Putnam County may have fallen short in its region series against Social Circle, but the War Eagles showed plenty of fight across the three-game stretch.
After nearly two weeks off, Putnam County opened the series March 17 with a 12-9 win at Social Circle but dropped both ends of a doubleheader on March 20 at home, 7-2 and 10-7, as the Redskins rallied to take the series.
Still, War Eagles’ head coach Stephen Phillips said he came away encouraged by what he saw from his team against one of the most consistent programs in the classification.
“I think it was huge for our program and for our kids’ confidence,” Phillips said. “Just being able to see that they can compete with anybody … that’s big for us.”
Game one against Social Circle highlighted Putnam County’s capabilities. The War Eagles came out looking determined and backed it up with production at the plate. Jackson Dodd and Branan Griffin each had three hits and combined for five RBIs, while Wyatt Sims and Trace Watkins added two hits apiece.
“It’s probably the most locked in I’ve seen our kids heading into a game or a series,” Phillips said. “To go out there in game one and pull off the win, it just kind of carried over into the next two with the confidence of, ‘We belong here.’”
Starting pitcher Ethan Whatley struggled, allowing eight runs — six earned — on just two hits while walking seven and striking out one over two innings. But the bullpen, led by Edwin Collins, Wyatt Sims, and Gates Lanzarone, stabilized the game, giving up just one run on four hits with six strikeouts and only two walks.
Game two proved more challenging offensively, as Putnam County managed only three hits. Phillips, however, was quick to credit Social Circle’s pitching rather than dwell on the loss.
“There are times where you’ve just got to tip your hat,” he said. “Their guy on the mound just pitched really well. He kept us off balance and gave us little to work with. It’s part of the game.”
Game three was a back-and-forth battle. Putnam County made a late push, highlighted by a two-run home run from Sims, but couldn’t quite complete the comeback in a 10-7 loss. Still, even in defeat, Phillips saw growth.
“For us to go out there and be extremely competitive in all three games … both sides had to work to win,” he said. “That says a lot about where our kids are and how much they’ve grown.”
There were also individual milestones worth noting. Dodd recorded his 100th career hit in game three, while Collins provided a steady presence on the mound.
“Jackson getting to 100 hits, that’s a big deal for him and our program,” Phillips said. “Edwin threw really well and gave us a chance.”
While the War Eagles didn’t get the series results they wanted, the takeaway was clear — this is a group capable of competing and still learning how to finish.
“We’ve just got to have the confidence to go out there and get it done,” Phillips said. “We’re right there.”
The War Eagles won’t have much time to dwell on the series, as they return to region play this week with a three-game set against Towers, followed by another tough stretch against Jasper County.
“We’ve got to look back at where we came up short and keep getting better,” Phillips said. “That’s the focus, just improve each day and be ready for the next one.”