North Putnam blasts Turkey Run

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Sabrina Surber threw five scoreless innings and allowed only one hit as North Putnam defended their home field on Tuesday night, defeating Turkey Run 10-0 in a mercy-rule shortened affair. The freshman hurler struck out three batters to gain the victory.

After retiring Turkey Run's first three batters to begin the game, Surber led off the bottom half of the inning with a base hit on a sharp ground ball to third base. Madi Asbell reached on a single herself before senior Tari Straziscar hit a hard line drive into centerfield, scoring a pinch runner and Asbell for a 2-0 lead that would put the game well out of hand for the Warriors.

"Sabrina did a good job despite the weather conditions," North Putnam head coach Benny Ault said of his pitcher following the game. "She's coming along well for a freshman. She's still trying to find a few pitches and we're working with her on that but all in all she did a great job."

Surber finished the game throwing 17 first-pitch strikes to the 19 batters she faced, finishing the game with a 0.20 WHIP. In addition, she retired the first batter in each inning, and managed to retire the first two batters in four of five innings.

Turkey Run had their best scoring opportunity in the top of the third inning following a scoreless second from North Putnam. The Warriors forced two errors, the second of which put runners on first and third after Katie Rooker took too long to get rid of a routine ground ball at third base. Danger was adverted when Rooker redeemed herself on a bang-bang play almost identical to the error.

In the bottom half of the inning the hosts made sure Turkey Run paid for stranding two runners. Asbell reached on a walk and Straziscar's ground ball forced Warrior's second baseman Kyla Koch to attempt and miss a take on the speedy Asbell. With runners on first and second and now two outs, Madi's sister Kensy doubled deep to left-center field, scoring both base runners. Alyssa Roberts would plate the elder Asbell and push the lead to five runs after three innings.

"I'm really proud of the girls at the top of the lineup," Ault mentioned, "they're scoring us runs. I like what the future holds for us in that regard. We're just trying to find out who can play what position.

"We've got a lot of talent to work with."

Turkey Run managed a single base runner the remainder of the game. Jessica Paddock hit a blooper over Kayla Fish's head at second base in the fourth inning, the Warrior's only hit in the entire game.

After two runs in the bottom of the fourth for North Putnam, the Cougars finished things off with three in the fifth, the final two scoring on Madi Asbell's single to center field. Shelby Crum pitched all 4.1 innings for the Warriors, allowing twelve hits and ten runs on 84 pitches.

Weather conditions were blustery and cold but the Cougars played through Mother Nature's attempt to ruin their game.

"Wind conditions effected how they threw the ball," Ault added of the conditions. "All in all I feel like they did a great job despite the 30-mile per hour winds"

Surber had a big game for North Putnam, backing up her solid pitching performance with three base hits and a run scored. Madi Asbell reached safely all four times at bat, scoring three of the four times, and Straziscar matched her, reaching all three times as well but only scoring twice.

For Turkey Run no batter reached safely more than once, and Paddock's single was the bright spot for the Warriors offensively.

Defensively, Bridget Johnston led the way with nine putouts in nine chances.

At North Putnam

Turkey Run 0 0 0 0 0 -- 0 1 3

North Putnam 2 0 3 2 3 -- 10 12 3

WP-- S. Surber

LP -- S. Crum

2B -- None; K. Asbell

SB -- None; A. Roberts