BROOKFIELD, Mo. - Rory Gilworth struck out 15 and allowed just two hits Wednesday night as Putnam County defeated Trenton 4-1 in the Class 2, District 6 quarterfinals at Brookfield High School. The Lady Midgets were held to one hit but took advantage of seven Trenton errors, using their baserunning and bunt game to advance to a semifinal matchup with top-seeded Marceline.
The fourth-seeded Lady Midgets improved to 13-13 with the victory, while fifth-seeded Trenton finished its season at 12-12. Reagan Smith and Ava Perkins each scored twice for Putnam County, and Gilworth was credited with two RBIs while holding the Bulldogs scoreless over the final six innings.
The matchup came a week after Trenton defeated Putnam County 7-4 during the regular season, although both teams used different starting pitchers for the district meeting. Putnam County head coach Sara Webb said that was something both sides had anticipated with the postseason approaching.
“Last week it was kind of that we knew we were playing each other this week, so neither of us threw our number ones,” Webb said during her postgame interview on the Hometown Radio Sports Network. “We went out tonight, we executed. ... I’m just happy we got that win.”
Trenton struck first in the opening inning when Emma Welch placed a bunt down the third-base line for a leadoff single and stole second on the next pitch. Kimberly Clark followed with a fly ball that was misplayed in center field, allowing Welch to score for a 1-0 Bulldog lead. Clark eventually advanced to third, but Gilworth struck out Makkie Mejia and Claire Woodard to strand her there and keep the deficit at one.
Putnam County answered in the bottom of the first with a run built around its execution at the plate. Smith drew a leadoff walk, moved to second on a passed ball and reached third on a sacrifice bunt by Bela Lopez. Gilworth then grounded out to second to bring Smith home and tie the game at 1-1. Bryna Hurley followed with a two-out single to left, but Welch recorded a strikeout to prevent any further scoring.
That first-inning single by Hurley was Putnam County’s only hit of the game, but the Lady Midgets continued finding ways to get runners aboard and move them around. Webb said that approach was part of the team’s preparation for Trenton and something her players needed to execute to be successful.
“We can manufacture runs by being aggressive on the bases, capitalizing in situations, putting bunts down and those things, and we did that well tonight,” Webb said.
Gilworth retired Trenton in order in the second and third innings, recording two strikeouts in each frame. With the Bulldogs unable to add to their first-inning run, Putnam County took the lead in the bottom of the third when Perkins reached on an error in right field to start the inning. Two more errors allowed her to advance to third, putting the go-ahead run 60 feet from home.
Smith was hit by a pitch to give Putnam County runners at the corners, and Perkins scored on a wild pitch during Gilworth’s plate appearance for a 2-1 lead. Smith advanced to second on the same pitch and later moved to third before Gilworth hit a ground ball toward third base. An errant throw allowed Smith to score and Gilworth to reach safely, extending the Lady Midgets’ advantage to 3-1.
Putnam County scored both runs without a hit in the inning, capitalizing on four Bulldog errors. Perkins’ ability to reach ahead of the top of the order was particularly important, giving Smith, Lopez and Gilworth opportunities to help produce runs.
“She’s been really big in the past few games,” Webb said of Perkins. “That was kind of what I was hoping for, sticking her in that nine hole, that she can kind of turn that lineup over for us and keep us going.”
Trenton had a chance to answer in the fourth when Mejia reached on an error with one out and Woodard laid down a sacrifice bunt to move her to second. Gilworth worked out of the inning by striking out Sydney Blackburn, giving her eight strikeouts through four innings and preserving Putnam County’s two-run lead.
The Lady Midgets came up with another important defensive play in the fifth after Morgan Smith placed a bunt in front of the plate for Trenton’s second hit. With Lilly Ortega batting, Reagan Smith threw to Perkins at second to catch Morgan Smith attempting to steal. Gilworth then struck out Ortega to end the inning, leaving the Bulldogs without another scoring opportunity.
Perkins helped Putnam County add an insurance run in the bottom half. She reached on an error to lead off the inning and advanced to second on a passed ball. After Reagan Smith fouled out to the first baseman, Lopez put down a bunt that resulted in a throwing error. Perkins came around to score, and Lopez reached second as the Lady Midgets pushed their lead to 4-1.
Gilworth gave Putnam County a brief scare in the sixth when she slipped during her delivery and fell to the ground. Webb came out to check on her while the pitching area received attention, and Gilworth threw several warmup pitches before continuing. She returned to strike out Welch, Clark and Betsy Price in order, giving her 13 strikeouts through six innings.
“She amazes me every time she steps on the field,” Webb said. “She is the heart and soul of this team.”
Putnam County threatened to extend its lead in the bottom of the sixth when Oaklee Roberts and Perkins drew consecutive two-out walks. Reagan Smith sent a ball toward right field, but Lead Reed made a running catch to end the inning and keep Trenton within three heading to the seventh.
The Bulldogs put their leadoff batter aboard on an error in the final inning, prompting Webb to bring the Putnam County infield together before play continued. Gilworth struck out pinch hitter Kenlie McCall, and Blackburn followed with a sacrifice bunt that moved the runner to second with two outs. Gilworth then struck out Lucy Price swinging to finish the victory and send the Lady Midgets into the semifinal round.
Gilworth allowed one unearned run in seven innings, walked nobody and threw 62 of her 82 pitches for strikes. She recorded two strikeouts in every inning except the sixth, when she struck out all three batters she faced. Welch took the loss for Trenton despite allowing only one hit and one earned run over six innings, finishing with eight strikeouts and three walks.
Putnam County advanced to face Marceline in a semifinal scheduled for Thursday at approximately 6:30 p.m., weather permitting, following the South Harrison-Brookfield matchup. Webb said her team had kept its attention on Trenton throughout its preparation and would now turn to the top-seeded Tigers.
“Today, all through the weekend, and then really this week it was getting ready for Trenton,” Webb said. “It's going to be a late night tonight, but we’ll be ready to go.”
(This game recap is presented based upon the coverage of the Hometown Radio Sports Network. Any statistics given should be deemed as unofficial.)
Click here to listen to the broadcast of this game.
