North Putnam softball takes county

Monday, May 14, 2007
The Cougars' Carlye McGaughey takes South Putnam's Oceaia Boetjer (15) to left field for an RBI triple. McGaughey led the Cougars with three hits.

With two matchups earlier in the season having each been decided by one run, North Putnam's and South Putnam's softball teams could have expected quite a matchup in the championship game of the Putnam County Tournament. While the game did not come out quite as close as the first two, the two produced another well-played game, with the Cougars winning 6-2.

After the game, North coach George Pearson was pleased for his players.

"They're all a good group of kids. They're about as good a group of kids to coach as I've ever been around. They work their butts off and they're pleasant to be around," he said.

Asked the difference in this game and the first two, Pearson credited his offense.

"We're swinging the bats a lot better than we were earlier in the season," Pearson said.

In each of the first two games, South's Oceaia Boetjer had entered in relief and pitched well. Pearson said his hitters were hungry to get some runs against her when she started this third game.

"Oceaia shut us down the first two times. We hit her hard (today)," he said. "We had really good at bats. I'm happy for the girls."

In a battle of complete games, North's Brook Miller got the better of Boetjer, allowing just two runs on two hits. Boetjer allowed six runs on five hits.

"Brook pitched about as well today as she's pitched all year," Pearson said.

He was also proud of his leadoff hitter, freshman Carlye McGaughey, who has worked her way up to the top of the order as the season has gone on. McGaughey had three hits.

"When (a freshman) can step in and do the job she did today, it makes you feel good," Pearson said.

For South Putnam coach Evonne Canary, the gathering after the game was bittersweet. While the Eagles had just lost the county championship, she had the honor of awarding four all-WCC medals to her players. Boetjer, Hannah Ames, Meghan Canary and Megan Robinson were all honored.

On the game, though, she had to give North Putnam credit.

"They got a good jump on us in the first," she said. "We were in a bit of a deficit."

She did give her own team credit for staying in the game, though.

"The girls kept battling," she said.

The Cougars (16-4) are back in action today when they host Rockville at 4:30 p.m. The Eagles (11-5) host WCC leader Speedway at 5 p.m.

At Greencastle

Putnam County Tournament Championship Game

North Putnam 200 112 0 -- 6 5

South Putnam 010 001 0 -- 2 2

W -- Miller

L -- Boetjer

Next game -- North Putnam hosts Rockville at 4:30 p.m. today. South Putnam hosts Speedway at 5 p.m. today.

Eagles defeat Clovers in opener

South Putnam scored early and often on Cloverdale in the opening game of the Putnam County Tournament Saturday. In the end, they defeated the Clovers 9-1.

"I think the big key was coming out and scoring first," Canary said.

The Eagles put three on the board in the first and added two more in the second to put the Clovers in a hole they could not escape.

"I was happy with the way we competed the entire game regardless of the score," Cloverdale coach Greg Crum said. "Our pitcher (Jennifer Wiley) struggled a little to find the strike zone."

Canary was pleased with her offense and her pitching.

"The bats were good, and Sam (Tomasino) pitched well," she said. Tomasino picked up the win, but Boetjer came in to close the game for the Eagles.

"We had some tough defensive plays. We played well," Canary said.

The Clovers are back in action today when they host Greencastle at 4:30 p.m.

At Greencastle

Putnam County Tournament

First Round

Cloverdale 001 000 0 -- 2 1

South Putnam 320 301 X -- 9 9

W -- Tomasino

L -- Wiley

3B -- Sibbitt (SP)

North Downs Greencastle

Coming into the first round of the Putnam County Tournament, Greencastle had a much different softball team than the one North Putnam had twice defeated soundly earlier in the season.

The Tiger Cubs showed their improvement, but eventually fell to the Cougars, 3-1.

"Greencastle is much improved," said Pearson.

The game was tied at one after four-and-1/2 innings. Greencastle coach Dave Keller said he was glad to see his girls in a game with a team as good as North Putnam.

"That's all you can ask for. All we can do (as coaches) is put them in a position to win," Keller said.

He said in a game like that, it just takes one break. Unfortunately for his Tiger Cubs, North Putanm is the kind of team that makes its own breaks.

Runs from Kayla Green and Chelsea Greene in the fifth, put the Cougars up two runs, a lead that would hold.

"I think we played North Putnam straight-up even. They just got a couple of timely hits," Keller said.

Pearson could see room for improvement in his team's game.

"We didn't have a lot of good at-bats," he said.

He was, however, happy with pitcher Brook Miller.

"Brook ptiched well and bailed us out a few times," Pearson said.

Greencastle travels to Cloverdale at 4:30 p.m. today.

At Greencastle

Putnam County Tournament

First Round

Greencastle 000 010 0 -- 1 4

North Putnam 100 020 X -- 3 5

W -- Miller

L -- Alspaugh

2B -- Wilson (GHS), Crosby (NP)

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