Staff Reports

ALBERTVILLE – The Piedmont Lady Bulldogs clinched the second Class 3A East Softball Regional qualifier spot on Thursday in Albertville. They lost to Plainview 9-4 in the winners bracket championship game, but rallied to take an 8-6 decision over Glencoe to secure a spot in the state tournament.

In the loss to Plainview, Cayla Brothers led the Lady Bulldogs with a pair of hits, including a double. She also scored a run and drove in one. Cadence Buttram, Savannah Smith and Amiyah Thomas each had a hit and scored a run. Cacey Brothers also finished with a hit.

Smith suffered the loss after working two innings. She allowed two unearned runs on three hits with no walks and a pair of strikeouts. Carson Young tossed the other five innings and gave up seven earned runs on 12 hits with no walks or strikeouts.

In the win over Glencoe, the Lady Bulldogs rallied from a 4-0 deficit with four runs in the top of the third to tie the game. Glencoe regained the lead at 6-4 with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, but Piedmont added a pair of runs in the sixth and two more in the seventh for the final.

Jaycee Glover went 4-for-4 at the plate with a double and a run. Smith was 3-for-5 with a home run and a triple. Cayla Brothers added a pair of hits, including a home run, three runs and a RBI.

Young contributed a hit, a run and a RBI. Buttram added a hit and run. Thomas finished with a hit and Pope had a RBI.

Smith earned the complete game win in the circle. She gave up four earned runs on 11 hits with no walks and eight strikeouts.

Piedmont takes on Central regional champion St. James on Thursday at 10:45 a.m. in the Class 3A state tournament at Oxford’s Choccolocco Park.