SB: South Putnam defeats North Putnam is softball action

*Story courtesy of www.bannergraphic.com*

South Putnam took advantage of an early North Putnam miscue to maintain
their second-place WCC standing, as they emerged with a narrow 2-0
victory Monday.

After North was able to place runners at second and third in the
opening frame, South’s Samantha Tomasino was able to get the Cougars’
Carlye McGaughey to fly out to left field ending the threat.

In the bottom of the first, the Eagles’ Krystal Welch led off with a
bunt single, which was followed by a free pass to South’s number two
hitter, Samantha Stanifer. The runners both advanced on stolen bases,
but North Putnam’s Taylor Judy was able to retire the next two hitters
to seemingly get out of the jam. When Katelyn Sibbitt popped lazily to
second, it seemed that the Cougars had escaped any damage, but North’s
Ashley Doyle was unable to make the play, allowing both Welch and
Stanifer to score. The unearned runs were the only tallies of the game
for either squad.

South never again mounted a serious threat, as Judy pitched an outstanding game, allowing only three hits and striking out six.

North had several opportunities in the ballgame collecting seven hits,
and advancing runners into scoring position three more times after the
first inning. Tomasino, who picked up the victory and Oceaia Boetjer,
who collected the save after coming on to relieve Tomasino in the
sixth, did what they had to do and effectively shut down North when the
game was on the line.

North Putnam coach Jim Brothers was at a loss to explain his team’s
inability to come through with plays when they needed to be made: “It’s
the story of our season,” said Brothers. “We just can’t seem to string
hits together when we need them.”

The Eagles’ skipper Evonne Canary was thankful to get a conference
victory: “We knew going in it was going to be difficult, (but) our
girls kept their composure. I’m very pleased with the way we played.”

With the victory, South moves to 9-1 on the season (6-1 WCC). North
Putnam falls to 5-5 overall (2-5 WCC). They are in action again this
afternoon at North Putnam. Game time is 4:30 p.m.

At South Putnam