Huckstadt’s No-Hitter Highlights SJ-O Softball’s Mixed Results at Rantoul Invitational

By Fred Kroner

Amelia Huckstadt fired a no-hitter, and recorded four strikeouts, on Thursday (March 28) as the St. Joseph-Ogden softball team downed visiting Iroquois West 16-0 at Randy Wolken Field.

Hayden Dahl, Grace Goldenstein, Emma McKinney and Thea Smith all drove in two runs. Timera Blackburn-Kelly, Halle Brazelton, McKinney and Ashlyn Miller all tallied two runs.

On Saturday (March 30), the Spartans went 1-2 in the Rantoul Invitational.

SJ-O topped Rantoul, 7-1, but lost to Dunlap, 6-3, and to Pekin, 8-4.

Brazelton was the only Spartan with hits in all three games. She was 4-for-7 overall.

Against Rantoul, Blackburn-Kelly became the third SJ-O pitcher this season with two wins. She allowed one hit and five walks in five innings. Blackburn-Kelly struck out eight hitters.

Martinie scored two runs against Rantoul.

Against Dunlap, Dahl cracked her first home run of the season, a solo shot, and Brazelton rapped two hits.

Madison Stevens didn’t issue a walk for her second consecutive start. In five innings, she allowed eight hits and fanned three batters.

Against Pekin, Martinie and McKinney both contributed two hits. Martinie drove in two runs.

Huckstadt worked the first 2 2/3 innings and suffered the loss. She walked one batter and struck out two.

SJ-O (6-3) returns to action on Monday (April 1) at home against Bloomington Central Catholic.