Cougars Prepare for Baseball Season

The Piedmont Academy varsity baseball team will continue to play with a bullseye on its back in 2016.

That’s the nature of the beast when you have won back-to-back state championships as the Diamond Cougars accomplished in 2014 and 2015. A new season is set to begin Monday for Piedmont against Bethlehem Christian Academy at home at 4 p.m. and for second-year Cougar head coach Daniel Funt, the upcoming campaign will present more opportunities for more on-the-field accomplishments.

“The preseason has gone really well,” Funt said earlier this week. “The kids are working hard. We have been focusing on fundamentals and getting everyone plenty of work.”

Piedmont has most of its varsity roster out for practice although a few remained involved in basketball season this week. Funt said the number of players on the varsity roster could reach as high as 20 although some of those would see most of their playing time on the B-team.

“There is probably some outside pressure on us after winning state the last two years,” the coach said. “Teams each season are going to be different. I tend not to focus too much on other teams, and keep the focus on us and what we are doing. We are constantly working to improve.”

Still, Funt said there is talent on the 2016 Diamond Cougars team.

“If our players perform to their ability, we will be very solid,” he said. “The attitude has been great and the effort has been there.”

Piedmont hosted Central Fellowship last week in a preseason scrimmage. The Cougars won the contest although coaches used the event more as a co-practice.

“Our pitchers looked real good,” Funt said. “We threw a lot of strikes. Our off speed pitches were OK. We had good control and good command. We didn’t have a ton of offense. It’s going to be different in a situation like that. We have done some intersquad work but that was the first time we faced another opponent. We did see some things we need to work.”

Funt should have plenty of pitchers to choose from this spring. Brock Carter, Mack Brady, Michael Edwards, Wyatt Galloway, Alan Powell and Noah Quick will likely all by used on the mound at some point this season.

Quick, Brady, Carter, Edwards and Galloway will be counted on at the plate along with Tyler Mills, Cameron Hammock, Hunter Whiting, Zach Wilson and Powell.

Junior Jay Sheets is a new player on the baseball team this season and will see time behind the plate at catcher.

The Cougars will be in Region 4-AA along with Windsor, Monsignor Donovan, Briarwood and Brentwood. The Windsor Knights played Piedmont in the state championship series last season, but have a new coach for 2016.

“Windsor did lose some players like we did, but they are always a good program,” Funt said. “They still have some pieces in place.”

Brentwood typically has a strong baseball team. Funt said the Eagles have a strong player at catcher and also have a “couple of guys who can pitch and keep them in ball games.”

Monsignor Donovan showed marked improvement in 2015, playing Windsor tough. Briarwood may have a tougher time competing in 4-AA, on paper at least.

Monday’s season opener against Bethlehem Christian is set for 4 p.m. The Knights won the Class A state title in 2013 and 2014 before moving up to Class AAA last spring. BCA still managed to advance to the semifinals before falling in a three-game series.

“BCA is a good program,” Funt said. “We will try this week to get our pitchers ready. We’ll probably use several pitchers the first week of the season. No one is expected to go the distance. We’ll see who can get in game situations and throw strikes.”

Knights coach Matt Nicks said Monday’s game, which is also the season opener for Bethlehem Christian, would be a tough challenge for his team.

“Piedmont is always a good team,” Nicks said. “They will compete for it all again this year. It will be an interesting first game to see where we stand. Piedmont’s program is to the point they could contend for it all in AAA as well.”

The Cougars will also travel to Loganville Christian Academy, another AAA team, on Tuesday at 4 p.m.

Assisting Funt with the Diamond Cougars this spring are Wes Tanner, Colt Spivey and Cameron Vaughn.

Piedmont’s B-Team squad will open the season March 4 at home against Loganville Christian Academy at 4 p.m. The Middle School Cougars will face Brentwood on Tuesday at home, also at 4 p.m.