Piedmont, AL – After Game 3 loss to Gordo closes the season for Piedmont. Deerman offers a touching tribute to a remarkable group of seniors
By Joe Medley
Everything was set up well.
Piedmont only needed one hit in the the seventh inning of Game 3 of the quarterfinals of Class 3A against Gordo. The game came down to Jack Hayes’ turn at bat, with runners on the both bases as well as two outs in an unresolved game.
Football-baseball “generational athlete,” such as Piedmont Baseball manager Matt Deerman acknowledged later, could have a chance to prolong its final Piedmont season for one, possibly two weeks.
Coach of the Gordo team Jonathan Pate is no fool and has given the current Class 3A athlete of the season with an in-intentional stroll to fill the bases, with two outs.
The game was scheduled to go until the eighth. Gordo defeated the team 5-3 to advance to the semifinals next week.
This was the end of the memorable career of high-school four Piedmont seniors who played on their own turf. Hayes, Max Hanson, Sloan Smith and Jake Austin played their final game in gold and blue, as well as an emotional Deerman was adamant about the loss.
“As an entire group they’ve been able to accomplish tremendously in every sport,” Deerman said. “The final one you complete in spring is always a struggle however they have left an impact across every sport they played in, including baseball and football. …
“All of them are incredibly good-character people. They are the best they can be said about. I was honored to coach them. I was blessed to have been integral part of their journey for the past 6 years.”
Hayes was a Snead state Community College baseball player,
The final season of his football career ended as a four-time first-team All-State selection, as well as a twice a Class 3A Back of the Year as selected by the Alabama Sports Writers Association. He was also twice a 3A Class Calhoun County player of the year.
He is on the top of the four Alabama High School Athletic Association all-time lists with Total touchdowns of 223 (rushing or passing) with 15104 total yards, and 11,024 passing yards.
Hayes was a 51-8 record as Piedmont’s starter quarterback, which included one start in eighth grade. Over the course of his four seasons as a full-time starter, he led Piedmont’s Bulldogs in three Class 3A state title games. Piedmont was victorious in two of them, and he was named the Super 7 MVP both times.
He triggered the most thrilling turnaround ever recorded in Super 7 history, leading Piedmont to a comeback from a halftime deficit of 29-6 to defeat Montgomery Academy 35-33 in 2021.
Hayes recorded 865 yards total and ran for 2 touchdowns and 143 yards in the game. He also passed for three touchdowns and 123 yards.
In 3 Super 7 games, he was responsible for 865 yards total and scored 13 touchdowns either through rushing or passing.
He was a part of his first Alabama North-South All-Star Game in December.
Hayes the football exploits of Hayes could merit an award for career achievement.
In the field, Hayes is a three-time all-state selection, 2021 class 3A player of the year and a player from the 3A class of 2022 for the season. He was an ASWA Super All-State and Alabama Baseball Coaches Association double athlete of the year in 2022.
At the time of his debut Hayes held Piedmont record-setting Records for the number of hit (182) and also runs he batted in (175) and has a senior year left to go. Deerman did not have the final numbers as of Friday, however Hayes has ended his career as an Calhoun County’s most accomplished athletes.
“He has been a pet since day one, from the time he began his seventh grade from the time that he left the field in the city,” Deerman said. “He has a never-quit attitude and these are the kind of people you’d like to war.
“He made all kinds of records, and all that, but you set all that aside and he’s an amazing young guy.”
The game’s emotions and postgame hugging a lot, Hayes did his best in the legacy debate.
“When I look back the next couple of years and reflect on it, I’ll make a mental note about it” the man said. “I tried to achieve another state championship, but was a bit short. This happens.”
For his fellow classmates, Hanson was one of Hayes football receivers as well as a high-in-the-order hitter, who often played the game for him. The fast Hanson was able to cover the center field starting from right fielder all the way to the left fielder and would often team up alongside Hayes in Snead.
Hanson was an all-state athlete in football and baseball. Deerman cried when describing his character.
“He’s an one of my most favorite people of all time,” Deerman said. “I do not like having favorite people, but he’s one of them..
“That person would be running through that stadium in the event that you asked him just please you and he got every bit of skill from the things he did.”
Smith Smith, who is his middle son of the former Piedmont soccer head coach Steve Smith and softball coach Rachel Smith, punted and kicked field goals and additional points in football. If asked to play in that Class 3A title game against Montgomery Academy, he strategically made punt snaps, then ran from the rear of the end zone to secure two safety … which were the sole points awarded for Montgomery Academy in the second period after the Eagles had a lead of 29-6 at the half.
