Lady Cougars Softball Post Victories Against Bethelehem, Brentwood

Piedmont Academy’s fast-pitch softball team posted an impressive road win Monday against an opponent that is not accustomed to losing.

The Lady Cougars defeated Bethlehem Christian Academy 15-2 as Madison Johnson led the offensive charge by driving in six runs. A nine-run fourth inning helped seal the victory for Piedmont.

Even before Monday’s game Lady Cougars coach Joe Johnson said he thought the team’s offense was improving. As it turned out the offense took a huge leap forward in the road game at BCA.

The offensive firepower for the Lady Cougars was led by Abby Arnold, Emily McEwen, Fleming Sealy, Maddie Waddleton, Averi Camp and Johnson who all collected RBIs in the fourth inning.

Arnold took the win working in the pitcher’s circle. She pitched three innings, allowed one hit and one run while striking out two batters and walking one. She threw a total of 42 pitches, 27 of which were strikes. Camp threw one inning in relief out of the bullpen. Of her eight total pitches, seven were for strikes.

McEwen, Waddleton, Johnson and Arnold each doubled in the game. Haley Ann Frank, Waddleton and Arnold had stolen bases.

Piedmont Academy had 12 hits in the win with McEwen, Johnson, and Arnold each managed two. The Lady Cougars led 6-1 after the third inning before scoring nine in the fourth.

The BCA Lady Knights went undefeated in the GICAA this past spring winning that league’s state title. The previous season BCA advanced to the semifinals. The Lady Knights moved into GISA competition this fall and fell to 1-1 after Monday’s game.

Piedmont meanwhile was state runner-up last season after winning the GISA Class AA championship in 2017.

The Lady Cougars also defeated Brentwood this past Saturday 6-5.

Johnson had an RBI double in the first inning before Piedmont pushed four runs across in the second. Frank singled on her first pitch of the at-bat, scoring one run. Jayden Young singled on a 0-1 count, scoring one run and Fleming Sealy grounded out picking up an RBI in the process.

McEwen was in the circle for Piedmont. She worked four innings allowing three hits and three runs while striking out six and walking only one. She threw a total of 75 pitches, 49 for strikes.

Camp finished out the final three innings. She allowed four hits and two runs. She also recorded two strikeouts while throwing a total of 50 pitches, 29 for strikes.

Piedmont compiled 10 hits in the game. Young, Johnson, Waddleton and Frank each collected multiple hits for Piedmont.

“We managed to squeak one out,” Johnson said of the Brentwood game. “We are getting better a little better each week. The girls are starting to come around at the plate. We are playing better overall. We are seeing some positives.”

The Lady Cougars will host Windsor Thursday at 6 p.m. in a rematch from earlier this season. Piedmont will then travel to John Milledge Academy Tuesday for a 5:30 p.m. game.

The Middle School Lady Cougars were rained out against Westfield last week and will return to action Thursday against Windsor at 4 p.m. The team will also play at JMA next Tuesday.