Published on May 18, 2026 7:05 am
Last Updated on May 18, 2026 7:05 am
Effingham High School claimed the championship of the City Softball Series with a 4-1 victory Friday over Effingham St. Anthony.
St. Anthony edged out to a 1-0 opening inning lead as Lilly Gannaway led off by drawing a walk. Jackie Vonderheide followed with a single. With one out, Emeline Wines singled home Gannaway. But the Hearts got out of any further damage on a fly ball out and a fielder’s choice.
Effingham’s Maci Hayes led off with a single but the Hearts then went down, leaving Hayes stranded at second.
EHS put runners on base in the second as Giah Schlanser singled and Sydney Cunningham was hit by a pitch. But they were left on base.
St. Anthony went up and down in order in the second and third before putting a runner on base in the fourth when Nancy Ruholl singled. Mallory Litz drew a walk but the Bulldogs finished the frame without scoring.
Natalie Armstrong singled in the fourth for the Hearts but was the final out on a fielder’s choice.
The two teams went up and down in order in the fifth. Julia Schultz got on base with a single in the sixth but didn’t get past first.
The Hearts went down in order in the fifth and sixth but broke the game open in the seventh, scoring four runs. Keagyn Koenig led off the frame with a single. Schlanser came on to hit a single. With two on, the first out was recorded on a fly ball. Cunningham then followed with a double, scoring both runners. Molly Maxedon followed with a single. Olivia Koester then hit a sacrifice that scored a run and the Hearts led 4-1.
And that’s where the scoring ended as the Bulldogs only got one runner on in the bottom of the seventh as Litz drew a walk.
The Hearts were led by Schlanser with two singles and Cunningham with a double and two RBI.
Layla McBride tossed the win going all seven innings, giving up one run on five hits, walking three and striking out five.
St. Anthony was led by Ruholl with two singles.
At St. Anthony
Effingham 000 000 4 — 4-7-0
St. Anthony 100 000 0 — 1-5-1
WP — McBride. LP — Ruholl.
Effingham — Hayes, single; Armstrong, single; Koenig, single; Schlasner, 2 singles; Cunningham, double, 2 RBI; Maxedon, single, 1 RBI; Koester, 1 RBI
St. Anthony — Vonderheide, single; Schultz, single; Wines, single, 1 RBI; Ruholl, 2 singles