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Challengers line up to dethrone NP
North Putnam is the defending Putnam County champion in high school baseball, and finished as sectional runnerup last year – losing a 2-0 decision to Rockville in the championship game.
The Cougars lost standout players Brayden White (DePauw) and Kyler Jeter (Trine) to the college ranks, but return several key performers as they look to defend their county title.
South Putnam has one of the county’s top pitchers in Dylan Wood, who has signed with NAIA program Campbellsville (Ky.).
Cloverdale looks to continue the progress it started last year, and Greencastle is under first-year head coach Ben Wells and is also looking for improvement.
Here is a look at each team:
Cloverdale
The Clovers will be led by three returning all-Putnam County players in junior catcher Tyce Jackson and sophomores Parker Watts and Jarron Rossok (both pitchers and infielders).
Watts hit .362 last year as a freshman, leading the team in stolen bases with 29 and also tops in doubles and triples.
Rossok led the team in most pitching categories last year.
“He led us in innings pitched last year and also had the most quality starts,” coach Tony Meyer said. “He will be very important on the mound.”
Jackson hit .356 and was second in stolen bases with 27.
Meyer is also counting on big production from third baseman Joe Martin and versatile Nick Winders.
“Joe Martin was second in home runs for us last year,” Meyer said. “Nick will be crucial in our success this year at the plate and on the mound.
Also expected to make a big contribution is sophomore Haiden Davis, who anchors the outfield in center field.
“Haiden will hold down our outfield this year and help at catcher,” Meyer said. “We need his bat to come alive this year.”
Watts, Jackson and Winders are the team captains for the Clovers, who went 0-2 last week.
Greencastle
Wells is counting on returning seniors Jackie Scanland, Nick Costin and Rylan Lucas to be the backbone of his first Tiger Cub team.
“Jackie was an all-conference and all-county selection last year and returns as our starting shortstop and No. 1 pitcher, while Nick and Rylan return to make up two-thirds of our starting outfield in center and right.”
Wells also looks to Gus Manion and Abe Wade two of the few returning players with varsity experience, and considers them as “key pieces” in the middle of the lineup.
“This year’s team will be extremely versatile with many players being able to play in multiple positions,” he said. “This year’s squad possesses great team speed and should be able to cause a lot of problems on the base paths.”
Wells knows his team will improve as the season goes along, due to the young roster.
“Our biggest weakness as a team this year will be our inexperience,” he said. “Seven of the 12 players dressing this year have little to no varsity experience, and we are comprised of a lot of youth in which we will be relying on several sophomores and freshmen to contribute on a game-by-game basis.”
Wells is excited about the opportunity to be the head coach and sees bright things in the program’s future.
“While our inexperience is a weakness early, it is very exciting and promising problem to have moving forward,” he said. “This is a team that I expect to improve every game and one that will play with a lot of enthusiasm and passion.”
The Tiger Cubs went 2-1 in the first week of the season.
North Putnam
Coach Brian Jeter can count on returning all-county performers Duke Duff and Jack Kendall (both seniors) to lead his team this year.
Kendall pitches and also plays infield and outfield, and last year had the second most innings pitched for North Putnam. He had a 1.93 ERA with a 4-2 record and 28 strikeouts.
Duff plays second base when not on the mound, and last year he hit .233 with three doubles, one triple, eight RBI and 14 runs scored. His pitching record was 1-0 with 1.08 ERA in 19 innings of work.
Other returners are Max Haste, Hayden Rudes and Kaine Benge. The Cougars went 1-3 in the first week of the season.
South Putnam
Wood leads the Eagles on the mound and can also catch and play shortstop.
Wood had a 2-6 record in 10 pitching appearances last year with one save and a 2.39 ERA over 31 innings pitched. He struck out 49 batters and walked 24. He batted .389 last year with nine doubles, three homers, 12 RBI and 26 runs scored.
Other pitchers for the Eagles this season will be Hunter Croan and Lance Bush.
Top hitters so far this season are Wood (.800 with four RBI, nine runs, one double and one homer), Kyle Hall (.556 with three runs, four RBI, one double and one homer), Aiden LeBlanc (.500) and Bush (.500 with two runs, four RBI, one double and one triple).
The Eagles went 3-0 in the first week of the season, defeating Cloverdale by scores of 5-3 and 10-4 and winning 15-10 at North Central on Saturday.