CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WAND) - Behind a dominant offensive effort that has persisted throughout the entire 2026 campaign, the St. Joseph-Ogden baseball team capped off their season by clinching it's first IHSA state title Saturday night.

The Spartans met with Harvest-Westminster in the class 2A championship at Illinois Field, topping their foes 15-1 in 5 innings.

"Our community is so special," said Head Coach Josh Haley following the game. "The support from the student section, their friends that aren't a part of the baseball team but are here. There's so much support from them, for everyone. It's not just our baseball team. This is a moment that, not just these guys, but our entire SJO community is gonna remember for years to come."

St. Joes has long awaited raising the top prize in Illinois high school baseball. In 2016 and '17, the team finished as runners-up. While admirable finishes, the program has been longing to finish at the top. Now, they have.

"It means the world," said first baseman Bryson Houchens. "Being around these guys for 10-plus years and playing baseball for 10-plus years, it means the world to be able to win 40 games and to be able to win a state championship."

The Spartans end their season with a record of 40 wins and just 2 losses.

In front of a large crowd comprised of many SJO fans, families, and students, the team wasted no time getting on the scoreboard.

St. Joes opened the game with 6 runs in the first inning, including a pair of RBI doubles, with each batter seemingly feeding off the production of the previous.

The following inning, Houchens in his second plate appearance with a 2-run home run that cleared the left field wall of 330-feet. 

In the third frame, situational with runners in scoring position helped extend the advantage into mercy territory. A tally of 5 runs lifted SJO to a 13-0 advantage before their opponents had made any offensive threat.

While Harvest managed to bring across a score in the top half of the 4th off a Spartan error, St. Joe's answered back with another pair of runs. Recording the final 3 outs of the game in the top of the 5th, SJO completed the game via mercy rule, enabling them to raise their first title trophy.

Following the game, players met the students who lined the wall along the third base line and sang the school fight song, before rushing onto the field in a pile to celebrate.

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