January 20, 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

Mattsey, Maroon and Mabry help Spartans shine in Monticello

October 24, 2020

October 24, 2020

The final regular season meet saw the St. Joseph-Ogden boys’ cross-country team thrive. So that’s a good sign for the...

‘I’m just glad to be playing my final year with my friends’

March 31, 2021

March 31, 2021

Looking forward.  The St. Joseph-Ogden football team is embracing the unique opportunity of playing football in March and April due...

SJO boys’ basketball can clinch Illini Prairie title tonight

February 13, 2024

February 13, 2024

Talk to enough coaches and players in the area and across the state and one common sentiment seems to pop...

Smith, Spartans on roll entering playoffs

October 29, 2022

October 29, 2022

Hosting home football playoff games became common for the St. Joseph-Ogden High School football team in the past. In fact,...

5 Question Friday with Charlie Mabry

September 10, 2021

September 10, 2021

Every Friday we are going to ask an athlete to answer five questions. This week we talked to Charlie Mabry....

Meyer, Knott and relays excel for SJO boys’ track and field in Clinton

May 8, 2019

May 8, 2019

The St. Joseph-Ogden High School boys’ track and field team received wins from two individuals and two relay teams to...

SJO wrestling wraps up successful season

March 5, 2024

March 5, 2024

Holden Brazelton led a trio of St. Joseph-Ogden wrestlers who competed at the IHSA Class 1Astate finals last week at...

Rajlich, Mattsey thrive for SJO cross-country in Peoria

September 17, 2019

September 17, 2019

Thank you to Carrie Mattsey photography for the photo! The St. Joseph-Ogden High School team got its first look at...

SJO girls’ track and field ready for sectional meet on Friday evening

May 10, 2019

May 10, 2019

The first few weeks of a track and field season are sometimes about finding out what runners to slot into...

Spartans hope to raise the bar

August 27, 2021

August 27, 2021

By Jim Cotter St. Joseph-Ogden football hopes raise the bar this season.Last season, the Spartans finished 2-4. The Spartans are...

Get to know SJO Volleyball player Peyton Williams

October 31, 2022

October 31, 2022

What do you think makes the team so successful? I think what makes our team so successful is the determination...

SJO5k Results for July 30, 2022

August 1, 2022

August 1, 2022

Name City Bib No Age Gender Age Group Total Time Pace 1 Austin Bridgman Potomac IL 632 22 M 1:Open...

5 questions with TREVOR AMES

March 1, 2024

March 1, 2024

How would you describe this team? This team is special. What is a lesson you have learned this season? Having...

Johnson exploring college choices

May 3, 2019

May 3, 2019

Caleb Johnson has options. The St. Joseph-Ogden senior committed to play baseball for William Penn University in January but the...

Cramer, Jacob come up clutch in SJO girls’ basketball’s win against Tuscola

December 5, 2019

December 5, 2019

The St. Joseph-Ogden High School girls’ basketball team has fared well under pressure so far this season. The Spartans’ latest...

Comments
Leave a Reply