St. Joseph-Ogden baseball trusting in process & tradition through mid-season success

ST. JOSEPH, Ill. (WAND) - The last time St. Joseph-Ogden appeared at the baseball state finals, the Spartans of today were merely toddlers.

SJO finished as state runners-up in both 2016 and 2017. Under head coach Josh Haley, the Spartans have won more than 81-percent of their games. However, since those trips to the championship game, the team has managed only 1 sectional title despite their impressive overall record.

Could 2026 prove to be a different story? The Spartans think so.

"Just taking it one game at a time," says senior catcher Will Haley. "Just play our game. Don't get too into the hype. With this group of guys, no matter where we're at, we're practicing, we're working, we're giving it our all with everything we do."

St. Joe's roster is comprised of 9 seniors, 5 of whom have been starting for the past 3 seasons. As a whole, the Spartans have 6 players already committed to play baseball in college. As a result, Coach Haley says it's enabled the team's leaders to worry about the "name on the front" rather than split concerns between the present and their futures.

"They keep each other accountable," the 14th year head coach says. "[The coaches] are there in the background. We're not coaching energy and effort out here. They take care of that. It's from being around at a young age. All these guys, from our camps and junior high programs that had success, travel programs that had success. So, when you have that standard that they're used to, it's easy to do."

The Spartans have been tested few times this season. Despite opening the season with a loss to Columbia, SJO rattled off a streak of 22-straight victories before falling to conference foe Unity. Through their winning stretch, the average margin of victory exceeded 8 runs for St. Joseph-Ogden. Players say their goal offensively is to score at least 7 runs per game, while playing sound defensively to limit opponents.

"We changed some things we were charting offensively this year," Coach Haley says. "So they understand that and they really aspire and they really understand what we're trying to do as a club."

SJO's winning ways of today can be tied back to their 2nd place finishes a decade ago. There's an expectation when young ballplayers step on the diamond at Meier Field that they do so with an open mind, eager to learn and improve.

"The first time I kind of realized, like, 'Hey, this is it's going to be difficult to play like you got to actually prove yourself here,'" senior pitcher Asher Pruemer says. "You can't just look around and just be around and just be there. When you want to be there, you've got to always be there and be someone that is trustworthy, and you're always one that somebody can count on you to do the job when it's needed."

Staying present in the moment and understanding responsibility is a core value at the center of St. Joseph's baseball culture. While winning is important, development and growth are the focus of the program.

"In baseball and in high school you can never put a class back together or a season back together," Coach Haley adds. "So it's like, 'All right, we're just going to focus on, on this season.' All that matters is just in front of us - giving them really the opportunity to have the most opportunity they can to advance and be remembered."