ST. JOSEPH, Ill. (WCIA) — With the season drawing to a close, St. Joseph-Ogden’s head baseball coach, Josh Haley, takes a reflective pause during the national anthem. He cherishes these final games with a senior class that has propelled the Spartans to the state tournament for the first time in nearly a decade.
“Since the start of the postseason, I’ve made it a habit to savor these moments,” Haley shared. “We never know when our journey will end, so I’m grateful to experience it with these players as long as possible.”
Josh’s son, Will, has been immersed in the SJO baseball culture from a young age, fueling his passion for the game.
“Growing up around the team really influenced me, but it was never something I felt pressured to do,” Will explained. “I just found a love for it naturally, so I decided to play.”
Will continues the family tradition by playing as a catcher. His teammates admire his willingness to take one for the team, never shying away from a hit by pitch.
“He gets hit, and he just shakes it off and stays in there, and I mean, he gets hit every day,” senior first basemen Bryson Houches said. “He’s always on the ground getting dirty, never has a clean uniform, just like the grit he has is just awesome.”
“He’s always done all the dirty work, I guess,” senior pitcher and outfielder Parker Fitch said. “When we were ten, he got trucked by somebody, and he held in there and stayed in there and took it like a champ.”
This team’s grit and toughness helped them outlast Unity in extra innings in the sectional title along the road to the 2A final four.
The Spartans hope to win the program’s first-ever state title.
“We’re just looking forward to having that chance to compete for a state championship; it’s so hard to advance,” Josh said. “This group earned it, they deserve it, and I just think it just takes a special group to try to do it each and every day.”
SJO’s state journey at Illinois Field gets underway on Friday, June 12, against Ottawa Marquette.