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Kendall throws no-hitter against Tiger Cubs
ROACHDALE -- The bitter weather from this year's winter just won't go away and Putnam County baseball players just can't escape the cold. Thursday night Greencastle and North Putnam toughed out the elements and the Cougars won big in Roachdale 15-1.
A lot of runs from North Putnam early and a no-hitter from Jack Kendall allowed NPHS the win in five innings.
"We told Jack when he got to 65 pitches we were going to pull him. But when he got up to 71, he kind of threatened me," Cougar coach Brian Jeter said jokingly. "He knew at that point he was going to get this. He wanted his no hitter. He earned it."
In the first two innings the Cougars took advantage of some good hitting and a few Greencastle errors to jump to a 10-0 ;ead.
Brayden White and Kyler Jeter hit doubles in the first. They both scored as well as Duke Duff, Bobby Scheele and Kendall. Jeter earned two RBIs and Max Haste recorded one as well.
"We made less mistakes then they did," Jeter said. "The score makes it look a little worse than it was. They just had a lot of mistakes at the beginning. Maybe it was the wind of weather. (GHS) is a young team, but I don't want it to take away from anything we did. But coach Remsburg is a good coach. They just have to settle in."
North followed the five-run inning with another one in the second. Haste, Kendall, Jeter and Kaine Benge all earned singles with Haste, Benge and Trae Strazicar earning RBIs. All five runs happened after the first two outs.
"I would like to us quit making mistakes," Remsburg said. "We gave them probably eight runs with two outs tonight. I know it's cold. It's cold for them too. How many pop flys were out in the outfield and we didn't make a play?"
The third inning was bug for North Putnam as well. Duff got the Cougars started with a triple, two walks then loaded the bases and Haste drilled a pitch to the outfield for a triple scoring the three runners with two outs. Haste also scored on an error.
Kendall's pitching didn't make things easy for the Tiger Cubs either. The junior pitched all five innings and held GHS scoreless until the fourth inning, when an errant throw to first allowed Brandon Workman on base for the Cougars.
Two fielder's choice outs allowed him to third and then a sacrifice fly from Daniel Wilson scored him. The run by Workman was the only one scored by the Tiger Cubs as Kendall went three up-and-three down three times in the game.
"Everything was pretty much working," Kendall said. "I was just dialed in all game. We got up in the first inning and I just kept them down. The curveball was loose in the first inning but we got it dialed in the second inning. Coach (Jon) Pickett gave me some advice and it all worked out."
Jeter scored North Putnam's final run on a passed ball and in the fifth inning it was up to Kendall to close out his no-hitter.
"It feels like I'm the only one out there," Kendall said. "I'm just having a good time. All I see is the catcher while I'm throwing them by him."
Kendall struck out two swinging and then the final batter popped up a pitch that was chased down by White to end the game.
"We're not hitting the ball," Remsburg said. "You are not going to win if you don't get a hit. I know we are young."
Greencastle's (0-2) next game is Tuesday against West Vigo and North Putnam (3-0) will next play Friday at Cloverdale.
Greencastle 000 10 -- 1 0 6
N. Putnam 554 1 - -- 15 10 4
WP: Kendall
1B: Jeter, Kendall, Benge (2), Haste, Strazicar, 2B: White, Jeter 3B: Duff, Haste
RBI: Strazicar (2), Haste (5), Benge, Jeter (2),