Maddi Rutan
Maddi Rutan was perfect.
The Columbus North senior retired 15 straight batters to go along with eight strikeouts to throw a perfect game in a 10-0 five-inning softball win over visiting Jennings County Tuesday night.
It was deja vu for Rutan, as this is the second perfect game against the Panthers for her career. She got the job done Tuesday by only throwing 57 pitches.
“I couldn’t do it without my defense. They made some pretty good plays there in the first inning, especially when I wasn’t spot on,” Rutan said. “They definitely helped me out there like always.”
The Class 4A No. 2 Bull Dogs (22-1-1) got the scoreboard rolling against Jennings (12-14) in the bottom of the second when Kirsten Danford and Bailey King drew walks. That set up Payton Morris to smack a three-run home run over the right field fence for a 3-0 lead.
North added three more runs when Morgan Jarvis and Josie Lemmons singled, and Kelsey Lovelace walked to load the bases. Rutan smacked a triple to clear the bases for a 6-0 lead.
“We definitely had really good bats today,” Rutan said. “We hit well, and we did really good. We pounded it quick and early, and it was probably one of the fastest games we’ve played. It was fun.”
In the third inning, Morris hit a one-out double. Kaylee Cowan reached base on an error that allowed Morris to score. Jarvis hit a single, and Lemmons walked to load the bases. Lovelace then delivered a single to score two more runs and increase the lead to 9-0.
The Bull Dogs added the 10th and final run when Jarvis singled, and Lovelace drove her in with a single in the bottom of the fifth.
For North, Morris was 2 for 3 with a home run, a double and three RBIs. Jarvis was 3 for 3, Lovelace was 2 for 3 with three RBIs, Lemmons was 2 for 3 and Rutan was 1 for 2 with a triple and three RBIs.
“We’re hitting the ball real well,” North coach Ron McDonald said. “If we get a pitcher that takes two or three times to get around, then we explode. It’s a matter of time before we get to it.”
Kenzie Matern went five innings and allowed 10 runs on 11 hits for the Panthers.
Jennings wraps up its regular season Thursday at South Dearborn. North wraps up the regular season against county foe Hauser on Thursday, which will be the Bull Dogs’ senior night.
“We’ve been on a nice even keel all year of how we played,” McDonald said. “We’re not too high, we’re not too low, methodically going about our business. I’m hoping we can do the same in the sectional.”
