Three Lady Cougars To Compete At Collegiate Level Next Year

The Piedmont Academy softball trio of Hailey Hooper, Madison Morton and Neely Bradford helped the Lady Cougars dominate the competition during their varsity careers.

Now each will continue their athletic and academic careers at the collegiate level as Piedmont hosted official signings for each in recent days. Hooper, a Monticello resident, will compete for Gordon State. Bradford, from Covington, will play for Georgia Military College and Morton, a Jackson resident, signed with Southern Union College in Alabama.

Hooper has played center field for the Lady Cougars for the past four seasons. Coach Colt Spivey estimated the senior has played every inning during those four seasons.

Hooper has been All-Region four years and All-State for one season.

“Hailey made less than five defensive errors her entire career,” her coach said. “She is just a solid player.”

Bradford has been one of the two key pitchers for the Lady Cougars compiling a 27-5 record with an earned run average of less than 1.50. As a junior Bradford was the winning pitcher in the game which clinched the state championship series.

Earning All-Region and All-State status for four consecutive seasons Bradford also played right field when not in the pitcher’s circle.

Morton was the other half of the Lady Cougar standout pitching combination going 31-2. She has been All-Region four years and All-State for two. Spivey said Morton is “very agile and quick.”

Bradford and Morton both posted undefeated records as juniors and as seniors helped lead Piedmont back to the state finals.

“We had the best pitching staff in the state,” Spivey said.

The Lady Cougar softball standouts were joined by family members, coaches, teammates and fellow students during their respective signings.

“All three are great young ladies on and off the field,” Spivey said. “They are each great kids from great families.”

Hooper, Bradford and Morton helped lead Piedmont to four consecutive region championships as well.

Teammate Cassidy Cook will compete at Young Harris and is expected to have her official signing Friday at 10:30 a.m. Details on her signing and accomplishments will be featured in next week’s edition.