Lady Cougars Just Miss State Finals

The Piedmont Academy fast-pitch softball team needed just one more win to reach the state finals.

In the end, the Lady Cougars placed third for Class AA, compiled 27 wins and advanced further than any softball team in school history. The season was a special one for the players, coaches and fans.

“I am just so proud of what we did,” coach Danny Camp said. “It hurts when you get that close and don’t make it. Still, I am so proud of the girls. They came a long way and had a great season.”
Piedmont began play in the Final Four Monday falling to LaGrange 12-2.

“It wasn’t so much what we didn’t do, but what they did,” Camp said. “We played them in two close games during the season, but they just broke out like they are capable of doing.”

The Lady Cougars actually took an early 2-0 lead before LaGrange would respond. The big inning came in the second when LaGrange would score nine runs.

“They put the bat on the ball and put it where we weren’t,” Camp said. “It would just go away from us.”

Needing a win to stay in contention, Piedmont defeated Gatewood, 9-1. Carla Martin earned the win scattering six hits. Destiny Walker was 2-for-4 with four RBI, including a three-run double in the second inning.

Hailey Burnham was 2-for-3 with an RBI while Kacy Swart was 2-for-4.

The Lady Cougars then faced Flint River with a trip to the state championship series on the line. The Lady Wildcats would record an 8-0 win to end Piedmont’s season.

“We just couldn’t get anything going offensively,” Camp said.
Flint River took advantage of a five-run fourth inning to take control of the contest.

“As a coach, you look back and think about where you were the first week of practice and then where you ended up in the last 10 games,” Camp said. “We really saw tremendous improvement as the season progressed. We only had two games that really got away from us.”

The coach said playing quality competition during the season helped his team. Facing opponents such as Tattnall Square and Arlington proved beneficial in the long run, Camp said. The Lady Cougars advanced to the Final Four by sweeping Brentwood last week 8-6 and 10-2.

According to Camp and softball statistician/historian Carole Tyler, this is the first time in school history a Piedmont softball team advanced this far in the postseason.

“This is something for our program to build on,” Camp said. “This season was a lot of fun. They left it all on the field.”
Several players will return for next fall although seniors Katie Dimsdale, Jordana Pope and Walker graduate.

Piedmont will host an awards banquet for the softball program Monday, Oct. 25—varsity and middle school, as well as the middle school football program.