Weddington's pitchers had control issues, helping Hickory defeat the defending 3A state champions 8-6 in the best-of-3 series opener on Friday. The two teams meet again on Saturday at 2 p.m. at Weddington.

Smoky Mountain ace Mark Thompson held Piedmont to three hits in a 6-3 home win that forces a decisive Game 3 in Unionville on Saturday at 4 p.m. Piedmont built a 3-1 lead in the third inning on Friday, but couldn't hold on in the 2A state semifinal.

Piedmont's baseball team is 27-2 after defeating Smoky Mountain 7-3 in the first game of a best-of-3 series. Catcher Cody Purser had a pair of doubles, Cameron Price knocked in four runs and Colby Barnette belted his seventh homer of the year. Junior ace Corey Sikes is now 10-0 after going the distance and allowing just two hits.

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.

Weddington's baseball team is trying to repeat as 3A state champions, and the Warriors took a big step on Tuesday with a 2-1 road win over archrival Marvin Ridge in the quarterfinal round. The Warriors take on Hickory in the next round.

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.