St. Joseph-Ogden earned a return trip to the IHSA Class 2A state finals weekend with a 9-0 victory over Williamsville and now stands two wins from the program's first state championship.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
Ten years ago, St. Joseph-Ogden baseball coach Josh Haley (right) led the Spartans to their first state finals appearance. Now, with his son Will a senior on the roster, the Haleys are looking to help deliver the program’s first state championship this weekend.
by Sentinel News Service
OurSentinel.com
SPRINGFIELD - For the third time under coach Josh Haley, the St. Joseph-Ogden baseball team is headed to the state's final weekend.
This trip comes with a unique advantage.
Instead of spending the night in a hotel, the Spartans will sleep in their own beds before taking the field Friday evening less than 12 miles from campus.
St. Joseph-Ogden punched its ticket to the IHSA Class 2A state semifinals Monday with a commanding 9-0 victory over Williamsville in the Springfield Supersectional. The Spartans improved to 37-2 and will face defending Class 1A state champion Ottawa Marquette at 7 p.m. Friday at Illinois Field in Champaign.
For St. Joseph-Ogden, however, the opportunity is clear.
After two runner-up finishes and years of postseason success under Haley, the Spartans are two wins away from bringing home the first state baseball championship in school history.
The appearance marks the third state-final trip for SJO under Haley. The Spartans previously reached the final four in 2016 and 2017, finishing as Class 2A runners-up both seasons.
Against Williamsville, St. Joseph-Ogden wasted little time establishing control.
Senior Logan Rosenthal sparked the offense with three hits and three runs scored in four plate appearances. Rosenthal scored the game's first run when Bryson Houchens lined a single to left field in the opening inning.
That run proved more than enough support for Spartan starter Parker Fitch.
Fitch was dominant throughout his seven-inning outing, scattering three hits while recording the shutout. The senior kept Williamsville off balance all afternoon and never allowed the Bullets to generate sustained offensive pressure.
Meanwhile, the Spartans continued to add insurance.
Will Haley drove in four runs despite collecting just one hit in three official at-bats. Houchens added two RBIs, while Finn Miller and Trevor Ames each contributed two hits as part of an 11-hit offensive attack.
St. Joseph-Ogden scored in five of the seven innings it batted.
The Spartans built an 8-0 lead before Houchens delivered a sacrifice fly to left field that brought home Asher Pruemer. In the seventh inning, Haley added another RBI with a sacrifice fly to left, allowing Logan Rosenthal to score the game's final run.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
Cam Schluter takes a couple of lead-off steps in SJO's home game against Rantoul. Like his older brother Aaron from the 2016, he will be a member of a St. Joseph-Ogden state finalist baseball team.
Williamsville pitcher Gage Ratliff suffered the loss. The Bullets finished their season 18-15 after allowing 11 hits.
Tuesday's outcome continued a recent trend between the programs. Since 2023, Williamsville has faced St. Joseph-Ogden four times and has been outscored 23-2 in those meetings.
The challenge awaiting the Spartans will be considerably tougher.
Ottawa Marquette enters the semifinal round as the defending Class 1A state champion. The Crusaders have established one of the state's most successful postseason traditions, capturing three state championships since 1999 while also earning one third-place and two fourth-place state finishes.
TAGS: St. Joseph-Ogden baseball, IHSA Class 2A state semifinals, Josh Haley, Parker Fitch, Logan Rosenthal, Springfield Supersectional, Ottawa Marquette, Illinois high school baseball
