Baseball Cougars Begin Action Friday
Coach Danny Camp will lead his Piedmont Academy Diamond Cougars back into action this Friday in a two-day tournament at Thomas Jefferson.
After qualifying for the state tournament last spring, Piedmont is looking to continue that momentum with all but one player returning from last season’s roster. Camp is just now getting his complete lineup of players at practice as several also played basketball which just ended. Players have just been able to begin work on the baseball field.
“I believe we will be a team that gets better as the season goes,” Camp said earlier this week. “Defense and pitching were our strengths last year and we have practically everyone back. We are focusing on scoring more runs. We do have some power in the lineup.”
Catcher Brent Brown is the team’s lone senior for 2006. Brown was one of the standout players in 2005.
Randy Reagin (first base), Zack Kinney (pitcher), Andrew Steven-son (pitcher, right field), Joey Schroeder (left field) and Josh Phillips (center field, infield) are the team’s juniors.
Sophomores include Ben Cleary (infield, outfield), Cris Jackson (catcher, pitcher), Taylor Jackson (shortstop) and Clint Fields (third base). Taylor Jackson is continuing to recover from an injury suffered late in the basketball season and is not at 100 percent yet, Camp said.
{{more}}
Freshmen on the varsity roster this spring include Nick Rebuelta (third base), Andy Hall (second base), Ryan McBroom (first base, third base), Josh Stevenson (shortstop, pitcher) and Wade Roberts (outfield).
Helping Camp with the team this season will be Ken Jackson, Luis Rebuelta and Josh White.
Overall, the Diamond Cougars were right at the .500 mark in 2005, finishing fourth in Region 1-AA.
This year Piedmont will compete with Brentwood, Briarwood, Gatewood, Edmund Burke, Curtis Baptist and Monroe Academy in region play.
Camp said early indications are Brentwood, Briarwood and Gatewood will be the teams to beat in region.
The Diamond Cougars are scheduled to play Friday at Thomas Jefferson at 3:30 p.m. against Bulloch. The team will then play twice Saturday in games against David Emanuel (1 p.m.) and Curtis Baptist (2:30 p.m.)
Camp said there is a possibility Piedmont’s game times could change so those planning to attend are asked to contact Piedmont Academy’s main office to confirm exact game times.