Diamond Cougars To Host Playoffs
Piedmont Academy’s varsity baseball team is entering the postseason on a six-game winning streak.
The Cougars will host Westwood in a best-of-three quarterfinal matchup in the GIAA Class AA state tournament. Piedmont received a bye in the opening round while the Wildcats (13-7 overall) defeated Covenant Academy 6-5 on Monday to advance.
The series will begin with a doubleheader on Friday beginning at 1 p.m. A third game, if necessary, would be Saturday.
Leading into the postseason, the Cougars defeated Central Georgia Arts 14-0 on Monday. Piedmont made quick work of its final regular season opponent needing just three innings to record the win.
The Cougars jumped out to a 5-0 lead after the first inning before adding three runs in the second and six more in the third.
Hudson Reed continued his standout play in 2023 with a triple, three runs and three stolen bases. Gavin McCart had two hits, including a double, and scored two runs.
Jamus Wingate added a hit and RBI while Mason Morris had an RBI, two runs scored and three stolen bases.
Brayden Ross had two hits, an RBI and a run with Zach Simmons delivering two hits with an RBI and two runs. Simmons also had two stolen bases.
Chase Taylor contributed to the big offensive output with a triple and three runs. Alex Statham had two stolen bases.
Statham and Morris handled the pitching duties and both had three strikeouts.
Last Friday Piedmont defeated Central Fellowship on the road in Macon 11-3.
It was another big day for Reed who compiled a double, a homer, scored four runs and drove in two. Reed also stole two bases.
McCart had two hits with three RBI and a run. Wingate drove in two runs and Simmons and Taylor both had a hit and RBI.
Tyler Griswell and Statham both had two stolen bases.
Wingate and Ross both pitched and recorded six strikeouts each.
First year Piedmont Academy baseball coach Casey Moody said his team is playing well at the right time as the postseason arrives. Despite having a very young team with only one senior on the 2023 roster, Moody said he believes the team can make a deep postseason run.