November 29, 2025 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

Orcutt named Student Athlete of the Month

January 30, 2019

January 30, 2019

St. Joseph-Ogden senior Joel Orcutt isn’t just a standout basketball player. He is also an artist. “I enjoy doing art...

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...

Softball bonds Witruk family

April 12, 2019

April 12, 2019

For the Witruk family of St. Joseph softball is a family affair. Every member of the household has played or...

Michael looking to the future with coaching job

August 23, 2019

August 23, 2019

Nate Michael spent his youth playing basketball in every form.  After graduating this spring from McKendree University, the 6-foot-3, 180-pound...

Sparks plans on continuing Spartan success

March 14, 2019

March 14, 2019

Replacing a legend is not an easy task. However, when the legend is the all-time winningest softball coach in the...

Panthers on the prowl for state title

May 18, 2019

May 18, 2019

St. Joseph Middle School Head Track and Field Coach Zachary Steele couldn’t be prouder of his team. “We had a...

Hamilton, relay team place first at conference meet for Spartans

May 2, 2019

May 2, 2019

The intensity of a postseason meet is right around the corner for the St. Joseph-Ogden High School girls’ track and...

Mattsey, Poe highlight SJO boys’ cross-country’s recent success, while Plotner, Rajlich do the same for SJO girls’ cross-country

October 22, 2019

October 22, 2019

All the miles, all the training and all the preparation will come to a head this Saturday for the St....

Mattsey, Plotner key strong starts for SJO cross-country

September 10, 2019

September 10, 2019

The Chrisman Cow Chip Classic features seven different waves of runners. Run over a pasture near Chrisman High School, hence...

Primmer trying to keep hope as SJO baseball waits on possible start to season

April 7, 2020

April 7, 2020

Blake Primmer’s senior season wasn’t supposed to play out like this. As the St. Joseph-Ogden High School baseball team was...

SJO football schedule for 2019 set

July 1, 2019

July 1, 2019

Making the playoffs is always a goal for the St. Joseph-Ogden High School football team. Having qualified in 27 of...

Bagby picks Indiana State

March 21, 2019

March 21, 2019

Next year, Cassidy Bagby will be a Sycamore. Earlier this month, St. Joseph-Ogden senior Cassidy Bagby signed her letter of...

SJO football adjusts its routine this summer, picks up formidable Week 1 opponent

June 16, 2020

June 16, 2020

Life the last few months for St. Joseph-Ogden High School football coach Shawn Skinner has been much like it has...

Burnett, Rose help SJO baseball post three wins

April 22, 2019

April 22, 2019

The past week featured a bit of everything for the St. Joseph-Ogden High School baseball team. Solid pitching. Timely hitting....

Getting to know SJO football Captain Aidan McCorkle

October 29, 2022

October 29, 2022

We asked the SJO football team captains five questions. Here are Aidan McCorkle’s responses. Why is being a team captain...

Comments
Leave a Reply