Rain then wet grounds delayed Piedmont’s opening Class 3A, Area 10 baseball series against Weaver.

The three-game set, initially scheduled for Friday and Saturday, was washed out and re-set for a doubleheader Monday.

When the Bulldogs home field was still too soggy to use Monday, the Weaver games were rescheduled again for yesterday and today.

Monday’s postponement with Weaver allowed Piedmont to keep its game at Centre with Cherokee County as initially scheduled. The final score was Cherokee County 13, Piedmont 3 but the Warriors led only 5-3 after four innings and 7-3 after five.

Freshman Collin Bradley pitched the first five innings and drew praise from coach James Blanchard.

“I was really impressed with the way Collin threw the ball (Monday), hitting his spots,” Blanchard said. “He pitched a great game. He left two balls up.”

Blanchard said Cherokee County hitters took advantage of Bradley’s mistakes, hitting both out of the park.

The first was a grand slam homer in the second to put the Warriors up 5-0. The second was a two-run shot in the fifth.

All three Piedmont runs crossed the plate in the fourth inning.

Matt Craig reached on a walk, Chris Strott singled and Cade Bradley walked to load the bases.

Dalton Riffey drew another walk to push Craig home and Chase Childers followed with a two-run hit.

“We left too many runners on base,” Blanchard said. He noted that Bulldog batters weren’t very aggressive at the plate, often falling behind in the count.

Childers and Strott each had two hits.

A double by Childers was Piedmont’s only extra bases blow. Riffey and Cory Sears each had a base hit.

In addition to Bradley’s work on the mound, Blanchard called infield play a bright spot for the Bulldogs.

“Our infield played exceptionally well,” Blanchard said of third baseman Cade Bradley, shortstop Landon Pruitt, second baseman Strott and first baseman Seth Reedy. “Our infield looked really good (Monday).”

Monday’s game at Centre was the first for Piedmont in eight days.

Weather permitting, the Bulldogs will play every day this week. After yesterday’s doubleheader at Piedmont and today’s single game at Weaver, the Bulldogs play at Sand Rock Thursday.

Piedmont returns to Area 10 play Friday with one game at White Plains.

The Wildcats come to Piedmont for a doubleheader Saturday.