Tiger Cubs win close opening game of the Putnam County Classic

Monday, May 17, 2010

In the first game of the Putnam County Classic baseball tournament, Greencastle edged South Putnam 3-2. The pitcher's duel saw 20 combined strike outs between the Tiger Cubs' Keegan Remsburg and the Eagles' Grant Zimmerman.

Greencastle, the visiting team in the first contest, struck in the top of the third when Jesse Vermillion scored on a throwing error to first base. Pat Richardson, the batter on the play, would later score on a two out double by DH Hunter Mitchell.

South Putnam responded in the bottom half of the inning. Aaron Parker was hit by a pitch, Drew Cash walked and back-to-back singles by Zimmerman and Brayden Freeman knotted the score at two apiece.

The Tiger Cubs snared the final run in the top of the fifth. Andy Bell singled and advanced to second on a Vermillion groundout. A throwing error at the next at bat allowed Bell to scamper home and Remsburg was able to hold Eagle first baseman Derek Dean at third in the seventh to seal the win.

In the loss, Zimmerman stuck out twelve batters, while only walking two and allowing four hits. Remsburg fanned eight, while giving up two hits and two walks.

Greencastle coach Troy Remsburg knew his team had been tested early.

"We knew it was going to be a battle. Two good pitchers threw a good game and in the end we came out on top," Remsburg said. "We hit Zimmerman hard on Monday, but didn't hit him today. He came back well but we got the key hits to get the lead and didn't give up."

"We quit playing Monday and struggled late against them. We've had problems playing five innings instead of seven innings, but today we played it all the way through."

At Greencastle

Greencastle 002 010 0 - 3 4 1

South Putnam 002 000 0 - 2 3 5

WP - Remsburg (CG, 2 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 8 K)

LP - Zimmerman (CG, 4 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 12 K)