Putnam County Softball Tournament: Williams walk off wraps up title for North Putnam in 12 innings

North Putnam and Greencastle battled for 12 innings Saturday in the final of the Putnam County Softball Tournament, a game ended with one swing as Emma Williams' two-run blast saw the Cougars finish the job in a 7-5 win over the Tiger Cubs.

For the Banner Graphic/TODD STEVENS

BAINBRIDGE — The Greencastle Tiger Cubs and the North Putnam Cougars softball teams battled and grinded for 12 innings in a Putnam County Softball Tournament final everyone there will remember for years to come.

With two outs in the bottom of the 12th inning, Emma Williams drove the ball deep to center field, just clearing the fence for a walk off two-run shot, claiming a 7-5 victory for the Cougars and bringing the Putnam County Paddle back to Bainbridge.

Greencastle threatened in the top of the first but could not bring one home. North was able to put two up in the first. Ashlynn Stacks drew a walk and Brilye Schmitz drove a triple to bring home Stacks. Schmitz would then score on a throwing error to make it 2-0.

Allie Beaman reached on an error and Emma Hunter singled to put two on for the Cubs in the third. Beaman scored on an error to get Greencastle on the board, but they would leave two on base, which would become a theme.

The Cougars got the run back in the bottom half after a leadoff walk to Schmitz and a two-out RBI double from Kylie Rust kept it a two-run advantage. They would keep the lead until the fifth inning.

Hunter started it off with her third hit of the day for Greencastle. A swinging bunt from Gloria Brewer moved Hunter along, who would then score on a throwing error as Brewer advanced to third. Brewer then scored after a wild pitch went to the fence and was able to sneak home to tie the game up at 3-3.

The game stayed that way to the seventh. Hunter got on base with her fourth single in as many at-bats. Brewer would bring her home after a ball was misplayed in the outfield to give Greencastle its first lead of the game.

North answered when Hailee Daigle snuck a bunt past the pitcher and stole second base. She came home after a pair of throwing errors to notch the game at 4-4 and send it to extra innings.

The pitchers, Kyndal Brewer and Ali Hassler, kept each other in check for the first three extra innings.

Greencastle had what looked like at least one run coming home in the ninth. With two on, Brewer hit a ball sharply to the gap between first and second, but the runner could not get out of the way of the ball and was called out to end the threat.

The Cubs took the lead back in the 11th inning. Sidney Lantzy singled and Emma Hunter was intentionally walked. Kenzie Epley drove in Lantzy with an RBI single to make it 5-4.

The Cougars did not quit. Rust singled and Karyssa Miller reached on an error. Lexi Daigle singled in Rust but Miller ended up being thrown out at the plate to send the game to the 12th inning.

Greencastle went down in order in the top half, but the drama was building. Stacks reached on an error to start it for North. Hassler then got the next two batters to fly out, bringing up Williams.

It’s the spot kids' dream of growing up.

Williams was able to get her arms extended and drove one deep to center field. Epley did everything she could going to try and rob the hit, but it carried just over the fence for the walk off two-run homer to give the Cougar the county title.

“Hats off to both teams. Greencastle battled back, then we came back and what a great way to win it. These girls are exhausted. I wish we didn’t play for a week,” Cougar head coach Kerry Roussey said after the thrilling finish.

Greencastle 001 020 100 010 — 5 10 6

North Putnam 201 000 100 012 — 7 9 6

Batting - (G) Hunter 4-4, Lantzy 2-6, Epley 2-6, Brewer 1-6, Lausee 1-6;(NP) Schmitz 3-5, Rust 2-5, Williams 2-6, Pride 1-5, H. Daigle 1-4

RBI - (G) Epley 2, Brewer 1; (NP) Williams 2, Schmitz 1, Rust 1, L. Daigle 1

2B - (NP) Schmitz, Rust

3B - (NP) Schmitz

HR - (NP) Williams

Pitching

North Putnam