North Putnam loses heartbreaker against Cascade

Shane Beaman gets a catch in the outfield in the North Putnam loss.

SPEEDWAY-- Seven innings of baseball was not enough for North Putnam and Cascade to separate themselves in the first semifinal of the IHSAA Class 2A Baseball Sectional No. 44 at Speedway High School.

Eventually, missed chances to score a decisive third run proved costly for the Cougars after the Cadets scored in the bottom of the eighth inning to walk off with a 3-2 win.

North Putnam head coach Brian Jeter said that the squad came in with a laser-like focus in spite of distractions before the game even began.

"I thought we played our best baseball game of the year tonight," Jeter said. "Not only did they come ready to play, they came more focused than they had been all year.

"At the start of the game, we started three guys that don't normally start because we had late players today.

"In hindsight, we don't know the outcome but those players have to learn responsibility to the team.

"We did what we had to do and started the kids who were here," Jeter added. "We feel like we did the right thing and we almost got over the hump."

Cascade grabbed a run in the bottom of the first to open the scoring. Bailey Blackburn reached on an error and pinch-runner Adam Yeager scored after a balk by Cougar pitcher Beau Green and a single by Nate Stonebreaker.

North Putnam got the run back in the fourth inning. Daniel Huffman led off the inning with a walk and moved to third after a fielder's choice and wild pitch on a walk to Cameron McPherson.

Jordan Nauert singled to bring Huffman in to tie the scores and after a walk to Kyler Jeter loaded the bases with one out, the visitors on the scoreboard looked set to add to the lead.

Green struck out, however, and Nolan Ensor grounded out to end the inning with no more damage done.

North Putnam would add its second run in the top of the fourth inning. Shane Beaman walked and scored after back-to-back singles by Huffman and Coy Flynn.

Again, though the Cougars could not add runs after having runners on second and third with one out as McPherson and Nauert struck out to end the threat.

Green, after the shaky start, settled down quickly and mowed through the Cascade line-up until the fifth inning.

Tucker Estes singled to lead off the inning, reached second through outfield interference and moved to third on a passed ball, only to be thrown out at home on a fielder's choice to keep the score 2-1 in favor of the Cougars.

The lead lasted another half inning before the Cadets leveled the score at 2-2.

Blackburn again reached on an error and Yeager scored again as a pinch-runner off a Landon Montgomery single.

A line-out double play kept Cascade from taking a lead into the seventh inning and Jeter credited the squad with staying sharp in a potentially dangerous situation.

"There were a couple errors to start innings but we also stayed focused enough to turn two a couple of times," Jeter said. "Without them keeping their heads in the game, we wouldn't make that play and that was a big attribute of the night."

Nauert led off the seventh with a double and eventually made it to third after walks to Green and Beaman, but Max Haste was struck out to end the inning with North Putnam again stranding base runners.

After Cascade was subdued in the bottom of the seventh, the game moved to extra innings.

North Putnam missed its final chance to score with runners on first and second, setting the stage for the Cadets to walk-off to the sectional final.

Mitch Duncan reached on an error and pinch-runner Michael Morris could have ended the game on a Stonebreaker double, only to trip coming around third and be held at the bag.

That would not harm the Cascade after an intentional walk to Montgomery brought Ty Comer to the plate. Comer nailed a single up the middle that pusher Morris into home and the Cadets into the sectional final.

Though Green was tagged with the loss, Jeter said the senior hurler threw a game that was as gutsy as it was impressive.

"Beau Green had the best pitching performance from any team I've seen all year," Jeter said. "He pitched eight innings and just came in over 100 pitches.

"Cascade won the ball game but I don't think they beat us more than we beat ourselves on a few plays. We just couldn't get over the hump."

The Cougars finished the season 10-14, though as Jeter was quick to point out, seniors Green, Nauert, Flynn, Beaman, Connor Spencer and Austin Buchanan held the squad together through tough times.

"The senior group started together in 9U baseball," Jeter said. "They could have gone out there without a coach and still played. That's how well these guys know baseball.

"I had the honor of coaching them this year even if they could have done without a coach. The seniors have that much leadership within them."

That leadership helped the Cougars overcome a midseason coaching change and Jeter said the squad kept it together when things could have easily collapsed.

"Our kids dealt with adversity that was probably worse than dealing with losses here and there," Jeter said. "For them to mentally be able to overcome those things showed their focus.

"You couldn't ask for a better ball team. They stayed focused when they had a chance to run."

While the six seniors depart, Jeter was optimistic about the future of the squad and said the group had the tools to be a major player in the county and WCC scene next season.

"Our future is very bright," Jeter said. "We have two freshmen who have pitched all season long and have a year of experience going for them next year.

"With the guys we have back, we have a very solid squad and, honestly, we'll be one of the favorites in the conference next year.

WP -- Stonebreaker

LP -- Green

2B -- Nauert (NP); Stonebreaker (C)