By Al Muskewitz, East Alabama Sports Today

PIEDMONT — If pitching and defense are the key to a long playoff life, then the Piedmont Bulldogs have found the Fountain of Youth.

The Bulldogs swept their second straight Class 3A playoff series Thursday, beating Childersburg 4-1 and 5-0.

They have given up one unearned run in four playoff games this year.

Cassius Fairs, he of the no-hitter last week, threw his second straight shutout in the nightcap. He pitched out of jams in each of the middle three innings with a big assist from the defense that cut a Tigers runner down at the plate to keep the game scoreless.

Brodie Homesley hasn’t pitched for Piedmont in a couple weeks, but he was ready when Bulldogs coach Matt Deerman handed him the ball in Game 1.

The freshman left-hander last pitched in the area series opener against Ohatchee when he ran his record to 6-0. He rested a sore elbow the next two weeks in preparation for the playoffs and after a balky start gave the Bulldogs (31-4) six solid innings.

It took a couple innings to shake the rust Thursday, but he wound up scattering five hits and striking out four before yielding to Austin Estes for a quick seventh.

It’s been said if he was ever going to give up a run it would be in the first inning and the Tigers scored a run in the first without benefit of a hit.

But the Bulldogs took the lead for good in the third on McClane Mohon’s bases-loaded bloop single into right and Jake Austin’s sacrifice fly.

Austin Estes and Jack Hayes had RBI singles later in the game.

When the doubleheader was over Trevor Pike delighted the team with six backflips. The team will add one after every win going forward.

If they win the state title that will be 12 backflips, if you’re counting.

The Bulldogs will draw Lauderdale County in the next round. Lauderdale County swept Collinsville in other second-round playoff action on Thursday.