South Putnam wins rematch with Clovers

With congratulations from teammates Grace Carr (center) and Jaylen Hughbanks (right), South Putnam senior Katie Hewitt walks off the field with the ball after the final out of the Eagles' 15-12 win over Cloverdale. Hewitt had hit a home run with the same ball earlier in the game and was able to keep it after recording the final out on a pop fly. (Banner Graphic/JAY LOCKETT)

CLOVERDALE -- The South Putnam softball team cashed in on its opportunity to settle the score against its Cloverdale rival Tuesday, after the two teams played to an 8-8 tie Monday.

South Putnam used its big hitters to take the win 15-12.

"We're just aggressive hitters," Eagle senior Katie Hewitt said. "We just go after the ball."

Cloverdale's Kimmy Winders records her RBI in the second inning for CHS. (Banner Graphic/JAY LOCKETT)

Going after the ball worked well for the Eagles early. Makenzie Myers got things started early with a lead-off triple. A single by Emma Griffith brought home Myers. After that Drew Bratcher recorded a single and Katie Hewitt brought both Bratcher and Griffith home with a double.

"Our team has a lot of heart," Eagle coach Jamie Steffy said. "We talked constantly about being aggressive right from the start. It doesn't matter if it's pitching or playing defense or at the plate, we will be aggressive to put the pressure on the other team as much as we can."

South Putnam picked up a run in the second inning as Hewitt recorded another RBI, scoring Myers, who was hit by a pitch.

Cloverdale's big inning came in the second. After Macenzie Allen scored in the first inning off a Kimmy Winders RBI, CHS rattled off eight runs in the second to take the 9-5 lead.

"It was good to get solid contact with the ball," Clover coach Jim Spencer said. "But in both the games the last two nights we weren't able to win the game we were in. When we needed to make some plays we didn't."

It started with a Skylar Price homer and finished with good base running from the Clovers, who took advantage of passed balls to help with the scoring.

The fourth inning was vital for SPHS, which continued to do damage at the top of the lineup.

Jaylen Hughbanks opened the inning with a triple, Myers scored Hughbanks with a single. A double by Bratcher scored Myers after Griffith walked and then Hewitt crushed a pitch for a three-run shot over the right field fence. Lillie Stein followed the homer with a double and Grace Carr knocked Stein in on a single.

"When we get down we will crawl back into it," Steffy said. "We have a bunch of scrappers. Last night we got down seven and coach (Chloe) Custis and myself never had a (nervous) look because this group has a bunch of competitors."

South Putnam ended the inning with 11-9 lead.

Cloverdale battled back with a run in the bottom of the fourth by Lauren Meek but the Eagles stayed ahead with two more runs in the fifth. Stein earned an RBI with a single.

In the bottom of the fifth, Cloverdale was still gunning for the lead offensively. Kimmy Winders got on base and Makayla Westell brought her home and scored herself for the last Clover run.

"I thought tonight was a lot a like last night," Spencer said. "It's early in the season. We did some things well and we did some things poorly. Every person needs to get better on the bat and in their decision-making."

South Putnam was already up 13-12 on the Clovers and added its final two runs by Helen Eaglin and Hughbanks.

South Putnam is now 3-0-1 and is looking to continue getting wins behind its sluggers and has its next game at home against Covenant Christian.

"It's amazing," Hewitt said. "We've put in a lot of time. We worked hard for three weeks. We all just have one goal and we play as a team. It's exciting."

Cloverdale's ( 0-1-1) next game will be at Monrovia.

S. Putnam 410 622 0 -- 15 15

Cloverdale 180 120 0 -- 12 0

WP: Hughbanks