Eatonton Messenger
The Putnam County High School (PCHS) softball team faced its first week of real ball this season, with the Lady War Eagles getting started Aug. 10, at Lincoln County High School. That game ended with the Lincoln team ahead 17-5 in the fourth inning as time ran out.
The next day, however, the Putnam girls were ready to come back with a bang on their home field against Athens Christian Academy.
Athens was first up to bat when the opening inning began, but PCHS was ready to play. The Putnam team worked together with efficient fielding to swiftly get two outs. Then the next Athens batter didn’t even get an opportunity to go on base since her pop up was caught by Eva Espin, ending the opposing team’s hitting turn before any of them saw second base.
That sent the Lady Eagles up to bat; however, they were not able to get on base in time.
The second inning came and Athens Christian went up to bat once more, and once again were unsuccessful in scoring. Two was the lucky number for the Lady Eagles, though. In a flash, Taylor Eubacks got on base, eventually stealing her way up to a risky head-first slide into third. She was safe and ready to go to home plate.
Gianna, the team’s catcher for this game, then got a good hit that sent her safely to first. A substitute runner took her place and then stole her way to second base, placing two Putnam players ready to go straight for home plate. Sam Spasik, the Lady Eagles firstbase player, was next and her turn at bat was just what the girls on base needed to get the Lady Eagles two runs on the scoreboard.
PCHS softball lead off Jenna McDerment then made sure not to disappoint, bringing in Spasik, but in the process, she unfortunately was thrown out at first. Nonetheless, the score was 3-0 Putnam before the third inning went by in a flash—literally—as lightning struck nearby, causing officials to put a stop to the game.
The teams settled for finishing the game off when they face each other again Sep. 8, at Athens Christian Academy.
Two days later, on Aug. 13, the Lady Eagles entered their first double-header of the season, again playing Athens and then Oglethorpe. The first game was called in the 5th inning at 10-0 in favor of Athens Christian, with the second again called in the 5th at 13-2 for Oglethorpe.
The results were obviously not as encouraging as their lightning-shortened home game, but the Lady Eagles’ softball team continues to learn and grow together while keeping their spirits high.