Playing a difficult schedule is a staple of the St. Joseph-Ogden baseball program under coach Josh Haley.
So is winning those difficult games.
The trend has continued so far in the early part of the 2025 season, Haley’s 14th as the Spartans’ coach, as SJO has compiled a 6-2 record through the first two weeks of games.
Here is how the Spartans have fared on the field leading into Tuesday’s 4:30 p.m. home nonconference game with Centennial at Meier Field in St. Joseph:
March 19
SJO 3, Columbia 0
The Spartans opened the season at Blazier Field in O’Fallon as part of the Metro East Kickoff Classic. Nolan Earley and Parker Fitch combined on the shutout, with Earley starting and going four innings. He only allowed two hits and one walk while striking out four to pick up the win. Fitch recorded the save with three no-hit innings of relief, striking out two and walking one.
Jared Altenbaumer sparked the offense by going 1 for 4 with two RBI, while Earley was 2 for 4 and Trevor Ames was also 2 for 4 with an RBI.
March 20
SJO 9, Breese Central 5
The Spartans took a commanding 6-0 lead in the bottom of the second thanks to a six-run burst in that frame and didn’t look back en route to a win at the Metro East Kickoff Classic at Tom Pile Field in Edwardsville.
Jared Altenbaumer went 2 for 4 with a home run and four RBI to lead SJO, while Logan Rosenthal was 1 for 4 with two runs scored and an RBI. Bryson Houchens (2 for 3, double), Coy Taylor (1 for 2, RBI, two runs scored) and Trevor Ames (1 for 3, triple) also contributed in the win.
Asher Pruemer recorded the win on the mound, throwing four innings of relief. He allowed three runs on three hits and walked two but struck out seven. Houchens started and went three innings. He gave up two runs on two hits, walked four and struck out five.
March 21
SJO 11, North Clay 1 (5 innings)
Dominant fourth and fifth innings by SJO led the Spartans to their third straight win at the Metro East Kickoff Classic.
With the game tied at 1 after three innings, the Spartans scored four runs in the bottom of the fourth and ended the game an inning later with six runs in the bottom of the fifth.
Trevor Ames threw all five innings for SJO and only yielded two hits. The run he allowed was unearned. He struck out five and did not issue a walk.
Bryson Houchens was 2 for 3 with two RBI, Jared Altenbaumer was 2 for 3 with an RBI and a double and Coy Taylor was 1 for 2 with an RBI and two runs scored. Asher Pruemer also drove in two runs, while Logan Rosenthal was 1 for 3 with an RBI.
March 25
St. Anthony 4, St. Joseph 3
The home opener at Meier Field for SJO didn’t have the ending the Spartans wanted, with St. Anthony pushing across two runs in the top of the sixth to take the lead after SJO led 3-2 from the second inning on.
Logan Rosenthal hit a solo home run for the Spartans, while Trevor Ames was 2 for 3 and Jared Altenbaumer was 2 for 4 with an RBI.
Parker Fitch took the loss in relief, giving up two runs on two hits in three innings. He walked two and struck out three. Nolan Earley started and went four innings. He gave up two runs on six hits and one walk while striking out five.
March 26
SJO 20, Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin 1 (4 innings)
SJO more than made up for its first loss of the season with its best offensive performance of the season during a road nonconference win.
SJO took a 7-0 lead before BHRA came up to bat in the bottom of the first inning and kept adding to its lead, going ahead 13-1 in the second and then 20-1 in the third.
Trevor Ames was 3 for 3 with a double, three RBI and three runs scored, Coy Taylor was 2 for 3 with a home run, four RBI and three runs scored and Kodey McKinney was 2 for 2 with two RBI and three runs scored to lead the SJO offense. Bryson Houchens also played a big part in the win by going 3 for 4 with three doubles and three RBI. Also joining the hit parade were Nolan Earley (2 for 4, two RBI, three runs scored), Will Haley (2 for 4, RBI), Parker Fitch (2 for 3, RBI, three runs scored), Jared Altenbaumer (1 for 3, two runs scored) and Logan Rosenthal (1 for 4, RBI).
Houchens recorded the win, throwing all four innings. He scattered five hits and one walk while striking out five.
March 27
SJO 17, St. Thomas More 5 (5 innings)
The Spartans opened Illini Prairie Conference play with a convincing road win in Champaign, scoring at least one run in every inning to top the host Sabers.
SJO led 3-1 after the first inning, but only 6-5 after two innings. No worries. The Spartans rattled off three runs in the top of the third, seven more in the fourth and another one in the fifth to earn the win.
Logan Rosenthal shined out of the leadoff spot, going 3 for 3 with a triple, two walks, two RBI and four runs scored. Bryson Houchens and Trevor Ames each went 2 for 3 with two RBI, with Ames’ two hits both doubles and Houchens also having a double. Kodey McKinney also played a role by going 1 for 1 with an RBI and reaching base twice on a walk and a hit by pitch before he stole two bases. Asher Pruemer was also a factor after he reached base twice on a walk and a hit by a pitch, stole two bases and scored three runs.
Jared Altenbaumer got the win in relief, throwing four shutout innings. He only gave up two hits and walked two batters while striking out six.
March 29
SJO 11, Winnebago 1 (5 innings)
In the first game the Spartans played at Jacksonville’s Future Champions Sports Complex, SJO never trailed in producing the nonconference victory. After Winnebago tied the game at 1 in the second inning, SJO responded with five runs in the bottom of the third to go ahead 6-1 and added on with two runs in the fourth before plating three runs in the fifth to end the game.
Trevor Ames shined on the mound and in the batter’s box. He threw all five innings and only gave up two hits and one walk while striking out nine. With a bat in his hand, he went 2 for 2 with a double and three RBI.
Nolan Earley was also instrumental in the win as he went 4 for 4 with two doubles and three RBI. Logan Rosenthal (2 for 3, RBI, two runs scored) and Bryson Houchens (1 for 2, RBI, double) also contributed.
Andrew 4, SJO 1
The Spartans never led in their second game at the Future Champions Sports Complex in Jacksonville, putting an end to their three-game win streak with a loss against a Class 4A school out of Tinley Park.
Andrew led 1-0 after the first inning, 3-0 after three innings and 4-0 after four innings before SJO pushed across its lone run in the top of the sixth when Logan Rosenthal crossed home plate.
Jared Altenbaumer collected half of the Spartans’ hits, going 2 for 3 with a double. Rosenthal (1 for 3) and Coy Taylor (1 for 2) had the other two hits, both singles, for SJO.
Parker Fitch was tagged with the loss. He started and went three innings, allowing three runs on six hits. He did not issue a walk and struck out two. Asher Pruemer threw three innings in relief, allowing one run on four hits. He also did not issue a walk and struck out two.
What’s next
After Tuesday’s home game with Centennial, the Spartans remain at home for a 4:30 p.m. first pitch on Thursday at Meier Field against Mahomet-Seymour in nonconference action. The Spartans then hit the road on Saturday for a nonconference doubleheader at Teutopolis that begins at 10 a.m.
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