Storm's Macie Russell to further running career at EIU

Salt Fork's Macie Russell run the second lap around Detweiller Park in Peoria during the 2024 IHSA State Cross Country Meet. The senior signed her National Letter of Intent to continue her running career with Eastern Illinois University.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

CATLIN - Salt Fork senior Macie Russell, a five-sport athlete during her time at Salt Fork High School, inked her commitment to run track at Eastern Illinois University on Sunday. The three-time state qualifier in the 800-meter run chose EIU over Heartland Community College, Indiana State, and Olivet Nazarene.

Macie Russell runs a lap at O'Brien Stadium during the 2023 state track meet. She finished 27th overall as a junior in the Class 1A division.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
Russell, who owns five Vermilion County championship titles in track and cross country and six conference titles in the two other sports, looks to qualify a fourth time in her specialty for the IHSA Girls' State Track & Field finals in May.

During her junior year track season, she qualified for state in the 800-meter run and the mile. Russell missed the cut for a spot in the championship race at O'Brien Stadium by a mere two and a half seconds last May, turning in a 2:25.94. She also ran the qualifier for the 1600-meter run, finishing 27th in the prelims at 5:39.82.

At the state cross-country meet last November at Detweiler Park, Russell crossed the finish line 47th out of a field of 247 runners with a time of 18:49.51.

Russell is the daughter of Brian and Becky and has two siblings, Mackenzie and Morgan.


Spartan softball team wins first game of the season

Over one hundred St. Joseph-Ogden softball fans filled the stands and the fence line at Randy Wolken Field to watch the Spartans win their first game at the newly renovated softball facility. See more photos from season opener here ...
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

ST. JOSEPH - Grace Osterbur had a stellar performance in the Spartans' first win of the season against Salt Fork last Monday, collecting three hits and scoring twice in four at-bats.

The Storm put a tick on the scoreboard in the first inning after Alexa Jamison scored on a walk with bases loaded and two outs.

Facing Sailor Pacot from the circle, SJO pitcher Ameilia Huckstadt prevailed on a 2-2 count to halt further Salt Fork runs.

SJO's Grace Osterbur slides into home plate after tagging up on a ball to deep left field.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
The Spartans replied quickly with Osterbur getting things rolling after making it on base with a fly ball to left field. She would later score to tie the game at one-all thanks to a line drive to left field by Ellie Ward.

After shutting down the Storm's offensive effort in the top of the second inning, SJO added runs on a steal from third by Timera Blackburn-Kelley, and another run from Addison Frick's smash out to left field that scored Chloe Harper from third.

Harper finished the game with two hits and a pair of stolen bases.

The Storm scored two additional runs in the third and sixth innings but were unable to mount a comeback against SJO, who maintained a one-run or better lead on a beautiful spring day at Randy Wolken Field.

"It feels good to get the win, though it didn't play out the way the girls thought," said head coach Larry Sparks, who notched his 100th win as the head coach for SJO. "It was kind of an ugly win."

St. Joseph-Ogden scored six runs on 12 hits and committed no errors. Huckstadt earned the win after striking out nine. The sophomore hurler gave up seven hits and two runs. Blackburn-Kelley, also a sophomore, pitched two innings, retiring six batters at the plate and giving up a run on two hits.

"The pitchers threw well. The hitters will have their day next week," Sparks said. The Spartans have four games on the schedule this week, starting with Normal West on Monday and finishing up on Saturday at IVC, both road contests. "It was nice to face someone who wasn't wearing our colors."

Spartan fans can catch two home games, Tuesday against Westville and Thursday with Champaign Central, at beautifully remodeled Randy Wolken Field.

The Storm's season continues with a grueling back-to-back-to-back schedule this week, starting with a Vermilion Valley conference game against Oakwood on Monday. Tuesday, the Salt Fork is at Watseka, and back at home on Wednesday against Tri-County.

Jamison led Salt Fork with three hits and collected one of three RBI. Brilynn Barnett tallied two hits and scored once. Freshman Morgan Russell, Ava Ringstrom, Karlie McGee, and Pascot had one hit each in the team's first loss of the season.


St. Joe-Ogden Athletics

Spartans win opener at Randy Wolken Field

St. Joseph-Ogden softball team with Larry Sparks
ST. JOSEPH - Members of the St. Joseph-Ogden softball team pose at home plate with head coach Larry Sparks after their home opener with Salt Fork on their newly remodeled field on Tuesday. The Spartans won their first game on Randy Wolken Field and treated Sparks to his 100th coaching victory with the win over Storm, 6-3. SJO will take the field at their gorgeous new facility again next Tuesday after a road game against Normal West on Monday.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

St. Joe-Ogden Athletics

2024 Vermilion Valley All-Conference Team announced this week

VVC All-Conference Teams
Oakwood - Senior Jaydah Arrowsmith, along with Salt Fork duo Alexa Jamison and Macie Russell, received first-team selection by Vermilion Valley Conference coaches this week. Arrowsmith, who dropped 32 points against Hoopeston Area in their game back in February, was the lone Oakwood player earning first-team honors. Haven Meyer from Watseka and Cissna Park's Addison Luchts rounded out the roster for the conference's top team.

Below is the complete list of players and the schools they represented in the 2023-24 season.


VERMILION VALLEY CONFERENCE

All-Conference Teams
First Team

Addison Lucht
Sophomore • Cissna Park

Jaydah Arrowsmith
Senior • Oakwood

Alexa Jamison
Junior • Salt Fork

Macie Russell
Senior • Salt Fork

Haven Meyer
Senior • Watseka


Second Team

Lauryn Hamrick
Sophomore • Cissna Park

Kendall Roberts
Senior • Georgetown-Ridge Farm

Claire Dixon
Junior • Hoopeston

Hunter Mowrey
Senior • Milford

Megan Martin
Junior • Watseka

3rd Team:

Marleigh Schmitt, Sr. Bismarck-Henning Rossville Alvin; Sophie Duis, So. Cissna Park; Addison Spesard, Jr. GRHS; Maddie Barnes, Jr. Hoopeston; and Amelia Scharp, So. Iroquois West.


Honorable Mention:

Elle Jameson, Fr. (Armstrong); Ella Myers, Sr. (BHRA); Olivia Radke, Sr. (Chrisman); Josie Neukomm, So. (CP); Madi Spesard, Fr. (GRHS); Brylie Cox, Jr, (HOOP); Ilyana Nambo, Sr. (IW); Kami Muehling, Fr. (Milford); Nikita Taylor, Sr. (OAK); Brycie Hird, So. (SF); Addison Forsyth, Fr. (Schlarman); Jasmine Essington, Sr. (WAT); and Lani Gondzur, Jr (WEST).




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