St. Joseph-Ogden Baseball Hits 30-Win Milestone for Sixth Time in a Decade with Dominant Victory Over Salt Fork
By Fred Kroner
For the sixth time in the past 10 seasons, coach Josh Haley’s St. Joseph-Ogden baseball squad achieved 30 wins.
The Spartans (30-4) reached that plateau on Saturday (May 10), battering Salt Fork, 15-5, in a non-conference game at home on Meier Field.
The streak excludes 2020, when all IHSA spring sports were canceled by the IHSA.
A four-run fourth inning against the Storm enabled SJ-O to snap a 5-5 tie and take the lead for good.
Will Haley and Luke Landrus sparked the offense, registering two hits apiece. Contributing one hit each were Jared Altenbaumer, Trevor Ames, Nolan Earley, Logan Rosenthal and Braxton Waller.
Landrus and Waller connected for two RBI apiece. Haley and Kodey McKinney both knocked in one run.
Scoring twice for the Spartans were Altenbaumer, Earley, Haley, Landrus and McKinney. Crossing home plate one time were Ames, Bryson Houchens, Tanner Jacob, Pruemer and Waller.
SJ-O was 13-for-13 on stolen base attempts. Landrus swiped four bases, McKinney had three thefts and Will Haley stole two bases.
Caleb Ochs pitched the first three innings and recorded three strikeouts. Kendrick Johnson pitched the fourth inning and was credited with the win. He struck out one batter.
Altenbaumer once again closed out a win. He worked two scoreless and hitless innings, extending his streak to 11 straight appearances without allowing any kind of run.
In that span, Altenbaumer has pitched 17 innings and fanned 21 hitters.
On Thursday (May 9), SJ-O built an early six-run lead and then held on to edge Mattoon, 7-5, at home on Meier Field.
Earley (5-0) worked six innings and picked up the win. He walked one and struck out four. Altenbaumer secured the save by working a hitless and scoreless seventh inning.
Landrus drilled three hits and Earley drove in three runs to spearhead the offensive attack.
Landrus delivered two RBI and Earley poked two hits.
Haley and Houchens also knocked two hits for the Spartans. Jacob, McKinney and Waller finished with one hit each.
Haley and Jacob both drove in a run.
Seven different players crossed home plate one time: Garrett Denhart, Haley, Houchens, Jacob, Landrus, McKinney and Pruemer.
On Friday (May 10), SJ-O dropped a 5-2 decision at Pleasant Plains.
Landrus, Altenbaumer, Haley and Houchens all stroked one hit. Altenbaumer and Luke Smith scored runs. Jacob and Haley produced one RBI apiece.
Pruemer allowed one run in two innings and took the loss. He struck out two batters. Reliever Parker Fitch threw four innings and registered five strikeouts.
SJ-O returns to action on Monday (May 13) at Downs Tri-Valley.
