Cougars Sweep Southwest Georgia

The games were certainly more competitive than the ones in the opening two rounds of the state playoffs, but the Piedmont Academy Diamond Cougars still managed to sweep their opponent last Friday and are back in the state championship series.

Piedmont swept visiting Southwest Georgia 3-0 and 8-6 and is set to play for a fifth state title in as many years (see related story in today’s edition.) The Cougars used a strong pitching performance in game one last Friday before surviving a lengthy weather delay and a determined Warriors team in game two.

“It was the way a semifinal series was supposed to be,” said coach Wes Tanner of the competitive matchup. “We are glad we were able to stay calm and get the wins.”

SEMIFINALS GAME #1

Another strong outing on the pitcher’s mound by Sam Wright helped lift Piedmont in the opening game of the semifinals.

Wright went the distance allowing just two hits while striking out six with one walk. The Cougar standout retired the first 11 batters he faced before Southwest Georgia’s Andrew Collins had a two-out single between third base and shortstop in the top of the fourth inning.

The Warriors actually turned that two-out single into a scoring threat as K.J. Warren then drilled a double. Wright got out of trouble, however, by striking out Ted Sasser leaving two runs stranded.

The game was scoreless through three innings before Piedmont got on the board in the bottom of the fourth. Rob Allgood had a leadoff walk followed by a walk to Wright. Clayton Carter then went into the game as a courtesy runner for Wright.

An RBI double from Chase Porter brought Allgood home for a 1-0 lead. Piedmont did leave two runners stranded.

Tanner’s team added another run in the bottom of the fifth inning as Caleb Faircloth had a leadoff walk. Allgood eventually brought Faircloth home on a single to center field.

The Cougars added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth when Owen Brady’s delivered an RBI triple. Tanner Locklear scored on the play as he was called upon as a courtesy runner for catcher Caleb Coffey who had previously doubled.

Southwest Georgia put one runner on base after a walk in the top of the seventh inning but Wright sealed the win.

Warren pitched well for the Warriors going all six innings and striking out six.

SEMIFINALS GAME #2

After having a surprisingly clear sky in game one the teams began the second half of Friday’s doubleheader with rain almost certain.

Piedmont took a quick 2-0 lead in the top of the first (the Cougars were designated visiting team in game two). Tate Marks doubled to get the threat started. Carter was called upon as a courtesy runner and later scored on a single by Allgood.

The second run came when Allgood stole third base and advanced home on the throw.

Southwest Georgia scored one run in the bottom half of the first on an RBI double by Andrew Collins.

Marks started the second game on the pitcher’s mound for the Cougars and worked 4.1 innings before giving way to Porter who pitched the final 2.2 innings.

Piedmont added two more in the top of the fourth inning before a weather delay was called lasting approximately 100 minutes.

Once play resumed the Cougars moved in front 5-1 but Southwest Georgia climbed back into the contest with two runs in the bottom of the inning.

Piedmont answered with three more runs in the top of the sixth keyed by a triple by Wright and an RBI double from Porter. Coffey’s double allowed Noah Faubli to score. Faubli, one of two seniors on the team, had been called upon as a courtesy runner.

Southwest Georgia refused to go quietly, however, and scored runs in its half of the inning. Only a double play for the Cougars prevented further damage.

Porter then closed out the game in the bottom of the seventh.

“Tate didn’t have his best stuff but he still went out and competed very hard,” Tanner said. “We then called on Chase who came in and he competed well too. That’s what you have to have to win games like that.”

The fact that Southwest Georgia did not go quietly did not surprise Piedmont’s coach.

“When the other team faces a win or go home for the season situation you expect a fight,” Tanner said.