SP softball splits pair at Trojan Classic

South Putnam senior Mattie Varvel (39) sets to receive a throw at first base from sophomore Ashlee Gibson. (Banner Graphic/TRENT SCOTT)

GREENWOOD -- Rainy days finally gave way to sunshine Saturday as South Putnam's softball team, who had not played since a Monday doubleheader, made the trek to Center Grove to participate in the Trojan Classic.

A shortened schedule afforded each of the six teams two games instead of the original three, with the Eagles facing Greenwood and Columbus North.

The long layoff might have had an effect in the first contest as the Class 4A No. 14 Woodmen scored five times in the first inning in winning the first game 7-2 in five innings.

Head coach Chris Jones said the squad was eager to play but might have been rusty.

"We were ready to get outside and play a game," Jones said. "It seemed like we had been inside all week but they've been focused and they needed to stay that way.

"I don't know that we were completely mentally sharp from the get-go, though. We committed five errors in the first inning and they put up five runs. We have to be ready from the beginning."

Greenwood led off with a three singles and a walk, but runs came through the five errors the Eagles picked up in the inning.

Rachel Overton's double pushed a pair of runs across, then a passed ball and a throwing error on the next two hits saw two more runs cross the plate.

Megan Overton's fielder's choice scored the final run of the inning as the Eagles finally ended the frame after Greenwood had batted around.

The Woodmen added on two more runs in the top of the second with a pair of singles followed by RBI groundouts by Brittany Gray and Davis Carter.

South Putnam answered in the bottom half of the inning with five straight singles. Katie Hewitt and Janet Crafton would cross the plate on hits by Katie McHugh and Brooke Cundiff.

With the bases loaded, the Eagles recorded three straight outs, including a runner picked off third for the final out of the inning.

Both teams briefly threatened in later innings but a strict time limit ended the game after the fifth inning of play, though Jones said the squad had recovered well after the rough start.

"They reacted well," Jones said. "They stayed positive and they stayed in it. We had enough players on base and opportunities cut the lead down and so there was nothing negative in that aspect. We just weren't ready at the beginning and they took advantage of our mistakes.

"Give Greenwood credit, they took advantage of our mistakes. We've got to be sharper because from that point on, we were right there.

"The unfortunate part is we didn't finish the last two innings because of time constraints," Jones mentioned. "I would have liked to have seen where we would have been because we put pressure on them.

"We had some base running mistakes but we put pressure on them and scored two runs and could have scored more."

With only a half hour between games, South Putnam had to forget the first game quickly and gear up for Columbus North (9-2).

The Eagles scored in the first, fourth and sixth innings and hung on through a nervy seventh inning to beat the Bulldogs 3-2.

Kelsey Whitaker reached base on a single before Kenzie Trisler doubled. Trisler was picked off second but Whitaker crossed home first to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead.

Columbus North responded in the top of the third after Kelsay Lucas doubled in Denisa Brooks to level the score at 1-1.

South Putnam restored its lead an inning later, beginning with a play that Jones said epitomized the effort and hustle ingrained in the Eagles.

Jenna Jones led off the fourth by hitting a pop-up in the infield that was dropped by the shortstop.

Jones, however, had flown out of the box and was already halfway to second when the ball dropped and, with no one covering the bag, reached second with the Bulldogs' defense looking at one another for answers.

Trisler moved Jones over with a fielder's choice and Hewitt singled in Jones to make the score 2-1.

South Putnam missed chances to add to its tally later in the fourth and the fifth innings but added an insurance run in the sixth.

Jones singled and Trisler doubled in her second RBI of the game to make the score 3-1, though again the Eagles failed to add on to the total with a chance presenting itself.

The Bulldogs put pressure on in the seventh after an Eagles' error, bunt single and infield single loaded the bases.

Ashlee Gibson walked Lucas but got Shannah Hercamp to fly out to Hewitt to end the game.

Jones said that against two solid teams, pitching made all the difference.

"I think the biggest difference between games was pitching speed," Jones said. "We faced to very good pitchers from Greenwood and the girl from Columbus North wasn't as fast. It took us a couple of innings to adjust but we did adjust and scored.

"Ashlee Gibson pitched two really good games. She did a great job and yes, she was in a tight situation in that last inning but she was able to bear down and get out of it. She did a good job all day of battling."

Jones added that playing in close games against good opposition and the squad's reaction to the games were encouraging signs.

"This is good for us and I think they're doing a good job of staying positive," Jones said. "We're still doing a good job of putting the ball in play. When we put the ball in play and put pressure on the defense, that's when the big innings happen.

"In earlier games, we were getting bigger innings but we've begun to play teams with better defenses. We manufactured runs today and they stayed positive."

While the day was mixed in terms of results, Jones said that getting any games in was helpful for the weeks ahead.

"I think it's a good thing we got to play today," he said. "If we had sat since Monday's doubleheader, we'd be a little worried. I'm glad we got these two games, got done early and get to rest for the games Monday and Tuesday against North Putnam."

South Putnam junior Katie McHugh races down a fly ball in right field during a game on Saturday at Center Grove. (Banner Graphic/TRENT SCOTT)

At Center Grove Trojan Classic
Game 1
Greenwood...............520 00 -- 7 10 0
South Putnam...........020 00 -- 2 9 5