April 3, 2025 Local Stories in and Around St. Joseph, Illinois

Softball looks to rebound after tough week

Giving up big innings proved problematic for the St. Joseph-Ogden High School softball team last week.


The Spartans carry a three-game losing streak into Monday’s 4:30 p.m. nonconference game at Herscher after falling 15-3 to Mt. Zion last Wednesday and 18-17 to Mattoon last Tuesday.


SJO (13-4) trailed Mt. Zion 10-0 through three innings before getting on the scoreboard. Hannah Dukeman led the offense by going 3 for 4 with two RBI and a home run, while Bailey Dowling was 2 for 4 with an RBI and two doubles.

Hannah Lewis was tagged with the loss, giving up 13 hits and 11 runs in six innings, striking out one against the defending fourth-place team in Class 3A.


A high-scoring and back-and-forth game with Mattoon ultimately didn’t go the Spartans’ way.


SJO collected 19 hits — including six home runs — but couldn’t defeat the Green Wave for the second time this season.


Lauren Trankina paced the SJO offense by going 5 for 5 with six RBI and two home runs, while Dowling (3 for 4, four RBI, four runs scored) also hit two home runs. Savannah Smith (2 for 4, two RBI, two runs scored) and Kaylee Ward (2 for 4, two RBI, three runs scored) also hit home runs for the Spartans.


SJO led 11-9 after two innings, but Mattoon took a 15-11 lead after three innings. SJO chipped away at its deficit, trailing 15-12 after the fourth inning on a solo home run by Trankina and tying the game at 15 in the fifth inning.
Dowling doubled to lead off the fifth and with one out, Ward hit a two-run home run that cut Mattoon’s lead to 15-14. Smith tied the game at 15 right away with a solo home run following Ward’s home run.


Mattoon, however, scored three runs in the top of the sixth on a three-run home run by Grace McDonnell to go ahead 18-15. Reagan Crippen started a sixth-inning rally with a one-out double and scored after Dowling hit a two-run home run that trimmed SJO’s deficit to 18-17, but the Spartans couldn’t manage to push across any more runs.


Cromwell pitched all seven innings for SJO, yielding 16 hits and 18 runs (15 earned), while striking out one.


The Spartans’ scheduled tournament this past Saturday at Clinton was postponed because of inclement weather.


After today’s game at Herscher, the Spartans return to Illini Prairie Conference action with a 4:30 p.m. home game on Tuesday against Prairie Central before playing at St. Thomas More at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday. SJO ends the week by hosting Casey-Westfield at 5 p.m. on Friday in nonconference play.

Banner
Related Posts

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...

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...

Dowling sets home run record, SJO softball reaches 20-win mark

May 14, 2019

May 14, 2019

Two notable historic accomplishments have happened recently for the St. Joseph-Ogden High School softball team. First, Bailey Dowling is now...

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...

IPC announces all conference teams

March 5, 2024

March 5, 2024

1 st Team: (U: means Unanimous)PLAYER NAME GRADE WEIGHT CLASSAidan Scholwin (U) (Pontiac) Senior 106Holden Brazelton (U) (SJO) Junior 132Emmitt...

Wesley showcases love of baseball with Spartans, travel teams

April 26, 2019

April 26, 2019

Sam Wesley has been playing his favorite sport since he was very young. Wesley, a junior at St. Joseph-Ogden High...

SJO girls’ basketball vies for sectional title tonight

February 14, 2019

February 14, 2019

Win on Thursday night and the St. Joseph-Ogden High School girls’ basketball team achieves a milestone only one other team...

Hug, Martinie help SJO girls’ basketball win regional title

February 21, 2023

February 21, 2023

Winning regional championships is nothing new for the St. Joseph-Ogden High School girls’basketball program. But earning one during the 2022-23...

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...

Hard work key to Gaskin’s success

April 30, 2019

April 30, 2019

St. Joseph-Ogden senior track athlete Lane Gaskin is a hard worker. Boys track coach Jason Retz said Gaskin is willing...

St. Joseph Pony League wins tournament championship

July 13, 2021

July 13, 2021

By Jim Cotter —-URBANA—- In baseball, as is usually the case with most other sports, finishing a season better than...

Smith, Wertz shine as SJO football wins homecoming game

September 26, 2022

September 26, 2022

It was a happy homecoming for the St. Joseph-Ogden football team.And with the Spartans defeating Nokomis 42-12 this past Friday...

‘Genuine excitement’ for SJO football heading into 2019 season

August 29, 2019

August 29, 2019

Lofty expectations are attached to the St. Joseph-Ogden High School football team every year. This season is no different for...

SJO volleyball shines in first week

August 28, 2023

August 28, 2023

High expectations surround the St. Joseph-Ogden volleyball program every fall. That’s what happens when regular-season success and postseason success seem...

Parker looks to succeed at Purdue

June 27, 2019

June 27, 2019

Dalton Parker has seen his share of ups and downs during his baseball career. Parker, a 2016 graduate of St....

Comments
Leave a Reply