Cougars Are Region Baseball Champs

Piedmont Academy’s varsity baseball team will enter the upcoming state tournament as a No. 1 seed following Tuesday 10-0 win against Briarwood Academy.

That region win secured the Cougars the 4-AA championship as they close out the regular season this week. It will also guarantee the team at least two home state playoff series.

“We needed to win at least one of our last two region games,” coach Daniel Funt said. “The win against Briarwood makes us region champs.”

Tuesday was also Senior Night as the school recognized Hunter Burson, Luke Andrews, Zach Beggs, Michael Davis, Hunter Knox and Josh Williams.

The Cougars jumped out to a 5-0 lead Tuesday after the third inning and added four more runs in the bottom of the fourth to essentially close the door on Briarwood.

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Brock Carter earned the win going all five innings and striking out eight batters. He allowed just one hit and no runs.

Noah Quick was 3-for-3 at the plate with a run and three RBI while Carter was 3-for-3 with three RBI.

Michael Edwards scored two runs and was 1-for-3 while Hunter Knox was 1-for-3 with two runs and two RBI. Andrews also had a 1-for-3 day with a run and two RBI.

Prior to Tuesday, Piedmont rebounded from its first region loss of 2015 to defeat Windsor Academy 10-5 at home.

The Cougars benefited from another strong pitching performance from Beggs, who went five innings and recorded two strikeouts. Davis closed the door in the sixth and seventh innings to record the save in the GISA Region 4-AA contest.

Piedmont had a 3-for-3 effort from Williams at the plate as he also drove in three runs. Mack Brady added a 2-for-4 day with a run and two RBI. Quick, Andrews, Beggs, Carter, Burson and Edwards also contributed offensively. Edwards also had two RBI.

After falling behind 1-0 in the top of the first inning, the Cougars scored four runs in the bottom of the second, one more in the third and three more in the fifth to take control of the game. Piedmont added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth.

Knox had two stolen bases and also scored two runs.

Monday’s win was needed as Piedmont dropped a 6-4 region game at Brentwood on April 24.

The host Eagles scored five runs in the bottom of the fifth to overcome a 4-1 deficit.

I knew getting on the bus that day, it was going to be a battle,” Funt said. “The kid from Brentwood (Samuel Joiner) is good, and if they can keep a game close, they are in it with him.”

Quick, Brady, Beggs, Andrews, Knox, Carter and Burson helped lead the offense.

Andrews worked five innings on the pitcher’s mound before Davis pitched the sixth inning.

Piedmont is now 12-5-2 overall and 6-1 in region play.

NOTES: Through Monday’s game, Beggs led the team with a .532 batting average with 10 doubles, one homer and 21 RBI. Quick had compiled a .417 average with 21 runs scored and 10 RBI.

Knox was batting .350 with 14 runs. Brady had compiled a .333 average with a homer.

Beggs was 5-0 on the pitcher’s mound while Davis was 4-1 with two saves.