NEW MARKET — Southmont softball has been getting into the real grind of their 2024 season. With that the team had hit a little rough patch heading into Monday’s game against the North Putnam Cougars. Southmont had lost five straight games but to very good teams in the likes of Danville, Riverton Parke, and Clinton Central. Thanks to Southmont’s high powered offense playing like their normal selves again, the Mounties got back in the win column with a 16-6 win over the Cougars in six innings.
Southmont (7-10) used 19 hits to score their 16 runs and got the scoring started early and often. The Mounties plated three runs in the third, four in the second, added five in the fourth and secured the game with a four-run sixth to reach the 10 run rule.
The top three hitters in the Mounties lineup combined to go 10-13 as Anna Stokes went 4-5 and scored four runs. Jenna Grino was on base all five times and went 3-3 and was a home-run shy of the cycle to go along with 3RBI’s while Mallory Mason went 3-5 and also drove in three runs. Freshman Kenzie Clate started behind the plate and also reached base all five times while going 4-4 with two RBI’s. Kendall Priebe went 2-5 with a triple and double while adding three RBI’s of her own and Catie Himes added two hits. Kyndale Rice rounded out the hitting for South with a single.
“A lot of our girls got their swings back tonight,” Southmont coach Dan Taylor said. “Our top three in Anna, Jenna, and Mallory were on all night long then Catie Himes and Kendall Priebe both had big hits and drove in some runs for us. Tonight was a night that we got well at the plate and I was happy to see that from all of our girls. These last few games we didn’t play Southmont softball and we got back to that and it was good to see.”
Freshman Sammie Crosby picked up the win for the Mounties in going the distance in the circle. In six innings the first-year hurler gave up seven hits and six runs while striking out and walking four.
“Anytime you can have a freshman out there and throw a complete game is a good thing,” Taylor said of Crosby. “We love for her that she’s continuing to get that experience. She worked herself out of trouble in a few innings and for the most part didn’t get hit all that hard until the final inning. She’s a key piece for us because she allows Kyndale (Rice) to get some needed rest. You combine her outing with what we were able to do at the plate and it was just one of those feel good games for us all the way around.”
North Putnam (3-15) got their six runs on seven hits and scored one in the second, two in the third, one more in the fourth and two in the sixth. Callie Riggle had a two-RBI single in the third and the other big hit for the Cougars came off the bat of Morgan Mason who hit a two-run home run in the sixth. Morgan went 2-3 with those two RBI’s. Hailee Daigle, Lexi Daigle, Kaylynn Lawrence, Bailee Pride, and Riggle all had a hit each for the Cougars.
Cam Riggle took the loss on the mound as the sophomore gave up those 16 runs but just 12 earned on the Mounties 19 hits. She struck out seven and walked three.
Southmont will take on the Lebanon Tigers in Sagamore Conference action this week then conclude SAC play next week against Western Boone.
“It’s a great thing to be in our conference because you know you’re going to see great teams,” Taylor said. “WeBo and Lebanon are both very good and most years we’ve been competitive with both of them. My hope is we play our best softball and let the wins and losses fall where they may.”
