PIEDMONT — After an early lead, Putnam City North’s bats went silent and Piedmont’s offense came alive for a 14-2 run-rule rout Friday (March 20) at the Edmond Spring Break Festival.

North senior Austin Guerrero led off the game with a double center field. After a walk by senior Reece Hubble, senior Quincy Robinson grounded to third base. Piedmont senior Clayton Harrington stepped on the bag for the force out but his throw to first was high. Hubble scored on the error.

Senior Robert Marcy grounded to second base but an error by senior Alex Hardy scored Robinson for the 2-0 lead.

The Wildcats got a run back in the bottom of the first half and scored two runs in both the second and third innings to knock senior starter Alfredo Renteria out of the game.

Meanwhile, the Panthers had two walks in both the second and third, but the offense was cold otherwise.

In the fourth inning, Piedmont had three singles, a double and a triple. The Wildcats also took advantage of a North error for nine runs. Panther pitching also hit two batters and walked two in the inning.

Putnam City North coach Greg Johnson said the gaps between games because of weather and then spring break was a factor. Before the Thursday and Friday games at the festival, North last played on March 10.

“We trying to get our confidence at the plate,” Johnson said. “We’re trying to get to a point where we don’t think. I think right now that every at-bat and every play that’s hit to us right now, we’re just thinking about it. We’re not reacting to it.

“Our kids need to be athletic, react and not think too much. They need to see pitches and react to them, not think too much and not be too technical, just go get it.”

Guerrero had both North hits. Hubble walked three times. PIedmont sophomore Blaine Hollingshead struck out eight batters and walked five in four innings.

Renteria allowed seven hits, five runs (three of which were earned). He walked two batters and struck out two. Junior Devin Orton got two outs and allowed five hits. Of the nine runs he gave up, four were earned.

Johnson said he was trying to get through the weekend, pitching-wise.

“You’re bridging the gap between guys trying to get through all the week. Our guys did great. They go out there to the pitch and they fought”

He praised Orton for throwing strikes.

“We just kind of booted around a little bit on the infield and just missed some defensive plays that we should have made,” Johnson said.

Freshman Jensen Scheffe made hit pitching debut and got the last out of the marathon fourth inning. He allowed a hit and walked a batter.

	1	2	3	4	5	R	H	E
Putnam City North (1-6)	2	0	0	0	0	2	2	3
Piedmont (5-4)	1	2	2	9	X	14	12	2

THURSDAY: KINGFISHER 8, PUTNAM CITY NORTH 1

MUSTANG — 4A Kingfisher scored four runs in the sixth inning to pull away from North after a 2-1 lead.

In the sixth inning, the Panthers allowed four walks and hit two batters. In all, North pitching issued nine walks and struck out 10 batters.

Senior Gavin Lang pitched two scoreless inning as an opener. He allowed two unearned runs. Lang walked one batters and struck out five. Hubble followed with two hits over the next three innings. He walked one and struck out three batters.

The Panthers’ lone run came in the second inning. Orton walked with one out. Senior Xavier Sarkey singled to right field, sending Orton to third base. Senior Owen Attebery lofted a sacrifice fly to center field to score Orton.

Hubble, junior Treague Ferguson and Renteria also had hits. North batters struck out seven times in the loss.

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Kingfisher (6-3)	0	2	0	0	0	4	2	8	4	1
Putnam City North (1-5)	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	5	3

UP NEXT

Putnam City North finishes up the spring break fest at Moore Saturday (March 21) against 2A-1 Oktaha (1-2).

The Tigers lost to A-1 Talihina last Friday (March 13), 8-5.