Effingham Flame Red, Black Pick Up Victories

Coach Jeremy Boone talks with his players on the EFfingham Flame Red team.

The Effingham Flame 10U teams opened play in their own Spring Fling Tournament Friday at Hendelmeyer Park.

Flame 10U Red opened play against the Cobra from Mattoon, winning 8-6. The Flame scored two in the first and three more in the fifth. Winning pitcher was Natalie Armstrong in relief of starting pitcher Raegan Boone who went the first two innings, striking out two while walking two and giving up four runs on just three hits. Armstrong threw the final three innings, allowing just two runs while issuing two walks and not allowiong a hit.

Team members are Raegan Boone, Saige Althoff, Maddie Kibler, Macy Wright, Sydney Kibler, Makala McDaniel, Elena Niebrugge, Natalie Armstrong, Sidney Donaldson, Olivia Carol, Kristen Armstrong and Kelsy Stone. Flame Red is coached by Jeremy Boone.

The Flame were on base often having 10 hits and earning six bases on balls. On base were Boone with a single and two walks, Althoff with a single, M. Kibler with three singles,  Wright with a walk, S. Kibler with a single and a walk, Niebrugge with a walk, Armstrong with a single, Carrol with a single and a walk and Stone with two singles.

The Effingham Flame 10U Black also entered play Friday with an opening game against Mattoon Pride. The Flame won 10-0 in four innings. They got on board with one run in the first, then four in the second and four more in the third.

Team members are Gabbi Kreke, Aila Woomer, Madison Mapes, Annie Frost, Courtney Beck, Ava Richards, Grace Nelson, Izzy Volpi, Stacey Vonderheide, Emma Jones and Emma Thompson.

Winning pitcher was Beck, going all four innings, striking out nine while walking just four and not allowing a hit.

"Courtney came out throwing lights out for us tonight, striking out all three batters in the first, getting momentum going our way," said Coach Jeff Tonn.

On base for the Flame were Kreke with a walk, Woomer with a single and a walk, Mapes wtih a single, Frost with walk, Richards with a single, Nelson with a walk, Vonderheide with two walks, Jones with two walks and Thompson with a walk.

In game two of the night, the Flame faced the Chaos of Casey winning 8-2. Grace Nelson picked up the pitching win, going the distance, striking out seven while issuing four walks and allowing just one hit.

"Grace also came out and gave us great innings tonight," said Tonn. "Grace has been working real hard this off season and it showed as she never was rattled even after giving up a couple runs in the fourth.

"The only threat the Chaos had was in the fourth when they scored two runs and had the tying run at second when Nelson received helpd from centerfielder Ava Richards with a giant play in centerfield. With two outs, a Chaos batter hit a hard ground ball back up the middle which would have scored two runs, tying the game, but Richards charged the ball and threw a dart to first baseman Anna Faber getting the out to end the inning.

"Then we came in and scored four in our next at bat for a total of eight runs. Richards also had a great game at the plate with a single early and then a big double knocking in two runs in the fourth."

Also on base for the Flame were  Kreke with a single, Mapes with a single, Frost with a walk, Beck with a single, Nelson with a walk and Volpi with a walk. The Flame are now 8-3.