaldson, single, home run, 3 RBI; Armstrong, single, home run, 3 RBI; Harvey, single; Martin, single, home run, 2 RBI; Kirk, single