Monticello and Piedmont Middle School Softball Teams Face Off

Monday afternoon’s Middle School softball scrimmage had a definite local flair to it.

Jasper County Middle School hosted Piedmont Academy’s Middle School Lady Cougars in a preseason scrimmage for both teams. Piedmont took a 14-2 win while both coaches saw positives from their teams as well as some areas which need improving.

“We played pretty well,” Piedmont coach Joe Johnson said. “We were a little shaky to start but we settled down after that.”

The game was tied 2-2 after the first inning. The Lady Cougars used a big third inning to take control of the contest.

“In Middle School softball having extra base hits is a big deal,” Johnson said. “We were able to do that and drive in some runs. We do have some things to iron out. We missed some signs but things of that nature are normal for the first time out. We had a couple of players who had not played in a while.”

Emily Whitwell was the winning pitcher Monday working a complete game and allowing just one walk with multiple strikeouts.

For Jasper County coach Stacey Moran the scrimmage Monday was a chance for her players to gain experience on the field.

“Piedmont played really well,” Moran said. “We used this as a time to get players some work against another opponent and we used players at different positions to see who is strongest where. I think we are going to have a competitive team and season.”

Moran is in her first season as the Middle School Lady Canes head coach after working as an assistant last year.

“We will go back to work and keep getting better,” the JCMS coach said.

Moran’s team includes eighth graders Kendall Place, McKenzie Diaz, Hayley Beverly, Navaeh Pruitt and Madison Kelly. Seventh grade team members include McKenzie Murrell, Kyla King, Hailey Roper, Madelyn Taylor and Khayden Hope.

Six graders for JCMS include Gabi Stacey, Kylee Schell, Maggie Jenkins and Haven Cannon. Cierra Peters is the team manager. Moran is assisted by Ashley Clegg.

Following Tuesday’s scrimmage the Lady Canes will open the regular season August 13 at Loganville at 4:30 p.m. JCMS will then travel to Putnam County Aug. 16 before hosting Youth Middle School on August 20.

Those games begin at 4:30 p.m. as well.

Piedmont and Jasper County will meet again Sept. 3 with the Lady Cougars hosting this time. The contest will be at 6:30 p.m.