March 14, 2026 Local Stories in and Around St. Joseph, Illinois

SJO softball’s senior night set for Monday as Spartans try to end skid

The St. Joseph-Ogden High School softball team will try to end a two-game losing skid and score its first runs in May when the Spartans host Monticello at 4:30 p.m. on Monday.


The Illini Prairie Conference game will also double as senior night for SJO, which will honor Ashtyn Cromwell, Katie Poulter, Hannah Lewis and Savannah Smith prior to the game at 4:15 p.m.


The Spartans played for the first time this past Friday since April 24 after a series of postponements caused by inclement weather, but suffered an 11-0 loss in five innings at Pontiac in Illini Prairie play. S

SJO fell behind 6-0 after two innings and a four-run fifth inning by the host Indians ended the game early. The Spartans only managed four hits against Pontiac pitcher Regan Krause, an Illinois commit. Bailey Dowling went 2 for 2 to lead SJO, while Hannah Dukeman and Smith each added singles. Zoey Witruk took the loss in the pitcher’s circle, giving up seven runs on five hits in four innings, striking out three and walking three.


A day later, despite collecting seven hits against Salt Fork, SJO lost 6-0 at home to the Storm on Saturday in a nonconference setback. The game was scoreless through four innings before Salt Fork pushed across a single run in the fifth and sixth innings to take a 2-0 lead and then plating four runs in the seventh.


Kaylee Ward and Ashtyn Cromwell both went 2 for 3, with Ward contributing a double, while Dowling, Smith and Poulter all singled, but SJO left six runners stranded on base.


Witruk suffered the loss despite only allowing two hits and one run in five innings of work, striking out 13. Hannah Lewis and Sophie Martlage each threw an inning in relief.


After SJO (15-7, 4-3 Illini Prairie) hosts Monticello on Monday, the Spartans are set to play at Olympia at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday to conclude Illini Prairie action before hosting Champaign Central at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday and playing in the Galesburg Tournament this Saturday. SJO is slated to end the regular season at 4:30 p.m. on Monday, May 13 against Charleston before beginning postseason play at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 14 against either Monticello or Warrensburg-Latham in a Class 2A Maroa-Forsyth Regional semifinal game.

Banner
Related Posts

SJO baseball hits 20-win mark, pushes win streak to four games

May 10, 2019

May 10, 2019

Every year Josh Haley has coached the St. Joseph-Ogden High School baseball team, the Spartans have won at least 20...

5 Questions with ASHER PRUEMER

March 1, 2024

March 1, 2024

How would you describe your team? I would say that this is very team-oriented and is one that is always...

Spartans advance in sectional

June 10, 2021

June 10, 2021

—-ST. JOSEPH—-
There is an adage in baseball that a good offense wins games, but good defense wins championships. It does...

Knott named Student Athlete of the Month

May 27, 2019

May 27, 2019

Hayden Knott had a stellar track and field season. The sophomore won the Illini Prairie Conference meet shot put and...

It’s opening day for SJO softball

March 18, 2019

March 18, 2019

The expectations haven’t changed for the St. Joseph-Ogden High School softball team. Even with a new coach for the 2019...

Taylor reflects on SJO coaching tenure

August 16, 2021

August 16, 2021

Kevin Taylor realized he needed to make a change. But stepping aside from coaching the St. Joseph-Ogden High School girls’...

SJO softball vies for 11th straight regional title on Saturday

May 16, 2019

May 16, 2019

A year ago, the St. Joseph-Ogden High School softball team defeated Maroa-Forsyth to win a Class 2A sectional title. On...

Meyer, Cook and Orcutt to play for Fighting Bees

February 7, 2019

February 7, 2019

Back in the ‘80s there was a movie that hit theatres across America called the Three Amigos. St. Joseph-Ogden High...

Harper sparks SJO soccer to another win

September 25, 2024

September 25, 2024

The St. Joseph-Ogden boys’ soccer team has proven this season it can find the back of theopponent’s net. Frequently. The...

SJO competitive cheer team has successful season

April 1, 2025

April 1, 2025

What an accomplished 2024-2025 season the SJO competitive cheer team has had. Starting in May 2024 this group of athletes...

Smith, Pence and Wertz spark SJO football to first playoff win since 2015

November 5, 2022

November 5, 2022

The wait for a playoff victory from the St. Joseph-Ogden High School football team is no more. Hosting the program’s...

Cramer, Lannert spark SJO girls’ basketball to fifth at State Farm Holiday Classic

January 3, 2020

January 3, 2020

Close games. Again. Clutch moments. Again. The small-school State Farm Holiday Classic had all of these attributes — and more...

SJO baseball letter and award winners

June 7, 2022

June 7, 2022

Tyler Altenbaumer, Sr.Andrew Beyers, Sr.Hayden Brazelton, Sr.Austin Cotter, Sr.Avian Gerdes, Sr.Nolan Grindley, Sr.Coby Miller, Sr.Ramsey Primmer, Sr.Griffin Roesch, Sr.Maddux Carter,...

5 questions with TANNER SIEMS

March 1, 2024

March 1, 2024

How would you describe your team?I would describe our team as a family. What is the biggest lesson you have...

Spartans ready to ‘respond better’ in playoff opener at Williamsville

October 28, 2019

October 28, 2019

Jaden Miller is glad he gets another opportunity to play football. Ditto for Blake Dable. And the other St. Joseph-Ogden...

Comments
Leave a Reply