By Trey Hunter
Sports Editor
TULSA – The Wildcats clawed their way to one of eight spots in the 2019 Class 5A state tournament last weekend. And in true form, the team tried to scratch its way into the semifinals.
Piedmont jumped out to a one-run lead early and tied the game 2-2 midway through. But after allowing a pair of late-inning runs, the Wildcats were ousted from the state tournament, 4-2 by Pryor Thursday at Broken Arrow High School.
In the first of potentially three win-or-go-home games, both squads sent out its aces to square off in what turned out to be a well-pitched game. Jacob Ellis started for the Cats and nearly went the distance while the Tigers sent out Arkansas signee Gus Collins.
“They threw a tough pitcher,” Piedmont coach Adam Skokowsi said. “He was spotting his fastball pretty well down and away, but didn’t have his curve ball early on. We battled and put some balls in play, especially on the two scoring plays which were huge and made it anybody’s ball game.”
Piedmont scored twice on Collins, who allowed two hits and a walk over seven innings. Dylan Hampton singled with one out in the first before stealing second and scoring on an error off the bat of Jared Gay for a 1-0 lead. Ben Abel tied the game in the top of the fifth inning with a solo home run to center field.
Pryor regained the lead in the bottom of the fifth after a two-out walk and a double before tacking on a fourth run in the bottom of the sixth on a double and a fielder’s choice.
Skokowski was pleased with his team’s effort in the loss, but saw key fielding mistakes and free passes play a factor in the decision. The Cats walked six batters in the game.
“It was a story of a couple of plays we didn’t make defensively that we could have and walking guys,” the Piedmont skipper said. “Walked too many guys that ended up scoring. A couple of walks won’t hurt you sometimes, but sometimes they will.
“They had a run scored on a catch we could have made, too. I’m not going to blame it all on pitching because there were things we could have done here or there to score or to prevent runs.”
Ellis allowed four runs on six hits and six walks with two strikeouts before Caden Storts recorded the final two outs in relief. The Cats were held to two hits, Hamton and Abel’s knocks to score the team’s two runs.
Piedmont finishes the season 28-11 after its third trip to the state tournament in four years and the first under first-year coach Skokowski. The team graduates 13 seniors, including Abel, Ellis, Jack Chester, Casey Cooper, Garrett Davis, Cayden Diccion, Skyler Fenton, Elijah Hall, Josh Henson, Cole Migl, Anthony Morejon, Tyler Terry and Brady Thomas.
