Huffman wins singles match, SJO outgunned by Tigers

Clare Huffman serves the ball in set two against Urbana's Eisla Madigan. The junior won her match in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

The Tigers' experience paid off handing the young, month-old Spartan program an 8-1 loss. There were a couple of bright moments of inspired play by the St. Joseph-Ogden girls team on September 29.

After commanding 6-3 first set victory against Urbana's Eisla Madigan, Clare Huffman jumped out to a 5-0 lead and needed just one more game to end the clash at Blair Park with a second set bagel. Madigan fought back breaking Huffman's serve and holding her own for the first time in four games.

"I got really tired," said Huffman after sealing St. Joseph-Ogden's only singles win with the 6-2 win. The junior and first-year player with the school's new club team pertinaciously gutted out game eight of set two to collect the W. "We had a lot of deuce games."

In posting the win, Huffman figured out her future strategy for upcoming matches.

"I need to hit the ball further back," she said. "That's how you win points."

Senior Emily Fisher, also new to the sport, nearly pulled off an upset at #5 singles after pushing her opening set to first set tie-breaker 7-6 against Daniella Coleman. Despite her lack of experience, she played toe-to-toe in the second set falling, 6-4.

The team has two matches, both on the road, left in their inaugural season. On Friday, SJO travels to Watseka High School for a 4p engagement against Watseka. Five days later, the newly formed team will end their season against Schlarman at the Danville Tennis Center.

Match results:

Singles:
No. 1 - Sophia Solava, URBANA HIGH SCHOOL def. Hope Rajlich, ST JOSEPH-OGDEN HIGH SCHOOL, 6-0 , 6-0
No. 2 - Sanjana Paul, URBANA HIGH SCHOOL def. Abbey Dow, ST JOSEPH-OGDEN HIGH SCHOOL, 6-1 , 6-0
No. 3 - Devangana Rana, URBANA HIGH SCHOOL def. Sophia Martlage, ST JOSEPH-OGDEN HIGH SCHOOL, 6-1 , 6-2
No. 4 - Clare Huffman, ST JOSEPH-OGDEN HIGH SCHOOL def. Eisla Madigan, URBANA HIGH SCHOOL, 6-3 , 6-2
No. 5 - Daniella Coleman, URBANA HIGH SCHOOL def. Emily Fisher, ST JOSEPH-OGDEN HIGH SCHOOL, 7-6 , 6-4
No. 6 - Myra Stevens, URBANA HIGH SCHOOL def. Emma Rydell, ST JOSEPH-OGDEN HIGH SCHOOL, 6-1 , 6-1

Doubles:
No. 1 - Sophia Solava, URBANA HIGH SCHOOL - Eisla Madigan, URBANA HIGH SCHOOL def. Katie McDermott, ST JOSEPH-OGDEN HIGH SCHOOL - Allison Kearney, ST JOSEPH-OGDEN HIGH SCHOOL, 6-0 , 6-1

No. 2 - Devangana Rana, URBANA HIGH SCHOOL - Sanjana Paul, URBANA HIGH SCHOOL def. Sophia Martlage, ST JOSEPH-OGDEN HIGH SCHOOL - Clare Huffman, ST JOSEPH-OGDEN HIGH SCHOOL, 3-4 (Retired)

No. 3 - Hannah Null, URBANA HIGH SCHOOL - Jacie Owens, URBANA HIGH SCHOOL def. Flannery McCorkel, ST JOSEPH-OGDEN HIGH SCHOOL - Grace Schmitz, ST JOSEPH-OGDEN HIGH SCHOOL, 6-4 , 6-1

Blondies offers fresh designs for this year's Halloween

As you might have heard, the Village of St. Joseph is sponsoring a Halloween contest for the best candy and treat delivery system. Whether you are a one-person operation or will have a ghouled out posse to pass out treats, you will want to check out Blondies for some unique trick-or-treat to gear up your crew.

Photo provided

Owner Tiffany Monier has come up with some colorful new shirts and designs show your Halloween spirit all week or add the finishing touches to your trick-or-treat costume.

"I work for smiles," she said. "I started this [business] in order to provide affordable personalized merchandise for all."

Shirts like the one pictured on the left are available in newborn sizes all the way up to 6x. For last minute costume ideas, if she has the shirts in stock, most items are printed on the same day. Adult sizes start for as little as $12.

Orders can be placed online through Blondies' Facebook group which boast more than 2,200 members. The group features additional Halloween designs inspired by Frankenstein, mummies, pumpkins and more that are available.

"I always enjoyed trick-or-treating with my parents and brother, who has since passed away," Monier said sharing her on her favorite Halloween memories. Trick-or-treating also meant always having plenty of candy on hand for her birthday on November 1. "Although this year will be different, I will continue the tradition of costumes with the children, posting pictures on Facebook, and buying candy and hiding in yard for my own kids to find [while] in their costumes."

Like many other local small business owners she is weathering the pandemic as best she can.

"I am a local stay-at-home mom due to COVID and just trying to stay a float," she said.

Be kind and don't leave your dog's do-do behind

The Village of St. Joseph has a friendly reminder for dog walkers and pet owners who enjoy the wide, open space of Woodard Family Park and Sports Complex.

"Dog owners need to make sure to pick up after their animal or find somewhere else to let their animals run," Office Manager Julie Hendrickson wrote in a post on Facebook after fielding complaints that owners are not scoopin' their pet's poopin'. "It's unfortunate that we have to remind people of this."

Recently, the office has fielded multiple complaints from users who accidentally discovered a pile or two while attending high school and middle school cross country competitions at the park.

Photo of the Day - October 6, 2020

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SJO courts success in Urbana

Spartans' Hope Rajlich attacks a short ball during her match against Urbana's Sophia Solava during the St. Joseph-Ogden's road match against the Tigers on September 29. Playing number 1 singles against Urbana's top player, the junior, who started the sport competitively last month, dropped straights, 6-0, 6-0.

"I got to move my feet, stay low and get to the ball," Rajlich said after the match. Despite the loss she was upbeat. "It's fun to play. I've only been playing a month and feel like I am so much better already." Despite a strong, athletic showing, the Spartans lost the dual, 8-1 to the Tigers.

The team has two matches, both on the road, left in their inaugural season. On Friday, SJO travels to Watseka High School for a 4p engagement against Watseka. Five days later, the newly formed team will end their season against Schlarman at the Danville Tennis Center.

(Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

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Community shred day in Philo

The Philo Exchange Bank will host a Community Shred Day in Philo this Saturday in town at 401 N Lincoln.

The staff will accept up to five boxes or bags of material per person to be shredded during the hours from 9 to 11am.

Depositors are ask to bring non-perishable food or canned goods to donate to their food drive. Free snacks will be available

Visitors can also spin the Philo Exchange Bank wheel to win prizes during the two hour event. The grand prize is a programable multi-cooker. Other prizes include gift cards, uChoose Rewards Points, wireless bluetooth earpods, Philo Exchange Bank swag, and other items.

For more information call (217) 684-5500.