For Sam Wesley, the opportunity to carry on the St. Joseph-Ogden baseball tradition carried weight.

“Growing up watching players like Dalton Parker and Ty Brown motivated me to want to compete for a state championship,” Wesley said. “I always wanted to be like their class. They had so much camaraderie and loved the game.”

Wesley believed that the 2020 squad had that special chemistry, too. One that would take them to the IHSA State Finals.

The IHSA canceled state tournaments in April, but kept the door open for possible summer games. St. Joseph-Ogden said they were open to the possibility of summer matches, if they are allowed. 

Wesley said that while the Spartans could not take the field together, they continued to check in with each other daily to hold each other accountable and remind each other to go throw or workout. 

“It comes down to creativity,” he said. “Being stuck in our houses is terrible, so we have to think of fun ideas to keep getting better.”

Sights set on improvement is all Wesley, who first picked up a bat at the age of three, has known.

“I was the youngest so they let me bat last and at the very least included me in the games,” he said. “I eventually started playing travel baseball and was constantly exposed to the game.”

The exposure didn’t end with what he could do, though. His dad began the tradition of taking him to Wrigley Field each year for his birthday.

“I fell in love with the sport,” he said.

Wesley’s parents have provided the first baseman and right fielder with the equipment and trainers he needed to succeed.

“However, Ryan Tabeling and Lance Kresin (my travel ball coaches) have impacted my athleticism on a whole different level,” Wesley said. “Every winter we held travel ball workouts and practices. Every practice we learned something new and continued to grow as an athlete and a player. These two coaches gave me everything I could ever ask for and have been a major influence to my baseball career.”

A skill set isn’t all Wesley learned, though. He also gained a mindset of accountability that he will take with him wherever he goes.

“If a player does not think they can win, then they have already lost,” he said. “It is important to come prepared and confident in order to win. Leadership is also a key contributor to winning baseball. A team is better when the players hold themselves accountable and the coach can just coach.”

Wesley was part of the 2016 Spartan team that went to the IHSA State Tournament. A freshman, he had a jersey, but knew that his role was to keep the pitching chart. 

As a junior, Wesley felt the electric atmosphere on the field as the Spartans captured the Class 2A IHSA Regional Championship. He faced travel ball teammates, Logan Tabeling and Lucas Kresin, in the Sectional game.

“Being able to face them was very exciting,” he said. “Although we came out on the wrong side of the game, the energy and the atmosphere is something I will never forget.”

Wesley said that he never thought the final weeks of his senior year would be taken away, but he has enjoyed spending extra time with his family who will get to watch him graduate from St. Joseph-Ogden this weekend.

“Being part of this program means that everyone is your friend, on and off the field,” he said. “We all work, help, and talk to each other. I have grown up in this program and the best teams are the ones that get along. It means everything to me that no matter what I will have lifelong friends from baseball.”

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Dwight Colvin scored three first-half touchdowns as St. Joseph-Ogden overpowered visiting Unity 38-14 Friday night in an Illini Prairie Conference game.

Colvin rushed for a game-high 191 yards on 22 carries.

SJ-O is 4-0 for the season. Unity is 0-4.

Colvin scored the game’s first three TDs on runs of 2, 5 and 3 yards.

The Spartans led, 25-0, at halftime.

Also scoring TDs for SJ-O were Brayden Weaver, Jack Cook (on a pass from Keanen Swanson) and Sam Wesley (on an interception return).

Aiden Coon added two conversion kicks.

Weaver completed 7 of 14 passes for 37 yards. Cook had 19 receiving yards. Joel Orcutt hauled in two receptions.

Wesley was one of three Spartans with interceptions. Teammates who also picked off passes were Cook and Swanson.

Weaver led the defensive effort with 14 tackles, 10 of which were solos. Kaden Jacobs had nine stops, and one sack.

Head coach Shawn Skinner lauded the play of his defensive brigade.

“Our defense played a huge roll in our victory,” he said. “Up until the third quarter, Unity did not cross our 40-yard line.

“That’s a testimony to the job Coach (Bob) Glazier (31st-year assistant) and the entire defense did.”

SJ-O forced the Rockets into four turnovers.

Besides the interceptions, special teams player Jarrett Stevenson recovered a fumble.

“Brayden Weaver and Kaden Jacobs continued their great play in the middle of that defense and Jack Cook and Keanen Swanson both played very well at the cornerback spots,” Skinner said.

SJ-O plays another 4-0 opponent, Pontiac, at 7 p.m. on Friday in a road game.

“Pontiac will be a true test,” Skinner said. “A hostile environment, as we like to call it, and a long bus trip.

“Two similar teams. We want to establish the run, control thde line of scrimmage and time of possession.”

In some ways, the teams are mirror images.

“They are 4-0 for many of the same reasons we are,” Skinner added. “Solid special teams and really try not to beat themselves.

“They are physical, and tackle as well as any team we see in the conference.”

Oakwood 48, Hoopeston Area/Schlarman Academy/Armstrong-Potomac 21

Colby Smiley, Nick Grubb and Cody Hansbraugh combined for 542 rushing yards as the Comets posted their first football victory of the season in a Friday game played at Hoopeston.

Smiley gained 214 yards while Grubb’s 193-yard effort raised his season rushing total to a team-best 673 yards.

Oakwood returns to action on Friday at home against Iroquois West (0-4).

Soccer

Dawson Rogers broke the Oakwood/Salt Fork record for goals in a match, with six, as the Comets shut out Georgetown-Ridge Farm 7-0 on Thursday.

He had all four first-half goals as the Comets built a 4-0 lead.

Also scoring for Oakwood was Caleb Lashuay. He also had an assist.

Joe Lashuay had two assists while teammates Sam Howie and Ayden Hanson each had one.

Goalkeeper Chris Winkler had five saves.

Volleyball

Oakwood (11-6) won its third consecutive match, 25-23, 22-25, 25-18, over Georgetown-Ridge Farm on Thursday. Oakwood’s McKenzie Doan had 10 kills and nine assists.

Golf

Teammates Ryan Hicks (41) and Logan Hoshauer (43) swept the top two spots as Oakwood topped Danville, 191-214 in a Thursday dual meet at Turtle Run, in Danville.

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