UNIONVILLE, Mo. - Putnam County gave its five seniors a winning sendoff on their recognition night Tuesday, pairing a one-hit pitching performance from Ava Perkins with a 12-hit offensive attack to defeat Milan 15-1 in five innings. The Grand River Conference victory brought the Lady Midgets to an even 8-8 overall and 3-3 in conference play.
All five seniors — Reagan Smith, Bela Lopez, Charli Ingersoll, Mira Vice and Riley Jones — started for Putnam County and were honored with their families following the game. For head coach Sara Webb, the evening offered an opportunity to recognize a group that has helped the program move forward during her two seasons back at Putnam County.
“Any time you win on senior night, it just feels really good to go out, get the job done,” Webb said. “I feel like these girls have stepped up in big situations. They’ve for sure been big for us the past two seasons, so we’re for sure gonna miss ’em next season.”
Perkins helped make sure the celebration followed a victory. The junior retired Milan in order in four of her five innings, finishing with 10 strikeouts while allowing just one hit and one walk. Six of her strikeouts came on called third strikes, with the outside corner proving particularly effective throughout the evening.
After striking out Kendalyn Hayes and Lancey Taylor to begin the game, Perkins got Nina Eddy to pop out and end the first. She then struck out Macie Glidewell, Kendra Sayre and Janet Marquina in the second, giving her five strikeouts through the first six batters.
Webb said Perkins gives Putnam County another dependable option alongside fellow junior Rory Gilworth.
“Ava doesn’t see a lot of innings just because Rory is so dominant in situations, but I’m not afraid to throw her out there,” Webb said. “Like tonight, you can see that we get her in tonight, we can manage a game, she can get the win for us.”
While Perkins handled the early innings, Putnam County’s offense wasted little time getting started. Smith singled on the first pitch she saw, stole second and moved to third on a groundout by Lopez. Gilworth followed with an RBI double to left-center, and Bryna Hurley drove her home with another double down the left-field line.
Oaklee Roberts entered as Hurley’s courtesy runner, stole third and scored on Graycie Tennill’s groundout to give Putnam County a 3-0 lead after one inning.
The Lady Midgets expanded that advantage with a six-run second. Vice opened the inning with a single, and Jones followed with another hit before Perkins reached on an error that brought Vice home. Smith added an RBI single, and another Milan error allowed Perkins to score as Lopez reached safely.
Gilworth then delivered a two-run single up the middle, and Tennill added an RBI single to make it 9-0. Ingersoll also singled during the inning before Milan ended the rally with a double play, catching Vice’s fly ball in center and doubling Tennill off second.
Milan produced its lone run in the third after Taleena Weaver drew a two-out walk, becoming the Ladycats’ first baserunner. Hayes followed with a double to left that scored Weaver, then advanced to third on the throw home. Perkins limited the damage by getting Taylor to fly out to Vice in center.
Putnam County answered with five runs in the bottom half. Jones was hit by a pitch, Perkins reached on another error, and Smith doubled to right to bring Jones home. Perkins also scored during the play when the return throw got away from the infield.
After Lopez walked and both runners advanced, Gilworth drove a single back up the middle to score Smith and Lopez. Gilworth later came home when Milan could not secure Hurley’s fly ball, pushing the lead to 14-1.
Gilworth finished 3-for-3 with a double, five RBIs and three runs scored. Smith went 3-for-4 with a double, three RBIs and three runs, while Jones was 2-for-2 with a hit by pitch and three runs scored. Tennill contributed a hit and two RBIs, and Hurley, Ingersoll and Vice each added a hit.
Jones opened the fourth with her second single and eventually scored on Perkins’ groundout for Putnam County’s final run. With rain beginning to fall late in the game, Perkins closed out the fifth by retiring Marquina, striking out Mazey Miller and getting Aileen Herington to ground out.
“She has a lot of command in her movement and her pitches,” Webb said of Perkins. “She can kinda do what she wants with her fastball, and she throws a really nice curveball.”
Webb also pointed to the benefit of having pitchers who present different looks to opposing hitters.
“She’s a lot different than Rory, and I think that benefits us in some situations, that we can mix it up,” Webb said. “I have full confidence putting her in that circle right when it’s necessary.”
Sayre took the loss for Milan, allowing nine runs, five earned, on nine hits over two innings. Taylor pitched the final two innings, allowing six runs, three earned, on three hits with one walk. Milan fell to 3-12 overall and 0-7 in conference play.
Putnam County is scheduled to host Trenton on Thursday, weather permitting, before heading to the Schuyler County tournament Saturday.
Photo courtesy for this story provided by Haley Watt
(This game recap is presented based upon the coverage of the Hometown Radio Sports Network. Any statistics given should be deemed as unofficial.)
