Stevens Pitches Shutout as St. Joseph-Ogden Softball Hits 20-Win Milestone for 36th Straight Season
By Fred Kroner
On the night the St. Joseph-Ogden reached the 20-win mark for the 36th consecutive season, Madison Stevens became the third Spartan this season to pitch a shutout.
Stevens worked all seven innings on Monday (April 29) in a 2-0 win at home over Monticello. She walked one batter and struck out four. She allowed six hits.
The Spartans’ 36-year streak of 20, or more, wins includes only years where a season was held. The 2020 season was canceled by COVID-19.
Ellie Ward accounted for all of the game’s scoring against Monticello, driving a two-run home run.
Hayden Dahl delivered three hits for SJ-O. Halle Brazelton, Addy Martinie and Emma McKinney also had hits for the Spartans.
On Tuesday (April 30), SJ-O topped visiting Heyworth, 18-3, at Randy Wolken Field.
Timera Backburn-Kelly (10-1) threw all four innings. She issued five walks and fanned eight batters.
Dahl, Addison Frick and Grace Osterbur all wound up with three hits. In her last five games, Dahl is batting .800 (12-for-15).
Chloe Harper and Martinie totaled two hits. Brazelton and Martinie knocked in three runs. Chayse Palmer hit in a game-high four runs.
Martinie had a double against Monticello and a triple against Heyworth. She has had at least one extra-base hit in 11 of her last 12 games.
Frick and Osterbur ended with two RBI and also tallied three runs apiece.
Harper, Martinie and Thea Smith all scored twice.
SJ-O (21-6) returns to action on Thursday (May 2) at Tolono Unity.
