Piedmont fell behind early but used the long ball to rally past Randleman and reach the state semifinals. Jonathan Caldwell and Cody Purser hit critical home runs, while Cameron Price and Colby Barnette combined to hold the Tigers scoreless after the first inning.

Lexi Davis was ESPN's National Player of the Year in softball after leading Porter Ridge High to a state championship in 2012. Davis had a 9-9 record as a freshman at Auburn this spring, and is working this summer to add pitches and get her velocity up.

Forest Hills sophomore Juwan Crowder led his team to a seventh-place finish at the state meet by placing among the top five in four events. Crowder is already the centerpiece of the program, and he has two more years to run.

It's been almost two months since Blair Hardin resigned as head football coach at Porter Ridge to take the Freedom job. The Pirates, who have a 40-5 record over the past three years, are still working out this offseason — but without a head coach.

The Redhawks scored more than twice as many points as any other team at the 1A state track and field meet. Junior Reneazia Collins swept the 200, 400 and 100 hurdles and also anchored the winning 4x200 relay team.

Piedmont High got two doubles from Austin Harding and two hits each from John Elwood, Cameron Price and Nigel Hester in a 7-0 home win over Trinity in the third round of the 2A baseball playoffs, while pitcher Corey Sikes improved to 9-0 with a two-hitter. The Panthers host defending state champion Randleman on Tuesday.