Photo-of-the-Day | Miller pounds 3-run homer

St. Joseph-Ogden catcher Coby Miller (right) is greeted at home plate by teammates after hitting a 3-run homer in the Spartans' home debut against Centennial High School. The shot came on his first trip to the plate in the bottom of the first inning on April 12, 2021. SJO went on to win the non-conference ball game, 9-5. Weather permitting, Miller and the Spartans will play the first 2022 home contest tomorrow afternoon. Click this link to view more photos from this game.

Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks.

Photo Gallery | Spartan softball team post opening victory

St. Joseph-Ogden sophomore Maggie Ward winds up for a pitch during the Spartans' season opener last. The Spartans rolled to a 12-7 victory to start the 2020-21 season. Ward threw 64 pitches during her five innings in the circle to earn her first win of the season. The sophomore hurler struck out three and gave up three runs and four hits in her varsity debut.

Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Audrey Short, Peyton Jones, Kaylee Ward and the rest of team wait to greet teammate Alyssa Acton at home plate after her two-run homer.

Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

First base player Alyssa Acton is all smiles after hitting her first home run of the season. The two-run shot extended the Spartans' lead over the visiting Chargers, 10-4. The sophomore, who crossed the plate twice during the contents, also finished the game with two hits and two RBIs.

Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Starter Sophia Martlage winds up for a pitch during the opening inning of the game. Martlage tossed 40 pitches giving up three hits and four runs during her two-inning appearance for SJO.

Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Kaylee Ward gets fist bump from head coach Larry Sparks as she heads to the dugout after her 1-out two run homer down the right field line. The senior tallied six RBI thanks in part to her long ball and a double.

Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

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Dowling ties IHSA record

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Bailey Dowling puts the ball in play against Rantoul. The St. Joseph-Ogden junior pounded her 60th career home run yesterday in her team's home game against Champaign Central. The home run puts her in a two-way tie with the record held by former Benet Academy catcher Stephanie Abello. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

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St. Joseph-Ogden slugger Bailey Dowling averaged 21.5 home runs per season when the current one started a few months ago.

Yesterday, the junior tied the Illinois High School Association record for career home runs in the Spartans' home game against Champaign Central. Her 60th bomb ties a state record set in Benet Academy's Stephanie Abello, who played from 2012-2015 and now a catcher on the Illinois softball team.

It was Dowling's 17th homer this season as the Spartans rounds out their final week of regular season of play defeating the Maroons, 16-1.

Kaylee Ward led SJO on offense with three RBI on a pair of hits. Meanwhile, Ashtyn Cromwell hurled a complete game giving up just four hits.

Dowling's name appears in several additional spots on the IHSA's All-Time Records. As of the previous season she was tied in 10th for the most number of home runs in a game (3), tied for 15th in most runs scored in a season at 69, tied for 14th for most hits in a season and tied 11th for most doubles in a game.

Next up for Dowling and the Spartans is a trip to Galesburg for the Silver Streak Invitational on Friday and Saturday this week.

Spartan dynamic duo blast BHRA

Lighting fast swings thundered in St. Joseph earlier today producing a magnificent storm of Spartan home runs against Bismarck-Henning-Rossville-Alvin. SJO batters homered seven times in the 18-8 five inning affair.

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Kennedy Hudson takes a swing at Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley pitch in the Spartans' home season opener. Nine days later, the freshman slugger pounds a home run in SJO's home game against Bismarck-Henning-Rossville-Alvin. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

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The junior dynamic duo of Hannah Dukeman and Bailey Dowling hit two home runs apiece in the slaughter. Dukeman enjoyed a five RBI day, four courtesy of her base clearing grand slam.

Both were one away from joining 63 other players in the IHSA all-time records who have hit three or more home runs in a single softball game.

Home run hitting today was not limited to just the junior class. Freshman Kennedy Hudson as well as sophomore Kaylee Ward made sure the underclassmen were representing in the slugfest with one home run each. Meanwhile Savannah Smith stepped up to pummel a long ball for the senior class.

Raegan Crippen had four hits as the Spartans notch their fifth win to continue their undefeated season.

SJO is scheduled to play their next home game on March 8 against Illini Prairie Central foe Rantoul after a five-plus game road campaign against Maroa-Forsyth, Tri-Valley, Lincoln, Villa Grove and a run for the tournament title at the annual Rantoul Invitational.

Ashtyn Cromwell earned the four-inning win for the Spartans adding four strikeouts to her season total.


Box Score
Bismarck-Henning-Rossville-Alvin   0 5   0 3 0 - -   8 - -
St. Joseph-Ogden . . . . . . . . . . .      1 4 10 1 2 - - 18 - -