Hopefully, in 21 days time, the St. Joseph-Ogden girls softball team will back on the field.
When the spring sports season finally returns, seniors
Zoey Witruk,
Hannah Dukeman,
Lindsey Aden and IHSA record-holding slugger
Bailey Dowling will be a all-star foundation in head coach Larry Sparks' third campaign at the Spartan helm.
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Hannah Dukeman takes a swing at a Rantoul pitch during the Spartans home game in 2019. With the threat of Coronavirus infecting much of the US population, high school sports around the nation has been put on hold. (PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks) |
SJO finished the 2019 season with at 22-10 record logging three regular season shutouts in 2019 including a 4-0 win over Illinois Valley Central, besting Maroa-Forsyth 9-0 and booking a 17-0 victory over another conference rival, St. Thomas More.
As the #2 seed in last year's postseason run, the Spartans gobbled up bases in the quest for a trip to the 2019 state tournament blanking of Illini Prairie Conference foe Monticello 11-0. SJO beat the Sages earlier in regular season play, 13-1.
The Spartans then put the kabash on Maroa-Forsyth's season by way of 5-1 victory win for the regional title. Then came a heartbreaking loss and unexpected halt to their own season after a 4-2 sectional semifinal loss to Olympia.
This season's schedule is brutal, but should have the St. Joseph-Ogden softball team ready for a deep postseason run yet again if the IHSA reinstates the season.
The likelihood unfortunately looking more and more like a long shot after the CDC released a recommendation yesterday limiting mass gatherings for an eight week period. If the state's public health department follows that guideline, that could very well push the season's official start to May 15. With a mandatory 10-day practice period before the first game can be played, that puts the first possible pitch around the 25th of May, just 11 days before the first scheduled state semifinal game at Eastside Centre in East Peoria.
That said, if Illinois spring sports gets the go-ahead as currently planned, there are five regular season contests you don't want to miss. Each should test both players and coach staff.
It will be worth the road trip to Villa Grove, if it can be snuck in on April 7, and to Unity to watch SJO overcome the Rockets on their new turfed softball field.
You won't want to miss the April 16 home game against Bloomington Central Catholic and it would be sinful to skip out on watching what could be an intense rivalry showdown against Olympia at home on May 4.
2020 St. Joseph-Ogden Softball Schedule
| Date |
Opponent |
Home
Away |
Time |
| 16 March | Mahomet-Seymour High School | H | 4:30 |
| 17 March | Normal West High School | A | 4:30 |
| 21 March | TBA @ Casey Westfield (round robin) | A | TBA |
| 23 March | GCMS High School | H | 4:30 |
| 24 March | Westville High School | H | 4:30 |
| 25 March | St. Thomas More High School | H | 4:30 |
| 28 March | Illinois Valley Central High School | H | 12:00 |
| 1 April | Bismarck-Henning-Rossville-Alvin High School | A | 4:30 |
| 4 April | Rantoul Invite (DH) | A | TBA |
| 6 April | Maroa-Forsyth High School | A | 4:30 |
| 7 April | Villa Grove High School @ Richman Park | A | 4:30 |
| 8 April | Heyworth High School | H | 4:30 |
| 11 April | Tri-Valley High School | H | 10:00 |
| 13 April | Rantoul High School | A | 4:30 |
| 15 April | Bishop McNamara High School | H | 4:30 |
| 16 April | Bloomington Central Catholic High School | H | 4:30 |
| 17 April | Mattoon High School (DH) | A | 4:30 |
| 18 April | Herscher High School | H | 10:00 AM |
| 20 April | Unity High School | A | 4:30 |
| 21 April | Mattoon High School | A | 4:30 |
| 22 April | Mt. Zion High School | A | 5:00 |
| 23 April | Pontiac High School | H | 4:30 |
| 25 April | Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond High School (DH) | H | 10:00 AM |
| 27 April | Prairie Central High School | A | 4:30 |
| 4 May | Olympia High School | H | 4:30 |
| 6 May | Fisher High School | H | 4:30 |
| 7 May | Monticello High School | A | 4:30 |
| 9 May | SJO Softball Triangular (DH) | H | 10:00 AM/2:00 PM |
| 11 May | Tuscola High School | A | 4:30 |
| 12 May | Danville High School | H | 4:30 |
| 14 May | Clinton High School | A | 4:30 |
| 15-16 May | Galesburg Tourney (Alexis Fieldhouse: 3 games) | A | TBA |
| 18 May | Charleston High School | A | 4:30 |
| 19-22 May | IHSA Regionals | A | TBA |
| 23 May | IHSA Regional Championship | A | TBA |
2020 JV Softball Schedule
| Date |
Opponent |
Home
Away |
Time |
| 16 March | Mahomet-Seymour High School @ St. Joseph Community Park | H | 4:30 |
| 17 March | Normal West High School | A | 4:30 |
| 23 March | GCMS High School | H | 6:00 |
| 24 March | Westville High School | H | 6:00 |
| 26 March | Urbana High School | H | 4:30 |
| 28 March | Illinois Valley Central High School | H | 2:00 |
| 1 April | Champaign Centennial High School | H | 4:30 |
| 6 April | Maroa-Forsyth High School | A | 6:00 |
| 9 April | OPEN DATE | H | TBA |
| 11 April | Tri-Valley High School | H | 12:00 |
| 13 April | Rantoul High School | A | 4:30 |
| 15 April | Bishop McNamara High School | A | 5:00 |
| 16 April | Bloomington Central Catholic High School | H | 6:00 |
| 18 April | Herscher High School (DH) | H | 12:00 |
| 20 April | Unity High School | A | 6:00 |
| 21 April | Mattoon High School | H | 4:30 |
| 22 April | Mt. Zion High School | A | 5:00 |
| 23 April | Pontiac High School | H | 6:00 |
| 24 April | Champaign Central High School | A | 4:30 |
| 27 April | Prairie Central High School | A | 6:00 |
| 4 May | Olympia High School | H | 6:00 |
| 5 May | Champaign Central High School @ St. Joseph Community Park | H | 4:30 |
| 6 May | Fisher High School | H | 6:00 |
| 7 May | Monticello High School | A | 6:00 |
| 8 May | TBA @ St. Joseph Community Park | H | 4:30 |
| 11 May | Tuscola High School | A | 6:00 |
| 14 May | Clinton High School | A | 6:00 |
| 18 May | Charleston High School | A | 6:00 |
