Published on September 17, 2025 7:10 am
Last Updated on September 17, 2025 7:11 am
Effingham Junior High School heads to State.
Effingham High School dominated Mahomet-Seymour 17-0 in the Class 3A Tolono Unity Softball Sectional championship Tuesday.
Cloie Bailey threw a no-hitter over the three innings, not giving up a walk and striking out one.
The Mustangs headed out to a 4-0 opening inning lead, then tallied nine more in the second and ended the game with three in the third.
Effingham banged out 15 hits. Madalyn Hoffman finished with two singles, a double and drove in four runs while Liv Lauritzen added two singles and three RBI, Bailey a triple and three RBI. Mia Hartke and Sophia Wiedman added two singles and an RBI each while Anna Gouchenouer and Tinley Patton contributed two singles each. Mackynzie Hites added a single.
The Mustangs are now 17-1 on the season and will be headed to the Illinois Elementary School Association State Tournament at Champion Fields (Maxwell Park) in Normal Friday.
Effingham will square off against Normal Chiddix at 12:30 p.m. in the second game. Normal Chiddix comes into the meeting with a 16-8-1 record.
In the opener, Washington Central (15-) faces Edwardsville Liberty (20-3) at 10:30 a.m. In game three, Chatham Glenwood (13-1) meets Barrington Station (13-2) at 2:30 p.m. The last game has Channahon (12-3) meeting the winner of Sectional B at 4:30 p.m.
The Effingham Sportsbackers will be sponsoring a fan bus Friday for Effingham sixth, seventh and eighth-graders to attend the game and cheer on the girls.
“Best of luck to Coach Koester, Coach Robison and our Mustang players as they continue their incredible run,” said EJHS Athletic Director Vince Rohr.
The winners of Friday’s action advances to Saturday’s semifinals. If the Mustangs win, they would play in the opening game at 10:30 a.m. against the winner of game two. The winners of games three and four meet at 12:30 p.m. Then it will be the third place game at 2:30 p.m. and the championship at 4:30 p.m.
Class 3A Tolono Unity Sectional
Effingham 494 — 17-15-1
Mahomet-Seymour 000 — 0- 0-3
WP — Bailey. LP — only first name listed.
Effingham — Bailey, triple, 3 RBI; Gouchenouer, 2 singles; Hoffman, 2 singles, double, 4 RBI; Patton, 2 singles; Lauritzen, 2 singles, 3 RBI; Hartke, 2 singles, 1 RBI; Hites, single; Wiedman, 2 singles, 1 RBI
Mahomet-Seymour — no hits
Class 1A Hutsonville Sectional
South Central claimed its fourth straight sectional championship by beating Martinsville 7-1 to win the Class 1A Hutsonville Sectional Tuesday.
The Falcons edged out to a 2-0 opening inning lead. Martinsville pulled within 2-1 in the fourth. But South Central socked the game away with a five-run sixth.
Alexa Gile and Rylan Williams led the way offensively. Gile hit a single, home run and drove in two RBI while Williams added a triple and three RBI. Skylar Webster had a single and an RBI and Bella McDowell a double.
Williams went the distance striking out 13. She gave up only one run on four hits and one walk.
South Central will head to the Class 1A State Tournament at Champion Fields in Normal Friday. The Falcons will take on Pontiac St. Mary’s at 3:30 p.m.
In the first game, Assumption Central A&M faces LeRoy at 9:30. Game two is Peoria Christian against Carthage at 11:30. The third game features Mendota Holy Cross against Gifford at 1:30.
The winners advance to 9:30 and 11:30 a.m. games Saturday. The third place contest is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. and the championship at 3:30.
Class 1A Hutsonville Sectional
South Central 200 005 0 — 7-6-1
Martinsville 000 100 0 — 1-4-5
WP — Williams. LP — only first name listed.
South Central — Webster, single, 1 RBI; Williams, triple, 3 RBI; Gile, single, home run, 2 RBI; McDowell, double; Neilson single
Martinsville — only first names listed.
Class 2A Teutopolis Sectional
Cumberland saw its season come to a close in the Teutopolis Sectional.
The Raiders fell to Robinson Nuttall, 4-3.
No other statistics provided.