The Putnam County baseball team began its 2024 season last week and struggled. The War Eagles started the year 0-3 after losses to Athens Academy, Lake Oconee Academy, and Jackson.
The War Eagles opened up the year at Class AA’s Athens Academy (ACAD), leaving with a 6-0 loss. They struggled against the Spartans, who were dominant from the plate and on the field.
Sophomore pitcher Wade Johnston took the mound for Putnam and was solid. He allowed only two runs through three innings pitched before being relieved of his duties in the fourth inning.
Senior hurler BJ Ruff replaced Johnston, then he pitched two full innings, allowing only one run before being pulled for sophomore Brannan Griffin, who gave up three in the top of the sixth.
At the plate, Putnam’s batters couldn’t find any momentum as ACAD threw a no-hitter. The box score could be a little misleading, though. The War Eagles were barreling some balls, but they couldn’t find the grass.
Putnam returned to the diamond less than a day later against Lake Oconee Academy (LOA) in Greensboro. However, the Titans outlasted the War Eagles, defeating them 6-3 after a quick start.
Both teams scored three runs in the first inning, and it looked like it could be a high-scoring game.
The starters settled in after that until the Titans added two runs in the bottom of the third inning. Hunter Holder was on the mound for the War Eagles and went five innings, allowing six runs on five hits.
LOA added two more runs in the fifth.
Putnam finished the game with four hits as Dodd, Griffin, Holder, and Ruff all reached base safely. Ruff had two RBIs in the first inning after knocking a line drive into right field. Holder had the only other RBI for the War Eagles.
Putnam had its home opener against Jackson on Monday, and that was a game where much didn’t go its way.
In the top of the first inning, the Red Devils were able to plate two runs, but the War Eagles matched them in the bottom of the inning to tie the game at 2-2.
It was all Jackson after that, as the Red Devils tacked on 15 more runs to win the game convincingly. Pitching was the downfall for the War Eagles in this one. They allowed only eight hits but walked 13 batters.
Jackson’s pitching staff also limited Putnam to three hits. The War Eagles struck out only twice and made solid contact, but couldn’t put the ball in play as the Red Devils’ defense made plays behind their pitcher.
Putnam County will try to bounce back in upcoming contests next week against Jasper County, Heard County in a rematch with Jackson, and in a home-and-home series versus Social Circle.