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Cougars defeat Tiger Cubs in softball opener
ROACHDALE -- North Putnam and Greencastle opened the softball season in Roachdale on a windy and bitterly cold day Monday and each team saw good hitting and few errors.
It was the home team that came away victorious as the Cougars used a big fifth inning to claim the 6-3 win and the Putnam County Pride Paddle.
"I think they handled (the weather) well," assistant coach Katy Copsey said. "Defensively we came out really solid."
After Kenlee Johnson rapped a home run in the first inning the Cougars responded with a two-run first inning.
Chloe LaPierre recorded a single and Jada Stump moved her to third with a double. Sierra Spencer then made contact for a single, which scored the two runners.
The North Putnam coaching staff said it wanted to focus on getting runs early and often.
"We knew coming into the season we had girls that can hit," Cougar interim coach Chase Hiland said. "We feel confident through the whole lineup that we have girls who can get a bat on the ball and make things happen."
The defense wasn't lacking though as each team held the other scoreless through the next three innings.
"Defensively we didn't make any errors," Tiger Cub coach Tabitha Briones said. "They were just hitting into the gaps. North Putnam came out and played a really good game. Offensively we are going to need more consistent bats and I think we are more than capable of doing that. It's just getting back into the season."
Skyler Hensley entered her third season as a starter for the Tiger Cubs and Reilly Tucker takes up the helm for the Cougars after Sabrina Surber's graduation.
Greencastle only saw four strikeouts all swinging but defensively NPHS was on point and only made one error.
"Skyler Hensley pitched tonight and she did a really good job," Briones said. "It's the first game and she only had three walks. She had nine strikeouts and only five hits and they were all hits to the gap. She did a very impressive job.
Greencastle picked up a second run in the fifth to tie the game at 2 before North Putnam rattled off four runs at the bottom of the fifth.
Lauren Johnson opened up with a triple and was scored by Skylar Clifford. Mia Runells recorded a triple in the fifth for two RBIs in the and then she was scored by Stump.
That big inning allowed North Putnam the win.
Greencastle had its chance to for a comeback. Once Haylee Evans was scored on a RBI from Layna Robinson, the Tiger Cubs were at the top of their lineup with its best hitters coming up to the plate. But North Putnam's third basemen, Clifford made two plays on two line drives down the third base line to pick up the outs needed against the top Tiger Cubs hitters.
Greencastle will next play on Thursday at Edgewood while North Putnam will play at Eminence.
Greencastle 100 010 1 -- 3 7 0
N. Putnam 200 040 - -- 610 1
WP: Tucker