Diamond Cougars Post Two Region Wins

The Piedmont Academy baseball team earned two additional wins during what was a busy stretch of days.

Coach Wes Tanner’s squad defeated Monsignor Donovan Monday in Athens 26-0 in region play.

While the game was one-sided against an overmatched Rams team, Tanner and his coaching staff did everything possible to not add on additional runs in the contest which was called after three innings due to the mercy rule. All players on the roster had a chance to compete and have plate appearances.

Sam Wright connected for his first high school home run while Zach Spivey and Caleb Faircloth saw action on the pitcher’s mound.

Last Thursday the Cougars also earned an 11-1 region victory against Thomas Jefferson. That win avenged an earlier season loss when the Jaguars with a 1-0 win.

In that region contest, Tate Marks earned the winning working all seven innings and recording seven strikeouts.

Offensively, Piedmont jumped out to a 4-0 lead after the first inning and never looked back. The Cougars added another run in the second inning before scoring five runs in the bottom of a third. A final run in the fifth inning closed out the contest.

Cameron Mobley was 3-for-3 with three runs and an RBI while Chase Porter was 3-for-3 with a run and five RBI. Spivey finished 2-for-3 with a run scored.

Sandwiched between those region games were two contests against Class AAA opponents. Piedmont fell to Gatewood 12-2 in a disappointing home contest.

Dawson Coe, Wright, Faircloth, Mobley, Spivey and Porter each had hits. Parker Clark, Noah Faubli, Marks, Griffin and Wright all drew walks.

Gatewood seized control early with four runs in the top of the first innings and two more in the second with three more in both the third and fourth frames.

Piedmont only managed runs in the fifth and sixth innings of the home contest.

The Cougars then fell Monday on the road 3-1 to Class AAA John Milledge Academy. The Trojans scored all three of their runs in the first inning and then held on for the win.

Marks was 2-for-4 with a run while Wright was 2-for-4 with the team’s lone RBI. Mobley had the other hit for Piedmont.

Wright and Marks both worked three innings with Porter pitching one. Wright and Marks both had four strikeouts.

Piedmont will travel to Briarwood today for a 4:30 p.m. region contest. The Cougars will then host Brentwood Saturday at noon.

Brentwood is currently the only team within striking distance of Piedmont in region play. Wins by the Cougars against Briarwood and Brentwood this week would wrap up a region championship. There is a scenario where Brentwood could finish tied for first which would cause a one-game playoff to determine the region champion. Tanner said details of that game, if necessary, would be decided after Saturday.