North Putnam wins behind strong performance by Flynn

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

ROACHDALE --North Putnam's Coy Flynn was superb on the mound and at the plate Tuesday against South Putnam.

The sophomore right-hander limited the Eagles to four hits, struck out eight and didn't walk a batter and had a home run and three RBIs in a 12-0 victory in five innings in a West Central Conference game on the Cougars' field.

"Flynn pitched a great game," North Putnam coach Norm Fish said.

Flynn scattered four singles and hit a batter. The Cougars played solid defense, committing one error, and provided a bevy of offensive support with 12 hits by eight players including Flynn's two.

"We started hitting early," Fish said.

North Putnam (8-3, 4-2 WCC) scored three unearned runs off Eagles' starting pitcher Wyatt Nees in the first inning.

Nees struggled with his control, walking Kyler Badten and Kaleb Belcher. Badten moved around the bases on two wild pitches and scored on a passed ball. Belcher scored on an error on a ground ball hit by Jason Nauert. Brodie Perrine drove in Nauert with a single.

The Cougars scored two in the second. Jake Haste doubled to center and Flynn delivered an RBI single. Flynn stole second and scored on Badten's single to right-center field.

North Putnam added six runs in a third inning that included Flynn's solo blast over the left-field fence, an RBI triple by Nauert and run-producing singles by Belcher, Austin Day and Perrine.

"North Putnam did a good job of hitting the ball," South Putnam coach Ryan Gilman said. "They played strong, fundamental baseball. Flynn kept us off balance with his fastball and curve."

South Putnam (2-10, 0-8 WCC) had singles by Rob Gibson, Sawyer Arnold, Zane Crosby and Nees.

North Putnam remains in contention for the WCC crown. They have home-and-home conference games with Cascade and Monrovia remaining.

"We have to win every game," Fish said. "It's how we can control our own destiny."

North Putnam plays Tri-West on Friday starting at 6 p.m. at home and Lebanon on Saturday starting at 10 a.m. at home in its next games.

On Monday, trailing 5-4 entering the final innings, North Putnam put up 15 runs in the top of the frame to defeat South Putnam 19-8.

Belcher was 5-for-6 with four RBI and two runs scored. Badten and Brodie Perrine and Beau Green had two RBI each in the win.

At North Putnam

South Putnam 000 00 -- 0 4 3

North Putnam 326 1x -- 12 12 1

Nees and Waters; Flynn and Day.

WP: Flynn (5 IP, 4 hits, 8 strikeouts, 0 walks, 1 hit batter).

LP: Nees (4 IP 12 hits, 12 runs, 9 earned runs, 4 strikeouts, 7 walks).

HR: NP--Flynn, none on in third.

3B: NP--Nauert.

2B: NP--Haste.

1B: SP--Gibson, Arnold, Crosby, Nees; NP--Badten 2, Belcher 2, Perrine 2, Day, Green, Flynn.

RBI: NP--Flynn 3, Perrine 2, Badten, Belcher, Nauert.