By Blake Colston
Sports Editor
Jackson Harriger knew it was only a matter of time.
Through two at-bats, Lawton MacArthur pitcher Kage Zeller had kept Piedmont’s potent lineup quiet, but the Wildcats weren’t discouraged, they were learning.
“We kept the energy up the whole time,” Harriger said.
When Harriger came to the plate for his first at-bat in the bottom of the third, the ‘Cats’ nine-hole hitter knew what he was looking for and hammered a double off the wall in left field. Three batters later, PHS had the lead and was on its way to its fourth consecutive state tournament.
“I was just waiting for my pitch and when I got my pitch I was going to drive it,” Harriger said.
Piedmont exploded for 11 runs over the final three innings to run rule the Highlanders 11-1 as the Wildcats put their entire arsenal on display while capturing their 28th victory of the season.
“Once our guys see a pitcher once, they do a great job of adjusting in their second and third at-bats,” Piedmont head coach Adam Skokowski said.
Harriger finished 3 for 3 with three doubles and three RBI’s after producing three RBI’s in the Wildcats’ 9-3 win over Mac in the regional semifinal on Thursday evening.
Piedmont’s senior catcher is a reliable defensive option, but also bats over .300. He’s part of the reason the Wildcats’ lineup is so dangerous, even beyond the middle of the order.
“One through nine we’re ready and we’re going to come up there and hit the ball hard,” Harriger said. “Every, single one of us has the ability to do damage.”
The Wildcats scored five times in the fifth capped by a two-RBI single from freshman Luke Hill that was the walk-off. After making outs in their first time up, Weston Thomas, Reid Smith and Nicholas Elmhorst each delivered run-scoring hits later in the game.
“The second time through we started barreling some balls up and the third time through was even better,” Skokowski said.
Starting pitcher Noah Smith lasted all five innings and totaled nine strikeouts without a walk to pick up the win. He allowed an unearned run in the first inning but made quick work of the Highlanders from then on. Smith controlled his fastball and consistently put away the Highlanders with a sharp curveball.
Back 2 Back 2 Back 2 Back Regional Champs!!! pic.twitter.com/Jev0wAhblQ
— Piedmont Baseball (@WildcatBSB) May 6, 2023
“In a regional tournament, you have less room for error and the thing (Noah) has done consistently is pound the zone with strikes,” Skokowski said. “He was dealing today.”
Piedmont (28-9) will open play in the state tournament on Thursday in Tulsa. The Oklahoma Secondary Schools Activities Association will release the official bracket in the coming days, but the Wildcats will go into the tournament as one of the favorites.
“We feel like our defense and pitching is the best and one through nine we can all strike the ball,” Harriger said.
