By Blake Colston
Sports Editor
OKLAHOMA CITY – Piedmont’s pitching staff couldn’t find the strike zone Saturday at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark.
That proved to be too much to overcome.
Duncan’s offense pounded out nine hits and took advantage of 13 walks and hit-by-pitches to earn a 15-4 victory over Piedmont in six innings in the Class 5A state championship game.
“We just had a bad day,” head coach Adam Skokowski said. “Even in the Major Leagues, on any given day, the Yankees might lose 12-0.”
The Wildcats tried four different options on the mound, but none found the strike zone. Sophomore Weston Thomas had the longest stint. He pitched four innings with seven walks and five strikeouts.
“The difference in the game was walks and hit-by-pitches,” Skokowski said. Piedmont matched Duncan with nine hits and made only one error. “When they got their hits the bases were full and when we got hits the bases were empty.”
Duncan led 7-0 through 1 1/2 innings and 7-1 through three.
Dalton Hampton brought Piedmont within 7-3 in the third with an RBI-single to right field. An error in the outfield allowed a second run to score, but the Wildcats didn’t draw closer after that.
Hampton finished 3 for 3 with two RBIs.
With the score 9-4, Piedmont advanced runners to second and third with one out, but couldn’t score.
“That was a turning point in the game,” Skokowksi said.
Eli Ramirez entered the game at pitcher for Duncan in the fourth and fully shifted the momentum to the Demons. The freshman went the rest of the game without allowing a run.
Duncan added six runs in the top of the sixth and Ramirez retired Piedmont in order in the bottom half of the inning to seal the win.
Right fielder Trevyn Stewart led the Demons with a double, triple and three RBIs.
Though this season didn’t end how the Wildcats wanted, Piedmont returns key contributors like Thomas, catcher Jackson Harriger, third baseman Noah Smith and Hampton next season.
“We’re definitely primed and ready for a run next year,” Skokowski said.
