Cougars Begin Quest for Repeat Title
Piedmont Academy’s quest for another state baseball title will begin Friday as the Cougars host Solid Rock Academy of Fayetteville.
The teams will play a doubleheader Friday in Monticello beginning at 3 p.m. A third game, if necessary, would be Saturday at 1 p.m., also at Piedmont.
Coach Daniel Funt’s team enters the postseason as a No. 1 seed after winning the Region 4-AA championship. Solid Rock is the No. 4 seed from Region 1-AA.
“We are excited to finish up the regular season and try to get sharp for the playoffs,” Funt said. “There are several good teams in AA and it will be a battle each and every round. I’m proud of our players. They just have to remember to take it all one pitch at a time, one inning at a time and one game at a time. The playoffs are a war of attrition.”
Other first round GISA Class AA matchups include Brentwood at Flint River, Georgia Christian at First Presbyterian Christian Academy, Twiggs Academy at Crisp Academy, Brandon Hall at Windsor, Monsignor Donovan at LaGrange Academy and David Emanuel at Southwest Georgia. Robert Toombs Christian, the No. 1 seed from Region 2-AA, received a bye since Region 3-AA did not have a No. 4 seed.
Admission cost for the state playoffs set by the GISA will be $7 for adults and $4 for students (grades one and up.)
Piedmont, a heavy favorite in the first round, enters state with a 14-5-2 overall record. The team finished with a 7-1 region mark.
Funt’s team has won eight of its last nine games and 12 of its last 14.
The Cougars defeated Gatewood 3-1 Monday on the road in Eatonton in a non-region title. The Gators are actually a No. 1 seed for the Class AAA playoffs.
Piedmont scored a run in the top of the fifth inning and two more in the top of the sixth to secure the victory. Zach Beggs worked the first four innings allowing three hits while striking out four. The game was scoreless when Beggs finished pitching.
Mike Davis registered the win after throwing the final three frames with an addition four strikeouts.
Offensively, Beggs was 1-for-2 and drove in two runs. Mack Brady was 1-for-2 with an RBI while Brock Carter and Michael Edwards were also 1-for-2. Hunter Burson was 1-for-3 at the plate against Gatewood.
“It was a good team win,” Funt said of Monday’s victory. “It was against a tough opponent. Playing them will help us in the playoffs.”
Piedmont closed out the regular season Tuesday with a trip to Monsignor Donovan. The Cougars took an easy 14-0 win in Athens.
Luke Andrews earned the win going three innings before Carter finished out the final two innings. Beggs was 3-for-4 at the plate with a run and three RBI. Hunter Knox was 2-for-2 with two runs and an RBI.