‘Their turn’

Piedmont sweeps Oakman, reaches Class 3A semifinal series for the first time since 2022. Will travel to Gordo.

By Joe Medley
East Alabama Sports Today

PIEDMONT — Piedmont’s baseball program has earned a reputation for deep playoff runs. It’s just been a couple of years.

Cole Austin pitched a complete game, and Crawford Mallett delivered extended relief Thursday as the Bulldogs swept visiting Oakman 5-2 and 15-3 in their Class 3A quarterfinal series.

Second-ranked Piedmont (29-7) advanced to the semifinals and will play multisport nemesis Gordo on the road. The series will start with Wednesday’s doubleheader, starting at 4:30 p.m., and Game 3, if necessary, would start Thursday at 1 p.m.

The Bulldogs’ semifinal appearance marks its first since 2022, when they reached the Class 3A title series.

“I’m so excited for these guys,” Piedmont coach Matt Deerman said. “I’ve been telling them for about the last month, I want them to experience this. They’ve seen a lot of their older former teams and classmates do it.

“I told them, this is their turn to get this experience as a player.”

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