The St. Joseph-Ogden High School softball team is finding its rhythm.
And picking up plenty of wins in the process.
The Spartans carry a five-game win streak into Monday’s Illini Prairie Conference game at Prairie Central. First pitch is set for 4:30 p.m.
SJO (13-4, 3-2 Illini Prairie) will hit the road for arguably its busiest week of the season — if the weather cooperates — with seven games scheduled in the next six days.
Here’s what has transpired for SJO since the calendar flipped to April and also a look at what’s ahead:
April 16
SJO 11, Herscher 7
Shayne Immke powered SJO to its fifth straight game with double-digit runs, collecting four hits, including a home run. Addy Martinie and Alyssa Acton also hit home runs, with Martinie driving in four runs and finishing with two hits. Peyton Jones also chipped in with two hits.
Addison Frick was also 3 for 4 to help out the Spartans’ offense, which gave enough run support to Maggie Ward. Ward threw a complete game to earn the win.
April 15
SJO 13, Mattoon 0
Acton threw a three-hit shutout to lift the Spartans past the Green Wave in the championship game of the Mattoon Tournament.
A balanced offense featured two hits apiece from Immke, Jones, Martinie and Halle Brazelton, while Frick was 1 for 1 with three walks.
SJO 17, Robinson 2
The Spartans overwhelmed Robinson in its first game at the Mattoon Tournament. Acton hit a two-run home run and finished with four RBI, while Martinie had a three-run home to lead SJO in the batter’s box.
Jones was also instrumental, going 3 for 3 with two RBI and three runs scored. Ward picked up the win in the pitcher’s circle, throwing a complete game and striking out five.
April 14
SJO 16, Paxton-Buckley-Loda 1
The Spartans rolled to an Illini Prairie home win as Immke and Martinie were offensive forces.
Immke went 4 for 4 with three RBI and a home run, while Martinie had two hits, including a three-run home run, and wound up with five RBI.
Kelsey Martlage kept the PBL lineup off balance, throwing a one-hitter and striking out seven to earn the win for the Spartans.
April 12
SJO 16, St. Thomas More 2
The Spartans had another strong offensive performance in a home Illini Prairie win.
Jones picked up her first pitching win of the season, with Martlage also throwing in relief. Brazelton and Jones each had two hits to spark the Spartans.
April 11
Olympia 8, SJO 7
The Spartans lost their second Illini Prairie game of the season, dropping a close one in Stanford.
Jones finished with two hits for SJO, while Grace Osterbur scored two runs.
Ward threw a complete game for the Spartans, striking out seven and walking three while being saddled with the loss.
April 9
SJO 9, Tri-Valley 1
SJO recorded a home nonconference win thanks to a superb pitching performance from Ward and timely hits throughout its lineup.
Ward tossed a complete game, with Immke (three hits), Frick (two hits) and Jones (two-run double) sparking the offense for the Spartans.
April 7
SJO 11, Rantoul 0
Martinie hit a home run, a double and drove in three runs for SJO during an Illini Prairie road win, the Spartans’ first league victory this season.
Jones added two hits and Martlage came through with two RBI to complement shutout pitching. Immke tossed three innings to record the win.
April 6
SJO 5, Heyworth 2
A close nonconference home game went in favor of the Spartans.
Ward scattered six hits and threw a complete game to pick up the win, with Acton contributing two hits and Jacey Lewis and Brazelton coming up with key plays off the bench for SJO.
April 4
Bloomington Central Catholic 4, SJO 2
The Spartans couldn’t come up with a win in their Illini Prairie opener, falling in St. Joseph.
Martinie and Jones each hit solo home runs to account for all of the runs created by SJO, while Kennedy Hudson and Frick each added two hits.
Acton took the loss in the pitcher’s circle for the Spartans.
April 2
SJO 7, Rockford Auburn 2
The Spartans won the consolation title at the Rantoul Invitational with this victory.
Immke threw a three-hitter in the pitcher’s circle and Acton registered the save, while Martlage had two hits to highlight the offense.
SJO 19, Villa Grove 2
Ward limited Villa Grove to only three hits in throwing a complete game, while she and her teammates provided more than enough runs to win this consolation semifinal game at the Rantoul Invitational.
Hudson led the way offensively with two hits and four RBI, while Immke, Jones, Martlage and Frick also joined in on the offensive fun with two hits apiece.
SJO 16, Hoopeston Area 1
The Spartans had an emphatic win in the consolation quarterfinals at the Rantoul Invitational as Acton had three hits, with Immke and Martinie each adding two hits.
Acton threw a complete game three-hitter to complement the strong offensive output.
April 1
Homewood-Flossmoor 5, SJO 4
SJO lost its first-round game at the Rantoul Invitational despite two hits apiece from Immke, Jones, Martinie and Hudson.
After Monday’s game at Prairie Central, the Spartans are scheduled to be back on the road Tuesday for a 4:30 p.m. nonconference game at Mattoon and again at 5 p.m. on Wednesday for a nonconference game at Mt. Zion.
SJO is set to host Pontiac at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday in an Illini Prairie game before making the trek to Chillicothe to play IVC at 5:30 p.m. Friday in an Illini Prairie game. SJO is then slated to wrap the week with a 10 a.m. home doubleheader with Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond on Saturday.
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