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COUNTY SOFTBALL: Clovers use long ball to defeat Cubs, Eagles for softball superiority
Cloverdale ripped five home runs in defeating Greencastle 14-2 and North Putnam 14-5 to defend their Putnam County softball championship on Saturday.
In the tourney opener, the Clovers got one run in the first, two in the second and nine in the third to break things open.
Greencastle came back with two runs in the bottom of the third, but Cloverdale added two more insurance runs in the top of the fourth.
The Clovers pounded out 12 hits int he game, led by Mackenzie Allen with a single, double and home run with three RBI.
Skylar Price added a single and a home run with two RBI, while Kiley Shedron had a home run with two RBI and Kelsey Helterbrand added a single and a double.
Lauren Meek was the winning pitcher, improving her record to 6-1 by allowing just four hits.
In the championship game, the Clovers came through with five runs in the top of the first inning and never trailed.
Tori Combs hit two home runs and a single with three RBI for the Clovers, while Shedron had two singles, a double and two RBI, Baylee Hamilton had a single, double and two RBI and Hannah Long had two singles.
In the second semifinal game, South Putnam’s Drew Bratcher had given her team the lead in the top of the seventh inning with a grand slam, but North Putnam’s Chloe LaPierre came through with a walkoff three-run homer in the bottom of the seventh for the win.
Jada Stump had three hits and four RBI for North Putnam, while LaPierre had three hits and five RBI. Bratcher had two hits and five RBI for South Putnam, which also got two hits from Helen Eaglin, Grace Carr, Becca Perry and Leighla Hazlett.
Cloverdale coach Jim Spencer was proud of his team’s victory.
“Cloverdale concluded a good week of softball with the Putnam County Championship,” he said. “The Clovers went 6-1 on the week to improve to 9-1 on the year. Lauren Meek picked up the win in both games and several players contributed at the plate and in the field to pick up the wins.
“We just need to continue to work on cutting down on mental mistakes in all aspects oft he game and work hard in practice and in games so we can keep improving.
Game 1
Cloverdale 129 20 — 14 12 1
Greencastle 002 00 — 2 4 5
WP — Meek
Game 2
South Putnam 006 013 4 — 14
North Putnam 206 003 4 — 15
WP — Gierke
Championship game
Cloverdale 501 142 1 — 14 16 4
North Putnam 000 041 0 — 5 10 4
WP — Meek