Lady Cougars Begin Region Play with Loss, Win

The Piedmont Academy varsity fast-pitch softball team fell in its region opener last week to LaGrange Academy 6-1 on the road.

The Lady Cougars put their lone run of the game on the board in the top of the first inning on an RBI by Fleming Sealy.

LaGrange quickly knotted the game in the bottom of the first inning and added another run in the fourth inning. The Lady Warriors sealed the game with three more in the fifth and one final run in the bottom of the sixth.

Abby Arnold suffered the loss for the Lady Cougars working 4.1 innings, allowing five runs on 10 hits while striking out four. Averi Camp worked in relief starting in the fifth, pitching 1.2 innings.

Arnold threw a total of 78 pitches with 46 being strikes. Camp finished the game throwing 23 pitches, 15 of which were strikes.

Madison Johnson and Arnold both had two hits to lead the Piedmont offense. The Lady Cougars stole seven bases in the contest as Arnold had four.

It was somewhat of an unusual day for the Piedmont team. Their trip to the game was detoured to a wreck. This caused the team to arrive at the field approximately 30 minutes later than anticipated.

“It just wasn’t a good day,” coach Joe Johnson said. “We didn’t play our best softball at all.”

Piedmont rebounded in a home region game Monday against Flint River Academy. The Lady Cougars took a 13-0 victory in four innings.

After a scoreless first inning Piedmont scored four runs in the bottom of the second and four more in the bottom of the third. The Lady Cougars then pushed five more runs across in the bottom of the fourth to clinch the win.

Johnson was 2-for-3 at the plate with three runs scored and five RBI. Haiden Crews was 2-for-3 at the plate with two runs scored.

Jayden Young finished the contest 1-for-3 with a run and Arnold and Fleming Sealy both had multiple hits. Sealy drove in two runs while Arnold picked up an RBI.

Johnson, Crews and Arnold each had stolen bases. Camp earned the win in the pitcher’s circle.

“This week has been good,” Johnson said. “We needed to bounce back after the LaGrange game and we did. We get another chance at LaGrange. If we can beat them it would likely mean a tie for first in the region.”

A home game with Central Fellowship on Tuesday afternoon provided the Lady Cougars with another chance to put the LaGrange loss behind them. Piedmont took a 13-2 win in the non-region contest.

The big inning came in the third as the Lady Cougars scored 11 runs. Arnold and Young helped pace a balanced offensive attack while Maddie Waddleton and MaLynne Webb both drove in two runs.

Emily McEwen earned the win while recording six strikeouts.

The Lady Cougars will return to action next Wednesday against Westfield on the road in Perry at 6:30 p.m. Piedmont will host LaGrange Academy the following day at 4:30 p.m.

Johnson said the game against Class AAA Westfield will be a tough challenge but noted it would benefit his players to see quality pitching.