Lady Cougars Off To Fast Start

It has been so far, so good for the Piedmont Academy softball team.

The Lady Cougars are off to a 3-0 start after quality wins against strong opponents to start the 2024 season.

Piedmont defeated George Walton Academy 5-4 on August 8 in the season opener before recording wins against Westfield (5-2) and Pinewood (13-3) on Saturday.

“We are excited to be 3-0 after playing two of the top teams in GIAA,” said coach Joe Johnson. “We are swinging the bat really well through the first three games.”

In the win against GWA, MacKenzie Plunkett earned the win pitching all seven innings and recording 10 strikeouts.

Offensively, Teagan Hinson had two hits, one run and one RBI while Kylee Keck had a hit, run and RBI.

Shaniyah Lane had two hits, one run and one RBI and freshman Sarah Ellen Stroud had one hit.

Marissa Holder contributed offensively with two hits and Memphis Sweat added a hit, run and RBI.

Kolbee Osborne had two hits, including a double. Hinson, Lane and Stroud each had one stolen base.

In the game against Westfield, the game was scored 2-2 after the first inning. Piedmont added a run in the top of the third and two more in the top of the fourth.

Hinson had two runs with one run scored with Holder having two hits (one double), two RBI and one run. Sweat also connected for two hits with two RBI and one run.

Keck was 2-for-3 with a run scored.

Lilly Stowe and Lane also helped contribute offensively.

Plunkett earned the win in the pitcher’s circle allowed just one earned run and striking out four.

The Lady Cougars took early control against Pinewood with three runs in the first and four more in the second. Piedmont scored two more runs in the fourth and four additional runs in the fourth inning for the victory.

Hinson, one of the team’s seniors, had two runs, two runs and four RBI. She also connected for her first homer of the season.

Keck drove in three runs and scored three times while Stowe had two hits, two runs and an RBI.

Lane drove in two runs with three hits and three runs scored. Stroud scored two runs and Holder had two hits, including a homer, and two RBI.

Osborne had two hits while Plunkett and Sweat both had one.

Lane had two stolen bases with Hinson, Keck, Stowe and Stroud all with one.

Sweat worked in the pitcher’s circle striking out three.

Despite the early-season success, Coach Johnson said there is still plenty of room to improve.

“We have some room for improvement but defensively we have been solid with no big mistakes,” Johnson said. “Our pitching has been great since MacKenzie has two nice starts and Memphis had a good win Saturday. We are looking forward to a great season.”

Piedmont was scheduled to play Loganville Christian Academy on Wednesday of this week and will travel to Brentwood on Thursday, Aug. 22 for a 4:30 p.m. contest.