By Fred Kroner
St. Joseph-Ogden needed just four innings on Wednesday (March 23) to handle Champaign Central, 14-1, in a season-opening softball game played on Rantoul’s turf field.
The first two batters in the SJ-O lineup – Shayne Immke and Peyton Jones – were each 3-for-3 to spearhead the Spartans’ 15-hit attack.
Jones poked three doubles while Immke stroked a single, triple and a solo home run. Jones and Immke both scored three runs.
Alyssa Acton, Addy Martinie, Addison Frick and Ava Northern all finished with two hits. Jones, Martinie and Northern all drove in two runs.
Maggie Ward pitched a complete-game three-hitter. She walked three and struck out seven.
The SJ-O junior varsity shut out Central, 2-0.
The Spartans showed their comeback abilities on Thursday (March 24), back at Rantoul, against Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin.
SJ-O fell behind, 10-5, heading into the bottom of the third inning. A seven-run uprising sent coach Larry Sparks’ squad ahead to stay en route to a 20-10 conquest.
The inning was highlighted by a first-pitch, three-run home run by Martinie, which followed a two-run double by Jones. Northern also had a run-scoring double in the inning.
Jones, Jacey Lewis, Martinie and Northern all socked three hits. Immke ended with two hits.
Jones knocked in five runs. Both Lewis and Martinie had three RBI.
Ward pitched 3 1/3 innings of scoreless relief. She yielded three hits, walked one batter and struck out seven.
SJ-O (2-0) returns to action on Friday (March 25) in St. Joseph against Effingham St. Anthony.
