North Putnam is 0-10 against Danville since April of 2017 but things could change on Saturday. The Cougars will square off against the Warriors at 11:00 a.m. North Putnam's pitching crew has only allowed four runs per game this season, so Danville's hitters will have their work cut out for them.
Cascade hit North Putnam with a seven-run sixth inning on Thursday, which goes a long way in explaining the final result. The Cougars came up short against the Cadets, falling 15-9. The pitching woes were uncharacteristic for the Cougars, who until this matchup were averaging four runs allowed.
Bella McElhany made the most of her time in the batter's box despite the final result and went 3-for-5 with one home run, four RBI, and two runs. That home run was her first of the season. Another player making a difference was Hailey Strother, who went a perfect 4-for-4 with two runs, one double, and one RBI.
Meanwhile, after only one run in their last game, Danville made sure to put some runs up on the board against Hamilton Heights on Friday. The Warriors put the hurt on the Huskies with a sharp 12-6 win. The high-scoring performance was a welcome turnaround for the Warriors' hitters, who had struggled in the games prior.
Autumn Muncy tossed a big game, pitching five innings while giving up three earned runs off six hits. She has been consistent: she hasn't given up more than two walks in eight consecutive appearances.
On the hitting side, Danville let Cassie Thompson and Maddie Newman run wild. Thompson went 2-for-3 with three runs and one double, while Newman went 2-for-5 with four RBI and one run. Piper Whitson was another key player, going 3-for-4 with two runs.
Danville is on a roll lately: they've won eight of their last nine contests. That's provided a nice bump to their 12-4 record this season. Those victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 10.1 runs over those games. As for North Putnam, their defeat dropped their record down to 9-3.
North Putnam's speedy runners might be the difference in Saturday's matchup. The Cougars have been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 4.8 stolen bases per game. It's a different story for Danville, though, as they've been averaging only 1.1 stolen bases. Will they be able to secure the bases, or will North Putnam continue to outrun the ball?
North Putnam might still be hurting after the 13-0 loss they got from Danville when the teams last played back in April of 2025. Can the Cougars avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
