By Blake Colston
Sports Editor
EDMOND – Piedmont was three outs away from advancing to the state semifinals.
Coweta had other plans.
The Tigers rallied for three runs in the top of the seventh inning to nip the Wildcats 3-1 in a Class 5A quarterfinal Thursday at Edmond Santa Fe.
Taylor Vaughn’s RBI-single tied the game in the seventh and Kooper McCoy drew a bases-loaded walk one batter later to drive in the eventual winning run.
PHS finishes the season 30-9. Coweta (29-8) advances to tomorrow’s all-Tulsa area semifinal against Bishop Kelley, who edged Noble 2-0 in the opening game of the day.
The Tigers’ rally spoiled a strong pitching performance from PHS starter Caleb Lunnon, who scattered five hits and did not allow a run over six innings. Lunnon was at 110 pitches after six innings, only 10 pitches short of the 120 allowed by rule and did not go back out for the seventh.
Gabe Clyden came on for the save, but only got one man out before loading the bases. Dillon Dibrell followed Clyden and allowed all three inherited runners to score.
In the Wildcats final at-bat, Logan Hill drew a lead-off walk, but Coweta starter Gunnar McCollough struck out the next three batters to close out a complete game performance. He totaled eight strikeouts and allowed four hits.
Piedmont appeared to be in control with Lunnon on the mound. He worked around a jam in the first inning and relied on a pair of stellar defensive plays to keep Coweta scoreless later.
Rightfielder Cole Riggs threw out a Tiger runner at the plate after a base hit in the fourth. In the sixth, Clyden completed a relay to the plate to nail another Coweta runner trying to score from first on a double to left.
Dibrell, who started the game as Piedmont’s designated hitter, delivered the ‘Cats’ only RBI of the day on a bouncing ball through the right side in the second to give the ‘Cats a 1-0 lead. Piedmont left the bases loaded.
PHS had another opportunities to score in the first when Riggs was at third with two outs, but was left stranded there.
Piedmont was in search of its first state title in school history.
