Diamond Cougars Win Tuesday

The Piedmont Academy varsity baseball team stepped out of Region 1-AA play Tuesday to defeat New Creation 11-2 on the road in McDonough.

Corbett Tucker recorded the win to improve his season record to 6-1. Cole Hamilton and Blake Hammock worked in relief. The Cougars are now 13-6 overall.

Several players had productive days at the plate including Hammock (2-for-4, two RBI), Tucker (three-run double) and Kale Blackshear (1-for-2, two RBI).

“Even our outs were much crisper,” coach Danny Camp said. “We did a lot of good things.”

Hamilton, Austin Collier and Matt Wilson also had an RBI.
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“We have been doing the little things in recent games,” Camp said. “We are putting our leadoff runners on and moving them over and then getting hits with runners in scoring position.”

Piedmont earned its 12th win of the 2009 campaign Monday by defeating Pinecrest 4-3 in a non-region contest.

The Cougars earned the win in the bottom of the
seventh inning on a game-winning RBI from Jakey Dunagan.

Josh Stevenson earned his fifth win of the season working in relief of starter Blackshear who went the first five innings and did an “outstanding job,” Camp said.

At the plate, Blackshear was 2-for-3 with an RBI while Stevenson was also 2-for-3. Dunagan also finished 2-for-3 with an RBI.

The Diamond Cougars recorded two more region wins last week defeating Brentwood 2-1 Wednesday and Monsignor Donovan 10-2 Friday.

Against Brentwood, Stevenson went all nine innings as the teams needed two extra frames to decide things. Stevenson recorded 16 strikeouts while allowing just two hits and three walks.

Stevenson gave up a solo homer in the sixth, which was helped out of the park by the wind.

Trailing 1-0 going into their last at bat in the seventh, the Cougars tied the game on an RBI from Blake Hammock. Piedmont would leave the bases loaded, however, and go to extra innings.

In the bottom of the ninth, it would be Stevenson who came through with the game-winning hit.

“We had good pitching and defense,” Camp said. “I am proud of our guys for knowing it’s not over until it’s over. It was a big region game for us.”

The Cougars were able to cruise a little more against Monsignor Donovan two days later. Tucker took the win going the distance for his fifth victory of the spring.

Tucker recorded 10 strikeouts giving up just three hits.

“Our pitching staff has been stingy,” Camp said. “We have worked ahead in the county. We are throwing strikes and changing speeds effectively.”

Hammock was 2-for-4 while Daniel Leinweber drove in two runs. Matt Sessions was 1-for-3 with two RBI.

Piedmont is scheduled to travel to Westminter in Watkinsville Friday for a 4:30 p.m. Region 1-AA contest.