Piedmont Pride win SCBL regular season; playoffs next up

The Piedmont Pride wrapped up the Southern Collegiate Baseball League regular season last weekend with 32 wins from 40 games and a second league title.

The Pride claimed the top seed in the playoffs that begin this week, but coach Joe Hudak isn’t satisfied.

“We know there is still work to be done,” he said.

Hudak’s team received a first-round bye and will face the lowest-seeded winner to emerge from Monday night’s first round playoff games. The second round best-of-three series begins Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Winthrop Ballpark, followed by Wednesday’s second game on the road and a Thursday home game, if necessary.

Hudak, a baseball coach for over 40 years, knows that records make no difference in short series.

“One team can hit the ball right on the button all night and have nothing to show for it, while another team can hit routine ground balls and flares that just find a hole,” said Hudak. “So much depends on the guy on the mound, and whether he has a good day or not. I heard former big league manager Tony LaRussa describe it as a crapshoot, and he was 100 percent correct.”

The Pride know the feeling, after falling in the second round of the playoffs last season. Hudak hopes a big local crowd can help the team keep its focus this week and advance in the postseason. The team if offering $1 admission to anyone with a South Carolina driver’s license, I.D., or student I.D.

“We’re the only team from South Carolina in the league,” said Hudak, “and we want encourage our South Carolina fans to come out and support the Pride. There aren’t many places where a family of four can enjoy an evening of good, clean entertainment for $4.”

This story was originally published July 25, 2016 at 1:41 PM with the headline "Piedmont Pride win SCBL regular season; playoffs next up."