Hearts Softball Season Comes To End

CHATHAM -- Effingham High School's softball season came to a close at the Class 3A Chatham Glenwood Sectional Tuesday.

The Hearts fell to Rochester 5-1 in the second game Tuesday. In the opening contest, Chatham Glenwood bounced Mount Zion 13-3.

Effingham's Aly Armstrong threw almost perfect through the first three innings. She got Rochester to go three up and three down through the first two before allowing a base hit in the third after striking out the first two batters before getting the third out on a pop up.

Meanwhile, the Hearts had runners on in all three innings but couldn't take advantage. Carsyn Fearday drew a walk to start the game.  But the Rockets got out of the inning unscathed despite an error. Once again the Hearts led off the second with a runner on base as Armstrong singled. With one out,  Emma Budde drew a walk but Rochester's Reagan Miles got the next two batters on strikeouts.

In the third, Fearday drew another walk and reached second on a sacrifice by Lauryn Douthit. But the Rockets got out of the frame with a diving catch by leftfielder Jillian Anderson.

Then the Rockets broke loose with four runs in the fourth. The frame started with an error and Ali Bortmess reached base. Faith Day followed with a double bringing home Bortmess. Anderson then followed with a single that scored Day. Anderson stole second but it was a steal that turned out not to be necessary as Katie Nika slammed out a home run and the Rockets led 4-0. The Hearts then got tough, getting the next three batters out to end the frame.

EHS put a runner on base in both the fourth and fifth innings but couldn't get them home. In the sixth, Jenna Wright drew a walk to start the inning. Armstrong lined out to center for the first out. Alissa Kersey followed with a single. Emma Budde got on base on a fielder's choice that took out Wright for the second out. Kaitlyn Kinkelaar followed with a single scoring Kersey but Budde made the final out to end the frame.

Rochester came back with a run of its own making it 5-1 in the sixth. Anderson led off with a double. With one out, Abby Blatz doubled home Anderson.

The Hearts went up and down in the seventh to end the contest.

Miles finished allowing four hits, four walks and striking out eight. Armstrong allowed eight hits, one walk and struck out seven in the tough-luck loss.

The Hearts end the season with a 19-10 record while Rochester advances with a 28-7 mark.

Rochester will now meet Chatham Glenwood Saturday for the sectional championship at 11 a.m.

Class 3A Chatham Glenwood Sectional

Rochester             000    401    0    --    5-8-1

Effingham             000    001    0    --    1-4-1

WP -- Miles. LP -- Armstrong.

Rochester -- Robinson, single; Bortmess, 2 singles; Day, double, 1 RBI; Anderson, single, double, 1 RBI; Nika, home run (fourth, one on), 2 RBI; Blatz, double

Effingham -- Armstrong, single; Kersey, single; Kinkelaar, single, 1 RBI; Funneman, single