Diamond Cougars Win Season Opener

The Piedmont Academy baseball team started the 2012 campaign in a big way with a 16-1 win against Nathanael Greene Monday afternoon.

The Diamond Cougars, who had to wait several days before they could play an official game because of weather conditions, wasted little time in coming to life offensively. After visiting Nathanael Greene took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, Piedmont responded with seven runs in the bottom half.

Cole Hamilton, Hunter Knox, Logan Partenza and Josh Brennan helped lead the first-inning charge.

The Cougars put four more runs on the board in the bottom of the second followed by another run in the third. Four additional runs in the bottom of the fourth inning closed the game out.

“We made good contact and were patient at the plate,” coach Danny Camp said. “We took advantage of our walks and then connected on good pitches.”

McKenzie Brittain, a sophomore, got the opening day start and recorded the win. Camp was also able to get Zach Beggs and Glade Tuggle pitching experience.

Partenza finished 2-for-2 with four RBI while Hamilton was 2-for-3 and drove in three runs. Knox drove in two runs while Andrew Wilzman had an RBI double. Josh Williams also contributed at the plate.

“We played really well for the first game,” Camp said.

Piedmont dropped a 6-4 contest to Trinity on the road in Dublin Tuesday. The game only lasted five innings before it was called due to darkness.

The Cougars jumped out to a 4-0 lead after the third inning but Trinity was able to rally.

Piedmont will host Windsor Saturday at noon before traveling to Bethlehem Christian Tuesday for a 4 p.m. game.