By Al Muskewitz, East Alabama Sports Today

SYLVANIA – Sean Smith enjoyed one of the best days at the plate of his high school career in the first game of Friday’s doubleheader and got second-ranked Piedmont off to a rousing start in its sweep of Sylvania in the Class 3A baseball playoffs.

The senior first baseman went 4-for-4, hit two home runs and had eight RBIs as the Bulldogs crushed their hosts in Game One 12-1 in six innings. Then they took the nightcap 6-1 to complete the sweep.

The Bulldogs (31-4) will play Winfield (29-11) next weekend in the state quarterfinals riding a 15-game winning streak. Winfield pounded JB Pennington, 14-1 and 21-0.

Smith hit a grand slam in the third inning and a three-run homer in the fifth. He also had an RBI single in the sixth and a double in the second.

“It definitely was an awesome feeling,” Smith said. “I’m just glad we got two wins today and I was able to help out the team.

“I struggled early on in the season and I was just glad to help the team out today. We got two wins and at the end of the day that is all that matters.”

Noah Reedy also homered for the Bulldogs in the opener, hitting a two-run bomb in the sixth. The Bulldogs pounded 10 hits in the game, with Max Hanson and Cassius Fairs collecting two each.

Jadon Calhoun and Fairs held Sylvania to two singles. Calhoun struck out eight in four innings and Fairs pitched two innings of no-hit shutout relief.

The nightcap was a little tighter, but Bulldogs never trailed. They 3-1 after four innings and broke it open with three in the fifth. They collected 10 hits in the game, with Reedy going 3-for-4 with two RBIs and Hanson and Jakari Foster picking up two each.

Reedy pitched a complete game, allowing seven hits and striking out six.

“It was a good day for everyone today,” Smith said. “As a team we swung the bat really well and that’s something that we will need to continue to do as we go through this playoff run.

“We all had fun today and that’s what I love about this team. Every day we come to the ballpark, whether it’s practice or a game, and it’s always fun.”