Cougars strike early to defeat Monrovia

The North Putnam Cougars opened sectional baseball play on Wednesday night at home against the Monrovia Bulldogs, leaving little doubt in advancing to the second round with a 10-3 victory.

North Putnam will play South Putnam at 10 a.m. Monday in the semifinals, with the winner advancing to the 7 p.m. championship game later that day.

The Cougars, although at home, were the visiting team and wasted no time jumping out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first. North's Duke Duff knocked in Donald Benge with an RBI double and later scored on a wild pitch to put the Cougars up early.

"We told them if we could score a couple of runs early, we could put some pressure on them," North Putnam head coach Brian Jeter said

Monrovia came back early, as the Bulldogs were able to tally two runs of their own in the bottom of the second. The Bulldogs took advantage of a couple of Cougar errors, along with a hit and a sacrifice fly, to tie the game.

After picking up a run in the third, the Cougars broke the game open with a five-run fourth inning.

Daniel Huffman led off the inning with a bunt single. The patient Cougar hitters drew four straight walks, leading to a Max Haste three-run double and North stretched its lead to 8-2.

"We have been in a lot of close games. We were really focused [Monday] night and put up 10 runs on what I thought were two really good pitchers," Jeter said.

The Cougars added their final two runs in the seventh with Benge and Duff getting hits again and a big double by Kyler Jeter.

Monrovia was able to scratch out a run in the bottom of the seventh to set the final margin at 10-3, but the Bulldogs never were able to solve Brayden White's pitching.

The senior right-hander went the distance giving up seven hits and striking out 13 Bulldogs.

"B White was wheeling and dealing tonight. He is one of the best pitchers in the state, not just in our class," Jeter said.

Duff led the Cougar offense with three hits, while Haste had a four-RBI night.

North Putnam 201 500 2 -- 10 9 3

Monrovia 020 000 1 - 3 7 3

WP - White. LP -- DeMott

2B - Jeter (NP) 2, Haste (NP), Duff (NP), Kistler (MHS)