Cougars come back for win over Clovers

North Putnam junior Beau Green came on in relief to give the Cougars six strong innings of work and earn a win over Cloverdale on Thursday. (Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN)

ROACHDALE -- The North Putnam baseball team fell behind in the first inning when Cloverdale senior Cody Carter launched a three-run homer to centerfield, but as they've done all year, the Cougars battled back and came away with a 9-7 win.

Junior Beau Green picked up the win after coming on in relief during the first inning. Green, a lefty, picked off a runner on first base when he entered the game. He lasted 6.1 innings, allowed four runs and struck out five.

"These kids have a remarkable ability to stay together and continue to fight," NPHS coach Phil Webster said. "They keep fighting and each time they (come back) they get just a little bit better, cohesively, as a team.

"I'm really pleased they stay together like that."

North Putnam (8-1-1, 5-0 WCC) now has a 1.5-game lead over Cloverdale (8-3, 6-2 WCC) in the West Central Conference.

Senior Jake Haste got the start for North Putnam but got off to a rough start. After striking out senior Justin Wilson to start the game, Haste plunked the next batter.

Austin Mannan reached base when a pop fly fell untouched in the infield, then Cody Carter teed off.

"Those guys on the top of the order, mostly seniors and a junior, have been great all season," Cloverdale coach Brian Archer said. "They know to have quality at bats, they know how to sit and wait for their pitch and that's what kept us in this game."

Haste lost control of the next pitch and hit junior Tyler Carter. Webster made the quick decision to rest Haste and have him back, fully rested, for next week.

"Beau was supposed to start on Saturday," Webster said. "I thought if I'm going to make a move, I'd better make it here in the first inning so I don't waste a pitcher and I can bring Jake back. We have some pretty important games coming up."

Green picked off Tyler Carter, then got junior Kade Schroer to ground out.

North Putnam started to battle back in the bottom of the first. Senior Brody Perrine led of with a walk, then Michael Herrmann doubled.

Singles from Kyler Badten and Haste scored the two and Cloverdale's pitcher, freshman Brayden White, had runners on first and second with nobody out.

White battled back with poise beyond his experience and struck out three of the next four hitters, allowing no further damage.

The game seemed headed down an offensive path when Badten, who'd tripled in the second, scored to tie the game at 4-all, but the pitchers found a rhythm.

Mannan finally broke the tie in the fifth when he hit a one-out, two-run home run. Cody Carter followed with a double and though Green looked tired, he gutted out the rest of the inning with no further damage.

Senior Justin Wilson, who came on in relief of White to start the fourth, gave up one run in the fifth but worked his way out of trouble. Badten, locked in all game, helped the Cougars figure Wilson out in the sixth.

Badten led off with a single, then singles from Haste, Jordan Nauert, Coy Flynn and Beau Green followed. Wilson struck out three in the inning, and six in the game, but allowed five runs.

Cloverdale entered the top of the seventh trailing 9-6.

Senior Will Andersen drew a leadoff walk from Green, bringing Mannan back to the plate. Green challenged him with an outside curveball and Mannan crushed a high fly ball to deep left field.

A similar shot carried over the fence in his previous at bat, but this time it got stuffed by the wind and junior Coy Flynn hauled it in.

Cody Carter singled and Andersen scored on an error, but Green struck out Tyler Carter to cease the momentum.

Badten came in to pitch the final out and helped North Putnam to a two-game WCC lead.

"We made some really nice plays tonight," Webster said. "I'm really pleased with where we are right now. ... I'll feel better if we can get through Cascade twice (next week)."

The Cougars will continue a busy stretch at Tri-West on Friday at 5 p.m., then at Lebanon on Saturday, then play Cascade on Monday and Tuesday.

Cloverdale plays at Union on Saturday at 10 a.m.

"When you play a talented team like North Put. you know it's a long game," Archer said. "I thought our pitchers threw great pitches tonight. All of our guys were throwing a lot of strikes and getting ahead. You've got to give North Put. credit. They were putting the bat on the ball and made things happen."

Cloverdale senior Cody Carter swings for the fences in the first inning against North Putnam on Thursday. (Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN)

At North Putnam
Cloverdale...............310 020 1 -- 7 8 4 5
North Putnam..........220 014 x -- 9 10 2 11