Eagles sweep Clovers in season-opening series

The South Putnam and Cloverdale baseball teams faced off twice this week, with the Eagles taking each game by the 10-run rule in five innings. Both games took place at South Putnam.

South Putnam won game one 11-1 in the fifth inning. The game began Monday, but was suspended in the top of the fifth due to rain and field conditions. It continued Wednesday, prior to the start of game two.

South pitcher Brice Steinbaker gave up only one run and had five strikeouts in his first outing. Eagle catcher Derek Dean reached base in all four plate appearances, scoring three times. He hit an RBI triple to open things up in the fifth.

The Eagles won game two 16-1 in the fifth inning. South's Noah Boswell pitched four innings, giving up only one run with 11 strikeouts. Cameron Chestnut came in to close the game, striking out two in one inning of work.

Sophomore Nathan Welty scored three times and hit a two-run home run in the fifth .

"I was very pleased with how focused our guys were this week," South Putnam coach Harold Campbell said. "They made very few mental mistakes during both games. We focused on being disciplined at the plate and just putting the bat on the ball. We wanted to put pressure on Cloverdale's defense.

"Defensively we made great plays behind our two starting pitchers," he continued. "We seem to have a very balanced lineup offensively. This year our seven, eight and nine hitters are capable of putting the ball over the fence. We hope to carry this early season momentum against Cascade next week."

No statistics were available for Cloverdale.

The Clovers (0-2, 0-2 WCC) were back in action Thursday at Shakamak. They take the field again at 4:30 p.m. today at Eminence. South Putnam (2-0, 2-0 WCC) hosts Cascade at 4:30 p.m. Monday.