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COUNTY BASEBALL: Greencastle puts things together to win county championship
Greencastle entered Saturday’s Putnam County baseball tournament looking for something to turn things around.
The Tiger Cubs had a record of 5-14, which had included 10 losses by the 10-run rule — including a streak of five straight outings.
The youthful Cubs — with four freshmen in their starting lineup, including three of their first five batters — grew up a lot on Saturday and knocked off North Putnam and Cloverdale to capture the county title.
Greencastle coach Ben Wells was ecstatic, to say the least.
“We as a coaching staff have been telling these guys that wins were coming, and that we were going to peak at the right time,” he said. “We have seen a tremendous amount of improvement and progress being made, but we just had not put together some complete games. It was great to see it all come together on Saturday, and for our seniors to go out as county champs.”
The Tiger Cubs barely escaped their semifinal round game against North Putnam, scoring three times in the top of the seventh to record a 5-3, comeback win.
“Overall this was a great game,” Wells said. “Coach [Brian] Jeter did a great job getting his guys up and ready to play, and Hayden Rudes pitched a great game for them. We were not very selective at the plate and really had some bad at-bats which culminated in 11 strikeouts.”
North Putnam got on the board first in the third inning, as Jalen Berry walked, went to second on a passed ball and scored on a Rudes single. Evan Davies was then hit by a pitch, and Kolten Thorson drove home both runners with a single.
Greencastle got its first run in the fourth as Nick Sutherlin singled and scored on a Gus Manion double.
The Cubs cut the deficit to 3-2 in the fifth as Sutherlin walked, went to third on an Ethan Maier double and scored on an error.
Rudes pitched six strong innings for the Cougars but was relieved for the last inning. Jordan Meyer reached on an infield error, and went to second as Jacob Harris walked.
Brody Whitaker then missed two bunt attempts, but followed with a sharp single up the middle to score pinch-runner Tanner Sanders.
One out later, Manion scored Harris with an infield grounder and Manion followed with a single to provide an insurance run.
“We had runners on first and second a couple of times with no outs and could not come up with the big hit when we needed it until the seventh,” Wells said. “Jordan Meyer did a great job hustling down the line to get things started for us. Luckily we got a great pitching performance from Nick Sutherlin who gave us six great innings on the mound to keep us close.
“Nick did a great job of working in the zone and letting the defense play behind him,” Wells added. “Our defense has really been showing some signs of turning the corner and we played a really clean game behind Nick.”
Besides getting the game-winning RBI, Manion came on in relief of Sutherlin in the seventh and held the Cougars scoreless — including getting a game-winning strikeout with the bases loaded.
“It is exactly the type of performance that I would have expected from a senior,” Wells said. “He came in, pitched well and closed the game down. The moment was never too big for him, which shows the type of player and kid he is.
“Overall I can’t say enough about the grit and determination of this team,” Wells added. “To be down the entire game, and never give in says a lot about the group that we have. Never for a moment did they give up or get down and that is something as a coach you love to see from your team.”
The Cubs moved into the championship game against Cloverdale, which had edged South Putnam 4-2 in the day’s first game.
Greencastle took control early with two runs in the second on an RBI single by Meyer and a run-scoring double by Harris.
The Cubs added three more in the fourth, pounding out 13 hits on their way to a 9-4 victory. Maier tripled in the third and scored on an Abe Wade single, while Harris had a two-run single.
Whitaker had an RBI single in the fifth and Manion had an RBI sacrifice fly.
Cloverdale got an RBI single from Nick Winders in the third inning and a two-run single from T.J. Hagymasi in the fourth.
Wells was glad to see his team improve its production at the plate.
“This is more what I feel like our offense is capable of,” he said. “Brody Whitaker, Abe Wade and Jacob Harris came through in a big way for us at the plate which allowed us to put constant pressure on Cloverdale, which was great to see in such a big game.
“Alex Costin had two great bunts that moved the runners into scoring situations and one where we squeezed a run in from third,” Wells added. “This was also the first time all year where we came through with some big two-out hits that allowed us to plate some runs and keep a safe lead. These are the types of things that I have felt this team was capable of, and I am glad to see it come through in such a big game. “
Wells noted that starting pitcher Sanders did not have his usual accuracy, but was able to record the win with help from reliever Brandon Glaze.
“Tanner is a grinder and did what we needed him to do,” he said. “What can you say about the two innings that Brandon Glaze gave us. To come in and face six batters and get six Ks says a lot about the type of stuff he has.“
Winders had two singles for the Clovers and Hagymasi paced the way with two RBI.
Whitaker had a double and two singles with one RBI for the Cubs, while Harris had a double, two singles and three RBI, Wade had a triple and two singles with one RBI and two runs scored.
In other semifinal action:
• Cloverdale 4, South Putnam 2 — The Clovers took a 3-0 lead with single runs in the first, third and fourth innings, but the Eagles were able to hold them off and challenge to the end.
In the first inning, Parker Watts walked and went to third on a Hagymasi single. He eventually scored on a double play.
Zach Nees doubled to open the third, advanced on a passed ball and scored on an error. In the fourth, Bryce Blevins walked, went to third on a single by Jack Havenor and scored on a Nees single.
The Clovers added their final run in the sixth as Blevins walked, stole second, went to third on a groundout and scored on a fielder’s choice.
South Putnam left the bases loaded in the first inning and stranded two runners in the third, but was finally able to get on the board in the fourth as Jackson Wood tripled and scored as Devin Cashion grounded out.
South Putnam stranded two more runners in the sixth, but Cashion led off the seventh inning with a triple and scored on a groundout by Dawson Cash.
Watts pitched the entire game for Cloverdale, allowing just four hits and striking out 11 batters. He walked just two.
South Putnam pitchers Hunter Croan, Jon Hodge and Wood combined to allow just six hits and struck out seven batters.
First semifinal game
Cloverdale 101 101 0 — 4 6 0
South Putnam 000 100 1 — 2 4 2
WP — Watts. LP — Croan.
Second semifinal game
Greencastle 000 101 3 — 5 6 3
North Putnam 003 000 0 — 3 5 2
WP — Manion. LP — Rader.
Championship game
Cloverdale 001 300 0 — 4 6 3
Greencastle 023 220 x — 9 13 0
WP — Sanders. LP — Winders.