SJ-O baseball picks up two more wins

By Fred Kroner

Kendrick Johnson pitched eight innings of shutout ball on Thursday (May 11) and St. Joseph-Ogden pushed across three runs in the top of the ninth to earn a 3-0 win at Mattoon.

Johnson (8-0) permitted four hits and one walk during his stint on the mound. He fanned five batters.

Coy Taylor completed the shutout with a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the ninth.

SJ-O got on the scoreboard when Taylor’s single drove in Connor Hale.

Adam Price followed with a two-run double, sending Luke Landrus and Taylor across home plate.

Hale, Price, Nolan Earley and Tanner Jacob all ended with two hits for the Spartans.

On Saturday (May 13), Hale and Earley combined for a no-hitter as the Spartans edged visiting Salt Fork, 1-0.

Spartan pitchers have thrown 10 shutouts this season.

SJ-O got the only run it would need – and the only run of the game – in the bottom of the first inning.

Leadoff batter Landrus was hit by a pitch, then stole a base and scored on Price’s one-out double.

Hale (4-3) pitched 3 1/3 innings, walking three and striking out six. Earley was summoned and worked the last 3 2/3 innings. He walked no one and fanned two batters.

SJ-O was limited to four hits. Early, Tanner Jacob and Taylor stroked singles.

SJ-O (27-7) returns to action on Monday (May 15) in its regular-season home-finale against Tri-Valley.