By Trey Hunter
Sports Editor
Piedmont will once again have home-field advantage to kick off the Class 5A postseason.
The District 5A-2 champion Wildcats will play host to Guymon (19-11), Lawton Eisenhower (12-11) and Santa Fe South (11-23) in one of eight 5A regional tournaments next week. The winner advances to the state tournament in Shawnee Oct. 17-19.
Piedmont opens the double-elimination clash, which is expected to start next Wednesday, against Santa Fe South. The winner advances to take on the winner between Guymon and Lawton Eisenhower following a game between the two losing teams the same day. The second elimination game and the championship game will be played Thursday.
Piedmont faced only Guymon out of the regional during the regular season, outscoring the Tigers 22-0 in a district double-header at home on Sept. 14. Guymon finished fifth in District 5A-2 and has lost its last three games against Guthrie (twice) and Class 2A Texhoma/Goodwell.
The Wildcats’ first opponent, the Saints, finished last in District 5A-1 while dropping all 14 of their district games. Their only wins against Class 5A teams came against Capitol Hill (twice) and Western Heights.
Lawton Eisenhower finished fourth in District 5A-1. The Eagles were swept in district sets by 5A-1 champion Carl Albert, Lawton MacArthur and Ardmore, but did split with El Reno. They have won their last two games against Class 6A Midwest City and 6A Lawton.
The other seven regional hosts include Carl Albert (23-4), El Reno (19-12), Woodward (23-7), returning state champion and District 5A-3 winner Pryor (22-10), Collinsville (22-7), District 5A-4 champion Tahlequah (17-16) and Durant (21-11).
The Wildcats are looking to punch their ticket to the state tournament for the third straight year. They fell to Carl Albert in the finals in 2017 and to Pryor in the semifinals last season.
First pitch against Santa Fe South is scheduled for noon next Wednesday.
