By Joe Medley, East Alabama Sports Today
PIEDMONT — Cacey and Cayla Brothers were prepared for the possibilities. If offers worked out in such a way, their softball journeys could diverge in college.
Fortunately, it worked out where the Brothers sisters will continue to play together.
They celebrated their signing with Gadsden State Community College during Monday’s ceremony in the Piedmont High School gymnasium lobby.
Cacey Brothers expects to play her customary position of catcher. Cayla Brothers, Piedmont’s shortstop, expects to play shortstop or center field.
They both visited Northeast Alabama Community College then Gadsden State, after an invitation from GSCC coach Ryan Clark. They had played against Clark’s Sylvania High team at regional.
Gadsden State recently revived its softball program and rosters, or will roster, several players from Calhoun and surrounding counties.
“When we took our visit to Gadsden State, I fell in love with the campus.” Cayla Brothers said. “The coaches are all really nice, and we’re going to go play with a lot of girls from around the county that we grew up playing with, like Pressley Slaton (Alexandria), Lily Henry (Pleasant Valley), Charlee Parris (Alexandria) next year.
“We’ve grown up playing with all of those girls, so being able to be back at home with them, playing in Gadsden like we did whenever we were in little league, playing in Gadsden, it’s going to be really fun for us.”
There was a time in their recruitment when Cacey Brothers seemed interested in Northeast Alabama Community College.
“When we both got offered from Gadsden State, then we went for our visit and everything, I think she started really liking it, too,” Cayla Brothers said. “In reality, neither one of us really wanted to be split up from each other, but if one offered better for the other, we would’ve been happy with each other doing what was best.
“If that’s what she would’ve chosen to do, I would’ve supported her, but when we got on that field, we would’ve been enemies for a split moment. It would’ve been good, but it is better for us to be on the team together.”
Cacey Brothers said she’s “very glad that I’ll have my sister with me, playing behind my back.” “Cayla always said she was wanting to go to a two-year college,” Cacey Brothers said. “She’s always said that growing up.
“When we went on our visit, she said, ‘I don’t want to be nowhere else.’ I said, ‘I don’t, either.’ Then we decided we’re going to go play together and keep that same sister bond together.”
They’ve been key parts of Piedmont’s breakthrough era, which included the program’s first four fast-pitch era state tournament appearances. Their signing ceremony drew current and former teammates, including Savannah Smith and Jenna Calvert.
Former Piedmont coach Rachel Smith, who retired after the 2024 season to follow daughter Savannah’s collegiate career at Jacksonville State, also attended.
Both Brothers sisters were varsity starters as eighth graders.
Cayla Brothers bats .404 with four doubles, two triples, a home run and 10 RBIs this season. Cacey Brothers bats .345 with team highs of three home runs and 18 RBIs.
Since the start of their freshman seasons, Cacey Brothers has 18 home runs and 130 RBIs. Cayla Brothers has 14 home runs and 95 RBIs.
Both are perennial All-Calhoun County players.
“They’re both very good leaders in the way they’re able to handle themselves and make sure things on the team get done,” first-year Piedmont coach Matt Strott said. “They’re very good all-around players.
“Their work and their effort and their stats show they can play this game at a high level, and I’m just proud for the girls to be able to go do this at the next level.”
