Panther softball begins season with five wins

By Fred Kroner

The St. Joseph Panthers Junior High softball team has won five of its first seven games, including its last three contests.

St. Joseph has produced its top three scoring outings of the season in its last three games.

On Tuesday (Aug. 15), the Panthers won at Prairieview Ogden, 17-6 at Prairieview Ogden behind a complete-game pitching performance from Lyla Patton, who struck out eight in seven innings and allowed just two earned runs.

Teagan Blacker and Brooklyn Stevens each recorded three hits and drove in four runs. Vivian Smith delivered three RBI.

Smith and Avery Haley each produced two hits. Addison Knight scored four runs. Teammates Ashlee Jannusch and Mia Miller both crossed home plate three times.

On Monday (Aug. 14), the Panthers collected a 19-6 victory at Mahomet-Seymour.

Stevens earned the win after striking out five batters in 3 1/3 innings. Smith and Stevens each knocked in three runs. Megan Kearney and Miller each tallied three runs.

On Saturday (Aug. 12), St. Joseph topped Gifford, 14-4, at home. Stevens registered four RBI and Haley drove in three runs. Haley also pounded three hits, stole three bases and scored three runs.

Jannusch, Miller and Stevens all finished with two hits. Braelyn Ikemire, Knight and Miller contributed two runs scored apiece.

On Thursday (Aug. 10), the Panthers dropped an 8-4 decision at Paris Crestwood.

Jannusch and Smith both stroked two hits, including one extra-base hit apiece. Stevens struck out six batters in a seven-inning outing.

On Tuesday (Aug. 8), Tolono Unity scored a run in the bottom of the seventh inning to deal St. Joseph its first loss, 11-10.

Unity built an 8-0 lead, but the Panthers regrouped and took a 10-10 tie into the last half-inning.

Jannusch and Stevens notched three RBI apiece. Patton drove in two runs. Jannusch and Smith wound up with two hits apiece. Jannusch scored three of the team’s runs.

Patton struck out five hitters in 5 1/3 innings of relief work.

On Friday (Aug. 4), the Panthers earned an 8-3 win at Hoopeston Area.

Patton pitched four innings and Stevens worked three innings, both without yielding an earned run. Patton fanned eight batters and Stevens netted four strikeouts.

Jannusch, Knight and Miller all scored twice. Smith had two hits. Jannusch poked a home run and knocked in two runs. Miller swiped three bases.

St. Joseph opened its season on Thursday (Aug. 3) with a 7-2 win at Oakwood.

Stevens pitched all seven innings and ended with 10 strikeouts. None of the runs she allowed were earned.

Jannusch, Knight and Smith all chipped in with two hits. Smith had three RBI.

The Panthers (5-2) return to action on Wednesday (Aug. 16) at home against Monticello.