Lady Cougars Fall in Final Four

The Piedmont Academy softball team advanced to the Final Four but saw its season end Tuesday in a home semi-final series against Windsor Academy.

The Lady Cougars fell 7-0 and 8-6, falling just short of playing for a state championship.

In Tuesday’s first game Piedmont actually had more hits than Windsor. Madison Johnson was 2-for-3 while Haley Ann Frank, Kenzie Rodgers, Ashley Johnston and Hailey Hooper all had one hit.

Windsor jumped out to a 2-0 lead after the top of the first inning and added a run in the third and two more in the top of the fourth. The Lady Knights added insurance runs in the fifth and sixth innings.

Neely Bradford pitched the first 4.1 innings with six strikeouts. Rodgers worked the final 2.2 innings and struck out two batters.

Needing a win to keep its season alive, Piedmont jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead in game two, but Windsor began chipping away at that advantage and had tied the score after the third inning.

The Lady Cougars moved back in front 5-4 after the top of the fifth (Piedmont was the designated visitor in game two) but the Lady Knights would score two runs in both the fifth and sixth innings to hold on for the two-run victory.

Frank was 2-for-4 with a run while Johnson was 2-for-4 in the second game Tuesday. Alexis Dodson finished 2-for-4 with two RBI while Bradley was 1-for-4 with two RBI. Johnston, Hooper and Cassidy Cook also contributed offensively.

The Lady Cougars complete the 2016 season with a 16-7-1 overall record and a region championship.

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In the Elite Eight, the Lady Cougars rallied after falling to Briarwood Saturday in game one of a best-of-three series to defeat the Lady Buccaneers in back-to-back contests.

In the quarterfinals, Briarwood won the opening game Saturday 6-3 before Piedmont took a 9-1 victory in game two to prevent elimination.

With the series tied at one game each, the Lady Cougars then recorded an 11-5 win in the third and deciding contest.

“The girls had a great attitude going into the day,” coach Daniel Funt said. “ We just looked like we hadn’t played in a week and half in the first game. We were a little flat. Briarwood is a very good and when they get the lead, they really play well. I give them a lot of credit.”

In game three, Piedmont fell behind 4-0 after the top of the first inning but had pulled to within 4-2 after the third inning. Briarwood added one more run in the top of the fourth before the Lady Cougars scored five runs in the bottom of the fifth inning and four more in the bottom of the sixth.

It took another balanced offensive performance to seal the series and advance. Frank was 3-for-4 with three runs while Ava Anglin was 3-for-3 with three runs and walk. Frank and Anglin are typically the first two batters in the lineup for the Lady Cougars and their effectiveness at getting on base has been key to the team’s success.

Johnson, whom Funt called the team’s most consistent batter all season, was 2-for-4 with a homer, five RBI and a run. Cook was 2-for-4 with a run and RBI.

Bradford also delivered a 2-for-4 performance with a run and two RBI while Johnston was 1-for-3 with an RBI.

Dodson was 1-for-2 with a run and Maddie Morton was 1-for-2 with a run.

It was also a combined effort in the pitcher’s circle in game three for Piedmont as Morton worked the first inning before Rodgers pitched the next 2.1 innings with three strikeouts. Dodson was then brought in before Bradford closed out the final 3.2 innings with six strikeouts.

Briarwood opened the Elite Eight series with a 6-3 victory scoring four runs in the top of the first and two more in the top of the second inning. Piedmont scored one in the bottom of the fourth and two more in the bottom of the seventh.

Bradford took the loss despite 12 strikeouts. Only two of her runs were earned.

“We had a couple of miscues early in the first game,” Funt said. “Neely settled down and I wanted to let her keep going. She got on a roll and kept the game close.”

Frank was 2-for-4 at the plate while Anglin was 1-for-4. Johnson was 1-for-3 while Bradford had a 2-for-3 game with a run and RBI.

Madison Burnham drove in a run while Morton was 1-for-3 with an RBI. Johnston was 1-for-2.

Having to have a win to continue their season, the Lady Cougars responded with a 9-1 win in the second game Saturday. Morton was the winning pitcher and had three strikeouts.

Piedmont led 6-1 after the second inning and added an insurance run in the fourth and two more in the sixth.

Frank was 3-for-3 with three runs while Cook was 2-for-4 with a run and two RBI. Morton was 3-for-3 with two runs and Dodson scored two runs.

Johnson finished 2-for-3 with an RBI and Bradford was 1-for-4 with an RBI.