North Putnam baseball moves to Tuesday's sectional championship game

North Putnam senior Brody Perrine catches a fly ball in centerfield during the sectional semifinal game against Lebanon on Monday afternoon. The Cougars won and will play in the sectional championship at North Montgomery High School at 7 p.m.

*** ***Update*** The Championship game has been postponed until Tuesday at 6 p.m.

CRAWFORDSVILLE -- North Putnam advanced to the championship game of the IHSAA Class 3A Sectional No. 25 after beating Lebanon 6-1 on Monday.

Jake Haste pitched the complete game, giving up only four hits and a solo home run in the sixth inning to account for the Tigers' only run. Haste struck out nine, allowed one walk and hit two batters on 112 pitches.

Haste also opened the scoring for North Putnam in the second inning by leading off the inning with a walk and, with the hit-and-run on, came home on Kaleb Belcher's double.

The Cougars came back in the third inning to score four times.

Kyler Badten reached base on an error and moved to third on a Brody Perrine double that hung up and stayed just inside the left field line.

Michael Herrmann walked and with Haste at the plate, Lebanon starter Travis Herrin threw wide, allowing Badten to score.

Haste singled to drive in two and moved to second on another passed ball. Haste stole third on a 3-2 to count to Beau Green and scored on the ensuing throwing error by Tiger catcher Ryan Reese.

Badten singled to start the fifth and scored later in the inning on a Belcher sac fly.

Reese hit his solo shot off of Haste to lead off the sixth inning but Lebanon could not muster any other scoring threat.

North Putnam will play the winner of the second game between Crawfordsville and Southmont at 7 p.m. 6 p.m. on Tuesday at North Montgomery High School.

At North Montgomery
IHSAA Class 3A Sectional No. 25