BUFORD — The Buford High School varsity baseball team built an early lead and held off a late rally to defeat Marist School 8–6 on Monday, Feb. 16, at Gerald McQuaig Field.
Junior Andrew Williams made his first varsity start on the mound for the Wolves, pitching two innings while allowing just one hit and one earned run.
Buford took control early, scoring two runs in the bottom of the first inning on RBI hits from senior Ayden Lockett and sophomore Dexter McCleon Jr. The Wolves added two more runs in the second after senior Javy Ojeda delivered a two-out triple and McCleon followed with an RBI single.
Buford extended its lead to 7–2 in the third inning. Two Marist errors combined with Lockett’s second hit of the game allowed the Wolves to push across three additional runs.
Relievers Carson Reeves and Ojeda kept Marist off the scoreboard through the middle innings, combining for three hitless and scoreless frames in the fourth, fifth and sixth.
Marist mounted a late rally in the seventh inning, scoring four runs to cut the deficit to two and loading the bases with one out.
Junior Stunner Reece entered in relief and recorded two fly-ball outs to end the threat and earn the save.
Buford finished with 10 hits in the game. Lockett led the Wolves at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two RBIs, two runs scored and two stolen bases. Sophomore Lio Garcia added two hits, including a double and triple, while Ryan Johansen also collected two hits and an RBI.The Wolves improved to 2–0 on the season and were scheduled to host McEachern on Feb. 20 at Gerald McQuaig Field in the opening round of the Southeastern High School Classic.