Cougars win 5th straight, beat Danville 8-3

DANVILLE --The North Putnam baseball team has stayed hot after winning the Putnam County Classic on Saturday.

The Cougars (19-3-1) have started the week with two more wins, including an 8-3 game at Danville on Thursday.

Junior Kaleb Belcher hit his first home run of the season in the sixth inning to help finish off the Warriors.

NPHS opened the scoring in the top of the first inning. No. 2 hitter Michael Herrmann hit a one-out single, then stole second.

The Cougars were aggressive on the basepaths all night, and it paid off repeatedly.

With Herrmann on second, senior starting pitcher Kyler Badten lined a base hit to drive in a run.

Badten then stole second and later scored on a misplayed flyball.

While he starred at the plate, Badten failed to find a rhythm on the mound.

He threw 21 pitches in the first inning and, though he struck out two and didn't allow a run, he appeared uncomfortable.

After the Cougars added another run in the top of the second, Badten started the bottom of the inning with back-to-back walks.

NPHS coach Phil Webster saw his ace wasn't his normal self and, rather than wasting innings, chose to go with a quick hook and save him for a busy weekend.

Senior Jake Haste came on in relief and threw three runless, hitless innings. He struck out four.

The Cougars caught fire in the fourth. NPHS started the inning with a pair of walks, then senior leadoff hitter Brody Perrine knocked both runners in with a stand-up double.

Badten knocked in Perrine to finish of the scoring in that frame.

NPHS added its final run when Belcher touched them all in the sixth.

Herrmann came on in relief of Haste and bought the Cougars three innings, which will help the squad this weekend.

NPHS is scheduled to play at Bethesda on Friday at 5 p.m. and host Fountain Central on Saturday at noon.

At Danville
North Putnam..............211 301 0 -- 8 7 0
Danville.......................000 003 0 -- 3 3 2