In a two-game, home-and-home series last week, the Putnam County baseball team faced region opponent Thomson and split the results.
The War Eagles are now 8-11 overall on the year and 6-2 in Region 4-AA competition entering this week.
In game one last Wednesday, Putnam County came away with an exciting 5-4 victory at Thomson in extra innings. The game was tied 4-4 in the top of the 10th inning with two outs when Jacob Grimes slapped a single to left field. The senior’s line drive scored Hunter Holder from second base to take the lead.
With Holder on the bump in the bottom half of the frame, the Bulldogs got two batters on base via walks with one out. However, he was able to put away the next two hitters to secure the victory.
Grimes led the War Eagles offensively by going 2-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored. Freshman Jackson Dodd also had a productive night at the plate, with a team-leading two RBIs in game one.
Putnam County jumped out to a 2-0 lead in its first two at-bats before Thomson could even get on the board. A Dodd ground out in the top of the first scored Grimes to put the War Eagles up 1-0.
In the second, Wesley Essick scored on a squeeze bunt by Tanner Lukens, who reached first base safely. After the Bulldogs scored their first run in the bottom half of the inning, Putnam County added a run in each of the fifth and sixth innings. Dodd scored on a Mark Winslette ground out in the fifth frame before Dodd picked up his second RBI of the contest on a single that scored Holder.
Senior Ashton Jones got the start on the mound for the War Eagles. He hurled a gem, pitching 6.0 innings and gave up only four runs on two hits. Jones also struck out three batters but walked four.
Thomson’s big inning came when its back was against the wall trailing 4-1 in the bottom of the seventh. The Bulldogs rallied by scoring three runs off Jones to tie it up before he was pulled for Holder.
The Bulldogs’ rally came as Tre Lazenby’s single scored a run. A few batters later, he and senior Seth Adams would come around to score during different plate appearances to even the score at 4-4.
Holder provided solid relief for Putnam County as he pitched 4.0 innings and was credited with the win. The senior gave up zero hits to Bulldogs’ batters as he also struck out four and walked four.
In game two Friday night at PCHS, Thomson got its revenge by routing the War Eagles 17-9 with a stout effort in the final two innings.
Putnam County led 9-3 heading into the sixth, but the Bulldogs put together 10 runs in the bottom of the sixth to take a 13-9 lead. They also plated four runs in the seventh to reach the final score.
Thomson racked up a dozen hits in game two’s come-from-behind victory. The War Eagles’ pitching hit a wall late in the game and the Bulldogs took advantage.
After Wyatt Sims replaced Dakota Jones on the mound for Putnam, Thomson took the lead. Storm Hunt reached base on an error, with a pair of runs scoring as the Bulldogs got ahead 10-9.
Sims then struggled as he gave up two more runs before being replaced by Dodd, who also gave up a run. During the next at-bat, Grimes came in and was able to escape the sixth a few hitters later.
Thomson’s four runs in the top of the seventh inning all came with two outs and were off Grimes. The senior finished off the contest by giving up four runs on four hits in 1.2 innings of work.
Putnam County is off this week due to spring break. The War Eagles will hit the field again next week with Region 4-AA contests against Laney (April 11) and Westside-Augusta (April 12), both at home in Eatonton.