Blackburn-Kelly’s Stellar Pitching and Team’s Power Surge Propel St. Joseph-Ogden to Dominant Wins

By Fred Kroner

Timera Blackburn-Kelly pitched a five-inning one-hitter on Monday (April 1) as the St. Joseph-Ogden softball team handed Bloomington Central Catholic a 14-2 loss at Randy Wolken Field.

Blackburn-Kelly (3-0) walked five and registered nine strikeouts.

Halle Brazelton, Adelyn Jannusch and Grace Osterbur all drove in two runs.

Scoring two runs apiece were Brazelton, Hayden Dahl, Addy Martinie and Osterbur.

On Tuesday (April 2), Brazelton, Emma McKinney and Ellie Ward all socked home runs – their first of the season – to lead the Spartans to a 15-4 victory at Villa Grove.

All three players knocked in three runs. Brazelton was 3-for-4 and is 8-for-12 with four extra-base hits in her last five games.

Martinie was 2-for-3 with two RBI and three runs scored. Osterbur and Chayse Palmer also drove in runs.

Osterbur collected three hits and Frick had two hits. Finishing with two hits apiece were Dahl, McKinney, Palmer and Ward.

Osterbur tallied three runs. Brazelton and Addison Frick crossed home plate twice. Dahl, Chloe Harper, McKinney and Ward all scored one run.

SJ-O (8-3) returns to action on Thursday (April 4) at Rantoul. The Spartans are 2-0 in Illini Prairie Conference games.