St. Joseph-Ogden Baseball Reaches 20-Win Milestone with Sweep Over Chillicothe IVC, Landrus and Waller Shine
By FRED KRONER
Braxton Waller continued his torrid hitting and Luke Landrus maintained his lockdown pitching on Saturday (April 20) as the St. Joseph-Ogden baseball team swept Chillicothe IVC at home and reached the 20-win mark for the 12th consecutive season (excluding 2020 when COVID-19 canceled all spring sports).
Landrus fired a four-inning no-hitter in the 15-0 first-game win. For the year, Landrus is 6-0 and has permitted nine hits in 26 1/3 innings while striking out 43.
Waller was one of the Spartans’ heavy hitters. He went 5-for-7 for the doubleheader and drove in seven runs. He bashed doubles in each game. In his last seven games, Waller is 13-for-21 with 21 RBI.
The Spartans won the nightcap, 12-6.
Knocking hits in both games for SJ-O were Nolan Earley, Bryson Houchens, Landrus, Kodey McKinney and Waller. Will Haley produced two second-game hits.
Landrus was 5-for-7 overall on Saturday. He scored six runs and drove in six runs. He hit a double and a triple in the first game and a triple in Game 2. Between the two games, Houchens collected five RBI, Tanner Jacob tallied four runs and McKinney drilled four hits.
Asher Pruemer relieved Caleb Ochs after one inning in the nightcap and picked up his fourth win. Jared Altenbaumer worked the final three innings and struck out three hitters.
On Thursday (April 18), Earley enjoyed his sixth consecutive pitching appearance where he allowed no more than one earned run as SJ-O defeated Pontiac, 9-1, at home on Meier Field.
Earley allowed three hits and one walk in seven innings. He struck out a season-high 10 batters.
He was backed by a 10-hit attack that featured three hits from Logan Rosenthal along with two hits apiece from Earley and Waller.
Haley, Houchens and McKinney all ended with one hit.
Rosenthal and Waller both drove in three runs. Earley had two RBI and Houchens had one.
Jacob, McKinney, Luke Smith and Waller all tallied two runs. Landrus scored one run.
SJ-O was 10-for-10 on stolen base attempts. Swiping three bases was Rosenthal. Jacob, McKinney and Waller all stole two bases. Altenbaumer stole one base.
SJ-O (21-2) returns to action on Tuesday (April 23) at home against Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley.
