Peyton Jones hits grand slam and drives in five runs against Unity
By Fred Kroner
Peyton Jones clubbed a grand slam home run and drove in five runs for the day as the St. Joseph-Ogden softball team won a showdown at home against Tolono Unity, 10-3, on Thursday (May 4).
Each squad entered the game with 20 wins for the season.
Jones finished with two hits and also scored two runs. Halle Brazelton collected two RBI.
Shayne Immke scored three runs and stole three bases. Immke reached base all four times she batted. She drew three walks, two were intentional and one came with the bases loaded.
Her second intentional walk loaded the bases for Jones, who then socked her first home run of the spring.
Chayse Palmer scored two runs for SJ-O.
Timera Blackburn-Kelley pitched four scoreless innings before yielding to Madison Stevens, who worked the final three innings. Blackburn-Kelley struck out two hitters. Stevens fanned three.
On Saturday (May 6), SJ-O split two games in its own invitational tournament.
The Spartans opened with a 7-5 victory over Marshall.
Blackburn-Kelley (11-3) pitched all seven innings, walked no one and fanned 10 hitters.
Immke was 4-for-4, including two doubles and her 21st home run as a senior. Peyton Jones was 3-for-4. Both Immke and Jones each drove in two runs.
Katharine Short socked a two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning that snapped a 3-3 tie and lifted the Spartans into the lead for good.
In the nightcap, Pinckeyville topped SJ-O, 9-3.
The Spartans were limited to four hits, a triple by Immke and singles by Alyssa Acton, Grace Osterbur and Short.
In the two games, Immke drove four consecutive hits for extra bases. During her current 10-game hitting streak, Immke is batting .706 (24 for 34) with 18 extra-base hits.
Madison Stevens suffered the pitching loss.
SJ-O (22-9) returns to action on Monday (May 8) at home against Tuscola. Unity’s season record is 24-7.
