By Trey Hunter
Sports Editor
OKLA. CITY – Piedmont picked up its fourth win in the first five games of the season Thursday, knocking off Class 6A Putnam City North, 13-4.
The Wildcats racked up 13 hits, including two extra-base knocks, and took advantage of five PC North errors on route to the win.
Four players finished with at least two hits, including Skyler Fenton who went 3-for-5 with three singles. Dylan Hampton went 2-for-2 with a double and three RBIs, Dillon Dibrell went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and Anthony Morejon went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Kameron West went 1-for-4 with an RBI-single as well.
Piedmont jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning and entered the sixth with an 8-4 advantage. The Cats closed out the win with five unanswered runs in the final two innings.
Jacob Ellis started the game, but didn’t factor into the decision after giving up one run on two hits with four strikeouts in an inning and one-third. Caden Storts picked up the win in relief, giving up three earned runs on five hits over three innings. He struck out three and walked four. Jared Gay and Jack Chester closed out the final two-plus innings, allowing no hits with two strikeouts and a walk.
Piedmont is off to a hot start this spring under new coach Adam Skokowski. The team opened with a pair of wins over Weatherford and district foe Western Heights before dropping its first loss to Duncan. The Cats defeated Class 6A Ponca City before its win over North.
Skokowski likes his team’s chances in District 5A-2 and points to the squad’s talent and depth on the mound as one of many reasons why. The Cats have given up 20 runs this season, including shutouts against Weatherford, Western Heights and Ponca City.
“The strength from the get go is our pitching,” he said. “We have a lot of guys that can run it up there and a lot of arm talent. Starting the season with three shutouts in four games is pretty tough. We’re looking to throw strikes at a good rate, especially on the first pitch and go from there.”
Depth has been key early as the Cats have already used 11 pitchers over the first five games. Ellis, Storts and Jared Gay have each thrown in multiple outings, including Gay’s four-inning performance earning a win over Ponca City. Cayden Diccion and Dibrell picked up wins over Weatherford and Western Heights.
In his first five games as Piedmont’s skipper, Skokowski is seeing his team buy into the culture starting to surface around the program.
“It’s all about hard work and accountability,” Skokowski said. “We also talk a lot about discipline and being disciplined in different ways on and off the field. And teaching the kids lessons that will not only be good in sports, but also as they become young adults is key for me.”
The Wildcats head to Cantonment, Fla. for the 2019 Aggie Classic at Tate High School over spring break. The Cats take on Apopka (FL) on Monday at 4 p.m., Lownsdes Academy (AL) on Tuesday at 4 p.m. and Battle Ground (TN) on Wednesday at 1 p.m before braket play begins on Thursday.
Piedmont returns to Oklahoma on March 26 in a double-header at Woodward for the second and third games of district play.
