Centralia Varsity Orphans bested Effingham 3-2 on Saturday after taking the lead late in the game. The game was tied at two in the top of the sixth when Archie Goewey hit a solo home run to left field.
Both teams were strong on the mound. Centralia Varsity Orphans pitchers struck out three, while Effingham sat down three.
Centralia Varsity Orphans got on the board in the first inning after Gabe Houser singled, scoring one run.
Effingham took the lead in the bottom of the first. Brayden Tucker doubled, scoring two runs, to give Effingham the upper hand, 2-1.
Houser singled down the left field line, which helped Centralia Varsity Orphans tie the game at two in the top of the third.
Rhett Lambert earned the win for Centralia Varsity Orphans. The hurler allowed four hits and zero runs over three innings, striking out one and walking none. Barron Coffman took the loss for Effingham. The pitcher went one and two-thirds innings, giving up one run on one hit, striking out none and walking none. Michael Organ started the game for Centralia Varsity Orphans. The right-handed pitcher allowed three hits and two runs (one earned) over three innings, striking out two and walking one. Max Flack stepped on the bump first for Effingham. The pitcher surrendered six hits and two runs over four and one-third innings, striking out two and walking one. Houser collected the save.
Houser and Goewey were a force together in the lineup, as they each collected two hits for Centralia Varsity Orphans. Houser provided pop in the middle of the lineup, and led Centralia Varsity Orphans with two runs batted in. The right-handed hitter went 2-for-3 on the day. Will Stanton stole two bases.
Effingham’s Westin Hayes, the number seven hitter, led Effingham with two hits in three at bats. Tucker went 1-for-3 at the plate and led the team with one run batted in.
