Big bats lead Spartans to nine-game win streak

By Fred Kroner

Shayne Immke homered for the fourth consecutive game on Wednesday (April 26) and Addy Martinie launched a home for the second game in a row as the St. Joseph-Ogden softball team stretched its winning streak to nine games in a row.

After wins over South Vermillion, Ind., 12-7, on Tuesday (April 25) and Champaign Central, 15-0, on Wednesday, the Spartans now have two of the school’s top four all-time home run hitters in their lineup.

Immke, who has 16 homers this spring, ranks third with 42 career homers. Martinie has blasted 10 homers this year and has 27 for her career. She moved into sole possession of fourth place against Central.

Pitchers benefitting from the offensive onslaughts were Alyssa Acton, who worked five innings and picked up the win at South Vermillion. She allowed two earned runs, walked no one and fanned one batter, and Madison Stevens, who fired her second shutout of the spring in the home game against the Maroons. She yielded four hits, no walks and struck out two batters.

In the last two games, Immke was 5-for-7 with seven RBI (and is now 11-for-14 in her last four games), Peyton Jones was 5-for-8 (and is now 10-for-16 in her last four games with five runs scored), Martinie was 4-for-6 with four RBI and Addison Frick was 4-for-7.

Grace Osterbur scored two runs in each game.

Immke and Martinie were two of five SJ-O players who slugged home runs in the past two days. Also knocking the ball out of the park were Acton, Halle Brazelton and Frick. Acton has six homers for the season. Brazelton has swatted home runs in four of her last eight games. Frick has driven three homers this spring.

SJ-O (18-7) will return to action on Thursday (April 27) at Mahomet-Seymour.