After getting their first two game postponed due to violent storms and heavy rain in the area, The Piedmont Pride finally got to start their season on Saturday night defeating the Charlotte Galaxy 7-3 at Garinger High School. The Pride combined for eight hits while only committing one error in the field.
Memphis Tiger, Grayson Kemp, got the starting nod for The Pride and did not disappoint. Kemp threw for 5 complete innings, surrendering only four hits and a lone run. In the first inning, Kemp faced a jam with runners on first and third with only one out. The redshirt sophomore then recorded back to back fly outs slamming the door on the Galaxy.
The Pride would get a single and two straight walks in the top of the second and load the bases. With ducks sitting on the pond, second baseman, Robert Satcher, singled to right field and drove in two for The Prides first runs of the game. The Pride would make it 3-0 the next inning after Mark Engel scored from second on a single from returning Pride player, Josh Baker. Engel made a big league slide, getting around the catcher and was called safe by the home plate umpire.
The Blue and Red would add on four more and behind the arms of Joey DelGatto, JT Wolke, and Monty Horn out of the bullpen, The Pride would be victorious over the Galaxy.
“When you get a bunch of guys that have never played together, you never know what you’re going to get. Seeing them in practice is one thing, but when the lights come on that’s when it really counts. And I really like what I saw,” said head skipper Joe Hudak when asked what he thought about his team’s first performance of the season.
You can catch The Pride back in action on Monday, June 4th when the team travels to play the Concord Athletics with first pitch scheduled for 7 P.M. Make sure to follow along with The Prides season on the Pride Radio Network and on social media. Twitter:@thepridebball and on the teams website www.pridebaseball.net.
