Published: June 30, 2009 12:26 am      

Effingham Post 120 wins pair of Junior Legion games

Effingham Post 120 won a pair of Junior American Legion baseball games Sunday, hosting Breese and Champaign in a round-robin style three-game afternoon.

After Breese and Champaign squared off in the first game of the day, Effingham beat Breese 9-3 and edged Champaign 5-4 to improve to 26-3 on the season.

In Saturday action, Effingham hammered visiting Salem 11-1 in five innings, although it was a costly victory as Jonah Zink was hit in the face with a pitch and will miss some time with some broken bones.

Post 120 plays at Mahomet tonight and begins hosting its own eight-team Fourth of July Tournament Friday.

Sunday

Effingham 9, Breese 3

A five-run fourth inning helped Post 120 erase a 3-2 deficit, making a winner of starter Tyler Bushue despite allowing a three-run outburts in the second.

Sam Thoele singled twice with two RBIs and Andrew Grahn doulbed twice with three RBIs to do a lot of Effingham's damage, while Patrick Schutzbach singled twice with an RBI. Matt Hecht hit an RBI double and Tyler Pilcher had an RBI single, while Mitchell Dasenbrock chipped in a single.

Effingham 5, Champaign 4

"This was a good win against a solid team," said Post 120 coach Chris Brown. "We're pretty proud of the players."

Thoele wasn't sharp as he walked six in six innings of work, but he also fanned 10. Hecht struck out the side in a perfect seventh, and Effingham made him the winner by pushing across a run in the home half of the final frame.

"Brad Reedy walked with one out and stole second," recapped Brown. "With two outs, Alex Brown was intentionally walked and then Grahn walked to load the bases. Hecht followed with the game-winning single to left."

Alex Brown hit a two-run homer in the third inning, while Greg Schmidt and Austin Hayes each doubled.

"The guys did a good job of staying focused, particularly after Alex got beaned for the second time after his homer," said Brown. "Hopefully they realize they aren't in little league anymore."

Saturday

Effingham 11, Salem 1

Reedy struck out five in four innings against only two walks and a base hit, while Schmidt doubled home three runs in a rout.

Effingham led just 1-0 going into its half of the third inning, but proceeded to score five runs in each of the next two frames to blow it open.

Hecht singled twice and drove in a pair, while Brown singled, doubled and knocked one in. Reedy also singled.

"We'll mis Jonah's bat and defense," said Brown of his injured player. "But he'll still contribute with his leadership and experience."

At Effingham

Sunday

Game One

Breese------030---000---0---—---3-6

Effingham---101---502---x---—---9-9

Bushue, Schimdt (5) and Wohltman

WP — Bushue.

Breese — Schildroth, single; Heimann, single, RBI; Jackson, single; Patton, single; Feldman, single; Wainscott, single

Effingham Post 120 — Thoele, 2 singles, 2 RBIs; Hecht, double, RBI; Grahn, 2 doubles, 3 RBIs; Pilcher, single, RBI; Dasenbrock, single; P. Schutzbach, 2 singles, RBI

Game Two

Champaign---300---010---0---—---4-6

Effingham----202---000---1---—---5-6

Thoele, Hecht (7) and Brown

WP — Hecht.

Champaign Red — Roughton, single; Weaver, single; Walker, 2 singles, RBI; Stefan, triple, RBI; Marquardt, single

Effingham Post 120 — Thoele, single; Hayes, double; Hecht, single, RBI; Schmidt, double; Bushue, single; Brown, home run (3rd, 1 on), 2 RBIs

Saturday

Salem-------000---01---—----1-4

Effingham---105---5x---—---11-6

Reedy, Kronewitter (5) and Brown

WP — Reedy.

Salem — Childress, single; Je. Tolliver, single, RBI; B. Phillips, single, double

Effingham Post 120 — Hecht, 2 singles, 2 RBIs; Reedy, single; Schmidt, double, 3 RBIs; Brown, single, double, RBI