The Sentinel: Photo Gallery

SJO baseball lands spot in 2A championship game

Scoring two quick runs in the bottom of the first inning, St. Joseph-Ogden never had to look over their shoulder on the way to their first state title game since 2017. Here are a few photos from Friday night game. Click on the photos to see a larger view.

SJO's Finn Miller and Trevor Ames head to the dugout to celebrate their team's vistory

Logan Rosenthal slides in at home plate for first run of the game

Asher Pruemer tosses a pitch for St. Joseph-Ogden

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St. Joseph-Ogden centerfielder bats at state softball

St. Joseph-Ogden's Sarah Thompson starts her swing at a pitch from Westmont's Michelle Hletko in their Class 1A state semifinal game at Eastside Centre. The Spartans won the opener 1-0, knocking off the #2-ranked team in the state. Thompson secured one hit in her three appearances at the plate. The senior collected 47 hits and scored 26 times in the 36 games she played in the 2005-06 season.

Taylor Freeman takes a swing at a Westmont pitch. Freeman, who played at shortstop, struck out once and earned a walk on second trip to the plate. Heading into the state finals, the junior led the team with 57 hits and scored 31 times during the season.

St. Joseph-Ogden student fans and athletes traveled to Peoria to support the softball team

Nearly 200 St. Joseph-Ogden students and parents traveled to Eastside Centre to support the softball team's quest for the program's first state title. Later, the Spartan nation was not disappointed. [Left to right] Ryan Bensyl, Nick Krisman, Mark Gones, and Jesse Grice St. are all juniors at Joseph-Ogden ham it up between innings from their hilltop seats.

Jessica Redden and the Spartans celebrate their semifinal softball win in 2006.

Jessica Redden and the 2006 Spartan softball team celebrate their 1-0 semifinal victory over Westmont. SJO scored one run on three hits to punch their ticket into the Class 1A title game against #1-ranked Casey-Westfield.

Taylor Freeman fields a ball while playing at shortstop

Taylor Freeman fields a ball while a Westmont baserunner attempts to take third base.

Brittany Morgan swings at Westmont pitch at state semifinal game

Spartans' Brittany Morgan swings at Westmont pitch. The junior smacked the ball for a single that drove in the game-winning run in the first inning courtesy of teammate Abby William.

St. Joseph-Ogden's Emily Benting smiles at the dugout while waiting for the next pitch

Emily Benting flashes a smile at the chants from her dugout while waiting for her next pitch from Westmont pitcher Michelle Hletko.

Stacy Buck, Morgan Brown, and Ashley Runck sing the school fight song after the Spartans' state semifinal game.

(left-right) Stacy Buck, Ashley Runck, Morgan Brown and Brittany Morgan sing the school song with St. Joseph-Ogden fans and spectators after the team's 1-0 state semifinal victory on June 3, 2006.

SJO fan cheers for her daughter's team at state softball tournament

St. Joseph resident and mother of outfielder Sarah Thompson cheers on the Spartans during their semi-final game against Westmont. St. Joseph-Ogden advanced to the championship game at 7 p.m. to face Casey-Westfield for the Class A softball title after 1-0 win over the Sentenials. Earlier in the season, the #1 ranked Warriors defeated SJO 1-0 and 7-3.

SJO catcher Brittany Morgan tosses the ball back to the pitcher late in the game. Earlier in the game, Morgan, who led the team with three home runs during the season, drove in the game winning run on a single.

St. Joseph-Ogden shortstop Taylor Freeman is introduced to softball fans

Spartans' Taylor Freeman taps a teammates hands during team introductions before the start of the Class 1A state title game against Casey-Westfield. Heading into the state finals, Freeman led the team with 57 hits in her 117 appearances at the plate.

Ashley Runck tries to make a catch during pre-game warm-up before SJO's title game against Casey-Westfield.

St. Joseph-Ogden's Stacy Ferguson makes a play at second base.

Stacy Ferguson tries to tag out a Casey-Westfield baserunner early in her team state title game against the Warriors.

St. Joseph-Ogden's Brittany Morgan blocks a bad pitch in state title game.

Brittany Morgan blocks a bad pitch. The senior collected one of SJO's six hits against Casey-Westfield.

Stacy Buck takes a huge swing at Casey-Westfield pitch

Stacy Buck puts the ball in play. Heading into the title game, she supplied SJO with more than 45 hits during the season and delivered six doubles, a triple and three home runs. Buck added another hit in the title game to her season stats.

More photos coming soon! Check back again in two days.

Wayback Wednesday |

Lady Spartan Classic 2004

Three seniors, one final home meet and a wonderful spring day. The Lady Spartan Classic brought together top area track and field athletes on May 7, 2004, at St. Joseph-Ogden High School. Under clear skies, competitors raced, jumped and threw for podium finishes.

ST. JOSEPH - Step back to a picture-perfect evening at St. Joseph-Ogden High School, where the Lady Spartan Classic brought together some of the area’s top track and field talent on May 7, 2004. Under clear, sunny skies, athletes from across the region competed for podium spots in a full slate of events, from sprints and hurdles to throws and distance races. The meet also marked senior night for three Spartans, adding a meaningful sendoff to their final home appearance.

This Wayback Wednesday gallery revisits 12 moments from a day defined by fierce small-school competition, athleticism and perfect conditions for a high school track meet. Participating schools included the host, St. Joseph-Ogden, Unity, Tuscola, Deland-Weldon, Fisher, Monticello, Argenta-Oreana, East Central, Bloomington Central Catholic, St. Thomas More, and Schlarman.

Photo Gallery |

Unity softball team defeats Oakwood at home

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

TOLONO - Danika Eisenmenger gives Shelby Smith a high-five before the start of the third inning in the Rockets' home game against Oakwood. Eisenmenger earned the win, helping Unity defeat the Comets 9-0. She finished game 1-for-2 at bat with two RBI. Here are more photos from last weeks game at Unity High School.