Spartan softball enters IHSA record book in win over Westville

By Fred Kroner

St. Joseph-Ogden’s softball team faced a 6-0 deficit on Tuesday (March 21) at Westville when the Spartans unleashed an offensive onslaught that rivals any ever produced in the history of high school softball in the state of Illinois.

The Spartans scored 27 runs – 27 runs! – in the top of the third inning and topped the Tigers, 27-6, in a non-conference game. SJ-O tallied 24 runs in the inning before Westville recorded an out, which happened when a Spartan runner was called for leaving base early.

SJ-O entered the all-time IHSA softball record book in numerous categories:

– the 27 runs in the inning ranks third in the all-time state record book. Only Vandalia (with 29 runs in 1985) and Ridgewood (with 28 runs in 1989) had better one-inning outputs;

– the 22 runs batted in during the inning ranks second-best on the all-time IHSA team performance list. Only DuQuoin (with 23 in 2000) had more RBI in one inning;

– the four home runs SJ-O swatted in the inning places the school in a tie for seventh on the all-time IHSA single-inning list;

– the four doubles the Spartans hit in the inning places the school in a tie for eighth on the all-time IHSA single-inning list;

– Peyton Jones and Addy Martinie scored four runs in the third inning, tying the all-time state record shared by a player from Vandalia (1985), a player from Ridgewood (1989) and a player from Morton (1995). Tuesday marked the first time in state history that two players from the same high school had scored four runs in the same inning in an IHSA softball game;

– Alyssa Acton hammered two home runs in the inning, one of which was a grand slam. She is now tied for second for the most home runs in an inning in IHSA history. She also tied the SJ-O school record for homers in an inning, matching the 2008 performance by Jenna Slifer against Rantoul.

– Martinie stroked three hits in the third inning, placing her in a tie with 13 other former athletes in the state for third place for the single-inning IHSA performance list.

Jones, Martinie, Shayne Immke and Addison Frick all laced three hits in the five-inning game. Immke’s hits were all for extra bases, two doubles and one triple.

Acton and Halle Brazelton each ended with two hits.

Acton knocked in five runs. Martinie had four RBI and Immke drove in three runs.

Besides Jones and Martinie, each of whom crossed home plate four times, teammates scoring three runs were Acton, Brazelton, Immke and Grace Osterbur. Frick, Emma McKinney and Sammy Uden all scored twice.

Jones led the way on the base paths, stealing two bases.

Joining Acton on the home run parade were Martinie and Katharine Short.

Freshman Timera Backburn-Kelley earned her first varsity pitching win. She relieved Immke in the second inning and pitched hitless ball during the final 2 1/3 innings, walking three batters and striking out three batters.

The pitchers were backed by an errorless defense.

On Monday (March 20), Brazelton, Immke, Jones, Martinie, McKinney and Osterbur all socked at least two hits, but SJ-O lost its home-opener to Normal West, 9-7.

They sparked the Spartans’ 16-hit attack.

Immke slugged two home runs for the Spartans – including a leadoff homer in the first inning – and drove in three runs. Martinie also drilled three hits. Immke and Martinie each tallied two runs.

Acton, who pitched all seven innings, took the loss. She walked one and struck out eight.

SJ-O (2-2) returns to action on Thursday (March 23) at home against Clinton, weather permitting.