Putnam County Baseball Tournament: Tiger Cubs, Cougars complete run-rule wins over Clovers, Eagles

BAINBRIDGE – Both of the early games at the Putnam County Baseball Tournament turned into run-rule affairs as North Putnam and Greencastle advanced to the final Saturday afternoon.

The Cougars responded to going down 2-0 to South Putnam with 10 and 11 runs in the first two innings to win 23-2 while the Tiger Cubs pounded out 18 hits and plugged away to eventually defeat Cloverdale 12-1 in six innings.

In the opening game of the day, the Eagles got off to a solid start despite Kaden Helderman nearly getting out of a two-on, no out jam.

After two fly outs, Ashton Nichols and Tyler Fulford hit back-to-back singles to plate a run each, giving South Putnam a 2-0 lead to start the game.

North Putnam responded with force as Helderman was hit by a pitch, Brogan Woodall doubled and both scored on a Brayden Monett double to tie the game at 2-2.

A pair of errors allowed a run in before Braxton Woodall doubled home two more runs to make it 5-2.

Jayce Monnett singled home a run while Helderman added a sac fly, the first out of the inning, to make it 8-2.

A pair of errors saw the last two runs of the inning come in before Hayden Tincher was able to coax a pair of ground balls to end the inning.

North Putnam went back to work in the second inning as two walks and a hit batsman loaded the bases before a trio of errors and a Brogan Woodall sac fly allowed five runs in to make it 15-2.

The bases were quickly reloaded with two singles and a hit batsman with Braxton Woodall the first of five batters to single in a run, as would Ian Patrick, Helderman, Brogan Woodall and Brayden Monnett with Jayce Monnett forcing in a run with a walk that made it 21-2.

Helderman would double home the remaining two runs in the third inning as the Cougars cruised into the final, finishing the job on the mound by allowing four hits, two runs and striking out seven.

Tincher took the loss, allowing 17 runs, five earned, on six hits, four hit batsmen and two walks. Kenny McDaniel pitched 2 2/3 innings, allowing seven hits, six runs and three walks while striking out four.

South Putnam 200 00 — 2 4 11

North Putnam (10)(11)2 0X — 23 12 2

WP — Helderman 5 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 7 K

LP — Tincher 1 1/3 IP, 6 H, 17 R (5 ER), 4 HBP, 2 BB

2B — B. Monnett, Bra. Woodall, Bro. Woodall, Helderman

RBI — Helderman (5), B. Monnett (4), Bra. Woodall (3), Bro. Woodall (2), J. Monnett (2), Patrick, Barber, McKenzie

The second game featured a workman-like performance from Greencastle to see off Cloverdale and reach the final.

A pair of singles set up Nathan Sutherlin to hand the Tiger Cubs a 3-0 lead with a three-run home run to center field.

A pair of doubles from Owen Huff and Chase Carrington saw the former score while an error allowed Carrington to score later in the inning to make it 5-0.

Sutherlin got out of a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the second and, after a quiet third, singled to bring in Sam Gooch after the latter hit a triple for a 6-1 lead, the Clovers having gotten a sac fly from Jayden Sturges in the top half of the inning.

Ethan Hamm doubled home a run in the fifth while Huff plated two more runs with a single to make it 9-1, though Greencastle would not get the runs needed to end the game in five innings.

It wouldn’t be long before it ended as Hamm drove in two runs with a double and Huff added a third run with a single in the sixth before taking to the mound to finish off the game.

Sutherlin pitched 4 1/3 innings to get the win, allowing four hits, a run and two walks while striking out five. Hamm pitched the remaining 1 /3 innings, allowing a hit and striking out three.

Drake Hoffa took the loss, allowing 18 hits, 12 runs, 11 earned, and two walks while striking out six.

Greencastle 320 133 — 12 18 2

Cloverdale 001 000 — 1 5 3

WP — Sutherlin 4 1/3 IP, 4 H, R (ER), 2 BB, 5 K

LP — Hoffa 6 IP, 18 H, 12 R (11 ER), 2 BB, 6 K

HR — Sutherlin

3B — Gooch

2B — Hamm (2), Carrington, Huff, Gooch; Hoffa

RBI — Sutherlin (4), Hamm (3), Huff (3), Carrington; Sturges