Injuries Plague Cougar Softball

The combination of injuries and having to allow younger players time to gain game experience caused Piedmont Academy softball coach Danny Camp to see his team take its share of lumps this season.

Things may have started to turn around in recent outings, however, as the Lady Cougars posted wins against Strong Rock, Gatewood and Nathanael Greene.

“It was nice to see the results,” Camp said. “It actually started in the Briarwood game when we lost 4-2. We battled in that game. I can’t say enough about the girls and the leadership they have shown.”

Last Thursday Piedmont traveled to Strong Rock for a region game and emerged with a 3-2 win.

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“We were able to eliminate that one big inning,” Camp said. “Their pitcher who had 15 strikeouts against us in the previous game only had two this time. We played errorless ball. I can’t express how thrilled I was for our team. They kept battling, fought hard and it finally paid off.”

Alicia Bassett earned the win returning to the pitcher’s mound after missing more than two weeks due to an ankle injury. Kacy Swart and Hailey Burnham had handled the pitching duties in her absence, but Camp noted the team missed their defensive play in the field while they were pitching.

On Monday, the momentum continued with a 6-0 win against non-region rival Gatewood, a team which had previously defeated the Lady Cougars three times in 2009.

Swart and Burnham were both 2-for-3 at the plate while Destiny Walker and Randi Small both drove in runs.

Bassett limited Gatewood to just three hits in seven innings.

“I can’t say enough about Alicia,” Camp said. “We didn’t let her throw at all for two weeks.”

Once again, Piedmont did not have any errors in Monday’s win.

The winning continued Tuesday as the team was able to jump out to an early lead and cruise to a 13-2 road victory at Nathanael Greene. The win improved Piedmont to 2-2 in region play.

“We are doing well now,” Camp said after the game. “Hopefully, we have worked our way back into the mix.”

Bassett worked all six innings for her fifth victory of 2009. Walker, Swart and Burnham were each 2-for-5. Freshman Brittany German also had two hits while Small drove in two run.