Blackburn-Kelly picks up third win at Pontiac
By Fred Kroner
Freshman Timera Blackburn-Kelley picked up her third pitching win in a six-day span on Thursday (April 20) as St. Joseph-Ogden’s softball team registered a 3-2 win at Pontiac.
Blackburn-Kelley struck out six hitters while permitting five hits and two walks.
Addison Frick was 3-for-3 with three stolen bases and one RBI for the Spartans. Alyssa Acton and Addy Martinie also drove in runs. Peyton Jones swiped two bases.
The Spartans scored twice in the top of the first inning and never trailed. Blackburn-Kelley held the Indians scoreless until the bottom of the sixth inning.
On Saturday (April 22), the Spartans completed the week with their fifth win in a six-day period, a 17-6 win at Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond in a game where they trailed, 4-0, after three innings.
Blackburn-Kelley (8-2) pitched a six-inning complete game, walking two and striking out six hitters.
SJ-O blasted five home runs, two by Shayne Immke. Acton, Halle Brazelton and Grace Osterbur also hit homers. For Osterbur, it was the first of her career. For Brazelton, it was her third home run in her last five games.
Osterbur finished 4-for-4. Acton and Immke were each 3-for-4. Peyton Jones, Katharine Short and Sofie Siemsen all ended with two hits.
Immke knocked in four runs. Acton delivered three RBI. Jones, Osterbur and Siemsen all contributed two RBI.
On Monday (April 24), Spartan hitters led the way in an 18-0 win at home over Maroa-Forsyth.
Immke powered a triple and a home run. She scored four runs and delivered three RBI. Jones finished 3-for-3 with four RBI. She scored two runs. Frick was 2-for-3 with three runs scored and two driven in.
Immke has 27 career triples, breaking the all-time SJ-O record of 26 held by Hannah Bowen (2009-11). Immke’s 11 triples this spring are tied for the school’s single-season lead with Bowen (2009) and Stephanie Canfield (2011). Immke is tied for 15th on the all-time IHSA state record books for triples in a career and is two triples away from moving into the top 10.
Blackburn-Kelley (9-2) threw a complete game, allowing three hits while striking out four hitters.
SJ-O (16-7) returns to action on Tuesday (April 25) at Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley. SJ-O has a seven-game winning streak and has tallied 80 runs in that span.
