NP middle school wins

For the second game in a row, the North Putnam middle school baseball team used a big inning to help propel itself to a 16-6 victory against the Plainfield eighth grade team Tuesday. Trailing 4-3 in the top of the third inning, the Cougars scored seven runs to take an 11-4 lead and never looked back.

Eighth graders Brandon Kimmel and Jerry Shepherd each doubled in the third inning and led the team with a pair of hits each in the game. Shepherd recorded two hits, two walks, two stolen bases and scored four times in the game. Kimmel, who was the only other Cougar with two hits, also picked up the win on the mound. He pitched three innings and struck out four.

Seventh grader Kyler Badten also pitched three innings and finished with a game high five strikeouts. Eighth grader Tyler Simmons pitched the seventh inning for the Cougars.

Seventh graders Jaron Berry and Brian Quates each collected one hit for North.

The Cougars (2-0) return to action on Saturday for a doubleheader in Danville at 10:30 a.m.