North Putnam softball honors seniors at home against Monrovia

Kayla Fish posing with her father Tony Fish. (Banner Graphic/JAY LOCKETT)

ROACHDALE -- Senior night for the Cougar softball team brought smiles and heartbreak, as North Putnam fell just short of a win against Monrovia. The game was in arm's reach but the team lost 9-5.

Reilly Tucker went the distance in the game and played well despite giving up the nine runs. She had two strikeouts. Monrovia just continued to put the ball in play.

The scoring of North Putnam was key, as the Cougars had a much better outing than they did last time they faced Monrovia on May 12, when they lost 9-0.

Madi Asbell posing with her parents Pat Asbell and Tammy Bonifacius. (Banner Graphic/JAY LOCKETT)

"The girls came out ready to play," North Putnam coach Benny Ault said. "They had each other's back and they were playing for each other. It was the first time in a long time I've actually seen them play for each other."

The team played well together and that could have been because the players knew it was the last game of the regular season and the last regular-season high school game its seniors Bailey Ault, Kayla Fish and Madi Asbell would play.

The team won't have to worry about an unfamiliar opponent next week.

Bailey Ault posing with her parents Benny and Brandy Ault. (Banner Graphic/JAY LOCKETT)

They drew Monrovia for the first sectional game on May 27. Coach Ault says there isn't much change to the gameplan, there just needs to be a tweak in the batting technique.

"Getting the hits," he said. "Instead of being pop-flys they need to be line-drives. I thought Reilly Tucker did a great job pitching for us. She's young but she is a good talent to have."

The team's seniors will able to reminisce on the season for a week before taking the field for the third time against the Bulldogs.

Reilly Tucker starting at pitcher did a great job in the season finale. (Banner Graphic/JAY LOCKETT)

"What I'm going to miss most about the team is the friendships that I made on it," Bailey Ault said. "There is a ton of fantastic girls on here. I'm going to be sad to leave them this year."

Fish said she believes this is the closest she has felt to her high school teammates.

"We were actually like a family this year," she said. "The past few years we haven't all been as close. This year I feel like we were more of a family and a team."

Asbell is sad to be leaving her close friends on the team.

"I'm going to miss Kayla Fish and Morgan Albers. Being in the dugout with them and screaming," she said.

Senior Night at North Putnam

NP 320 000 0 -- 5