SJ-O baseball builds on shut-out streak, Softball snaps losing streak
By FRED KRONER
fred@sjodaily.com
Crayton Burnett’s third consecutive shutout win came on Tuesday as the Spartans traveled to Gibson City and blanked the Falcons, 11-0, in a non-conference game.
Burnett allowed six singles, walked no one and struck out 13 in seven innings. For the season, Burnett has been a part of four shutouts.
Offensively, Burnett had two hits and drove in three runs.
Kaden Jacobs delivered three hits for SJ-O. Adam Rose had two hits. Sam Wesley scored two runs.
The Spartans continued their shutout streak on Wednesday with Keegan McCarty pitching a complete-game, three-hit shutout in an 8-0 Illini Prairie Conference win at St. Thomas More.
McCarty walked no one and struck out 10 in his second shutout of the spring.
Jaden Miller led SJ-O’s six-hit attack, going 2-for-2. Rose and Wesley each drove in two runs, and Rose scored twice.
SJ-O is 17-6-2 overall and returns to action today at home against Charleston. The Spartans have won nine of their last 11 games and are 6-1 in Illini Prairie Conference play.
Softball
Bailey Dowling’s solo home run was one of two hits managed by the Spartans in Monday’s 4-1 non-conference loss at Herscher.
Zoey Witruk struck out nine batters in four innings of work.
On Tuesday, SJ-O snapped a four-game losing streak, handing visiting Prairie Central a 13-3 loss at home.
Kaylee Ward crushed a grand slam. Ward drove in six runs.
Dowling had three hits and two RBI. Katie Poulter also homered.
Ashtyn Cromwell pitched a complete game, walking no one and striking out six.
On Wednesday, Sophia Martlage pitched her first shutout of the season, scattering four hits in a 17-0 win over St. Thomas More, in Champaign.
Martlage struck out six and walked no one.
Hannah Dukeman and Dowling each swatted home runs against the Sabers, marking the 16th consecutive game the team has hit home runs.
Dukeman, who had four RBI, finished with three hits. Dowling had two hits as did teammates Claire Huffman, Raegan Crippen and Poulter.
SJ-O is 15-5 overall and 3-2 in Illini Prairie Conference games. The Spartans return to action on Friday at home against Casey-Westfield.
