Softball Game Preview: Putnam Clippers vs. Montville Wolves

Putnam hasn't had much luck against Montville recently, but that could start to change on Friday. The Clippers are taking a road trip to take on the Wolves at 4:00 p.m. Putnam has given up an average of 11.4 runs per game this season, but Friday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.

Putnam couldn't beat Wheeler on Wednesday even though they stacked ten runs on them in the first inning. The Clippers came up short against the Lions, falling 22-12. While the Clippers didn't get the win, they did start the game off strong, beating the Lions 10-3 in the first period.

Olivia Hetrick made the most of her time at bat despite the final result and went 2-for-4 with three stolen bases, two runs, and two RBI. Brynn Dignam also deserves some recognition as she snagged her first stolen base of the season.

Meanwhile, Montville came up short against St. Bernard on Wednesday and fell 4-1. The contest marked the Wolves' lowest-scoring match so far this season.

Abby Daniewicz spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered three earned (and one unearned) runs on eight hits and racked up ten Ks. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't tossed less than six strikeouts in three consecutive appearances.

At the plate, Montville saw six different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Alanna Noonan, who went 2-for-4 with one double and one RBI. Michalina Anton-Stavens was another, going 2-for-3 with one run and one double.

This is the second loss in a row for Montville and nudges their season record down to 5-3. Those losses can't be blamed on the team's pitching effort, having only surrendered a grand total of 8 runs in those games. As for Putnam, they now have a losing record of 2-3.

Putnam might still be hurting after the 11-2 defeat they got from Montville when the teams last played back in April of 2024. Can the Clippers avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.