He hit clutch home runs and pitched well in Piedmont’s journey to the 2022 Class 3A baseball championship. The grand slam, his only home run he’s ever hit was the catalyst for Piedmont’s comeback defeat Gordo 7-6 in the Game 1.
“You see Sloan when he was a kid and you think”Man, that’s a great guy is going to become a grown-up, since Sloan always put in the effort,” Deerman said. “He was in a class that had a lot of seniors that were all extremely gifted, and he needed to be working for every bit of what he earned. He always pulled everything out of himself, which could be found in him.
“I always speak about how strong he was. He was always able to find ways to get around.”
Austin had been an All-Calhoun County offensive back from football, and an player in the baseball outfield. Deerman said he was “tough and tough as nails.”
“He was always the guy who was not talked about a lot and yet he was constantly doing small things,” Deerman said. “Whatever it required to win, you’d like the guy you have on your team..
“Tough. He was a player who suffered from injuries. He was able to make huge plays in the outfield every single day.”
Game 3 details
Live updates from the game on Friday, 3 from the Piedmont-Gordo Quarterfinals of Class 3A at Piedmont:
JACK HAYES to begin for Piedmont in addition, Landon Fike to start for Gordo.
-T1: Hayes retires Gordo in order.
B1: Fike retires Piedmont in the order.
T2 Gordo adds bases following throwing error, hits batsman, walks and scores on a batsman who was hit 1-1. Piedmont manages to escape without further damage. Still 1-0, Gordo.
B2: Piedmont gets Cole Wilson’s two-out hit, but there are no hits. Still 1-0, Gordo.
Kale Austin pitches for Piedmont.
Austin sits them down in a straight line. Still 1-0, Gordo.
B3: McClane Mohon’s RBI single is scored by Sloan Smith from second base and evens the score, 1-1. Smith hit a bunt into the FC then stole the second base. The double-stolen steal which saw Mohon falling to the ground and throwing the ball away from catcher Jase’s two-handed grip, grants Piedmont the lead with a score of with a score of 2-1. Gordo also made a blunder in a high-chopper which enabled Mohon to make it safely to second.
4. Gordo is able to get a run in second with one out however, Austin is hit by a pitch and causes a pop to short. Still 2-1, Piedmont.
B4 Piedmont has a player at second base with one out but they haven’t scored any runs, but still leading by 2-1.
T5 Fike Sac bunt makes a Gordo home run, which makes the game at 2-2.
The runner is B5 Smith hit a single that is bloop, then takes second on a Mohon sac grounder, and then takes third with a dropped third strike. Hayes ground out for third strike. Still 2-2.
T6 Austin makes a double-out walk, four-pitch walk, and is facing a an 3-2 count, prior to striking Brady Jones for third out and a runner at second. Still 2-2.
-B6: Following Cole Wilson’s two-out hit, Jonah Pike grounds out. Still 2-2.
“T7”: Austin is retiring them in order. Still 2-2.
“B7”: Mohon who hits a double. Max Hanson reaches when CF is running a long distance and doesn’t manage to catch an out and Mohon moves to third base. A deliberate walk by Hayes makes the bases available for Kale Austin. Austin pitches in to make it making it 2-2. Game 3 continues to extra innings.
T8 Fike grabs a throw that was erroneously made. Mohon fell while fielding the grounder, and landed awkwardly when throwing. Fike is third after Kyson Pate’s perfect bunt. Pate gets second. Smith is able to get down Brax Garrison’s liner into RF to keep the runners. They are one out. Caleb Jennings with an RBI single to RF to bring Gordo ahead 3-2 with runners at the corners. Jennings takes second base uncontested. Baines has an RBI single 4-2 Gordo. Jones is thrown out into foul territory, with two outs. Will Whitley with an RBI single … 5-5, Gordo. Neel hits into Hanson on CF. Gordo leads 5-2 heading to B8.
B8: Jake Austin hits leadoff single. Cole Wilson singles, runners on second and first to Trevor Pike. A conference on the mound. Fike continues to pitch. Fike hit Pike to fill the bases with and there’s no strikeouts to Cole Austin. Austin grounder score an RBI and Austin overcomes the throw to stop from a double-play. Gordo leads 5-3. Sloan Smith up, one out with runners on the corners. Smith is able to pop up into LF Two pitches for Mohon. Mohon has been hitting Fike to the ground all day long So pitching change to Gordo … Jennings. Mohon strikes into FC and runner is in at 2nd.
FINAL: Gordo wins Game 3, 5-3. Gordo wins Game 3 5-3. Read more sports stories…]
