A season of continued improvement ended one series short of its goal for the Piedmont softball team. The Bulldogs from Ranburne swept the Bulldogs from Piedmont in the second round of sub-state play at Piedmont Friday and advanced to this week’s Class 2A state softball tournament in Montgomery.
The scores were 3-2 in 10 innings in the first game and 3-0 in the second.
“The way it ended kind of left a bitter taste in our mouths. When we get over all this we’re going to look back and realize what a good year we had,” said Piedmont coach Matt Deerman after his fourth Bulldogs team closed its season at 29-11.
“We didn’t make it all the way like we wanted to but we improved. It had a lot to do with our leadership and our confidence.”
The Bulldogs lose five seniors from the current squad – shortstop-pitcher Heather Cain, catcher Kylea Cook, third baseman Brooke Dixon and outfielders Brittany Hanvey and Andreka Harbour.
“It’s hard to replace five good kids, not just good athletes but good kids,” Deerman noted.
He cited his seniors’ leadership in the classroom, in athletics and in other extra-curricular activities and described the five as “all-around good role models.”
“We’ll definitely have some holes to fill but I think what they have done will help us next year, too.”
Piedmont took an early 1-0 lead over Ranburne in Friday’s first game.
Dixon reached on a fielder’s choice in the first inning and eventually scored on a single by Miranda Stewart.
A solo home run by Cain in the bottom of the fifth made it 2-0.
Ranburne got two runs in the top of the sixth and neither team scored again until the 10th inning. A leadoff single, a sacrifice and a double gave Ranburne its winning margin.
Piedmont loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the 10th but could not get a run home.
The Bulldogs also loaded the bases in the second inning, with no one out, and came away empty. In all, Piedmont stranded 12 runners in the 3-2 loss.
“They hit the ball when they had to. That was the difference in the ball game,” said Deerman.
Junior Miranda Givens pitched all 10 innings for Piedmont.
She allowed three earned runs on seven hits and one walk and fanned six.
In the second game, Piedmont managed only four hits. Freshman Catie Hightower had two of those to pace the Bulldogs at the plate.
Givens went all six innings. She gave up only four hits and did not walk a batter.
The Bulldogs reached the second round by sweeping Hatton Tuesday at Piedmont.
In the opener, Piedmont won 2-0.
Cain’s double and a single by Stewart drove in Piedmont’s two runs. Both times Dixon scored.
Piedmont took the second game 8-4. Cain had four RBI. Cook doubled twice and scored two runs.
Givens hit a solo home run while Stewart had two hits and an RBI.
Givens had a pair of seven-inning complete game victories.
She allowed only nine hits, one walk and one earned run over the 14 innings.
