Published on May 7, 2026 11:18 am
Last Updated on May 7, 2026 11:18 am
CHAMPAIGN — Champaign Central played host to Effingham in high school softball action and edged the Hearts, 5-4 Wednesday.
Central moved into a 3-1 opening inning lead then tacked on two more runs in the third for a 5-0 lead.
Effingham came back with a run in the fourth and two in the sixth only to fall short.
Both teams had seven hits each. EHS committed three errors.
The Hearts had four extra base hits. Cora Hartmann hit a solo home run. Natalie Armstrong had a double and two RBI while Keagyn Koenig had a double and an RBI. Maci Hayes also had a double. Ryley Engel finished with two singles.
Armstrong suffered the loss on the mound. She went four innings giving up six runs on six hits, one walk and striking out two.
Haley Helm and Mya de la Cruz had a double, home run and three RBI each for the winners.
At Champaign
Effingham 100 102 0 — 4-7-3
Cham. Central 302 000 x — 5-7-0
WP — Helm. LP — Armstrong.
Effingham — Hayes, double; Engel, 2 singles; Armstrong, double, 2 RBI; Koenig, double, 1 RBI; Hartmann, home run, 1 RBI; Maxedon, single
Champaign Central — Helm, double, home run, 3 RBI; Kloeppel, 2 singles; de la Cruz, double, home run, 3 RBI; Hedrick, single