In a 13-1 win against Dacula High School on Thursday, Sept. 7, the Buford softball team earned its fourth win in region play and 12th victory on the season.
The Wolves dispatched rival Dacula in just four innings, with Buford scoring 10 runs in the first inning alone. With the score at 12-1 in the bottom of the third, senior Taryn Gibbs hit a sac fly to center field that brought junior Gabby Pierre across home plate to push the Wolves past the run-rule limit.
On the mound, senior Emma Grace Williams allowed only three hits, one earned run and a walk while striking out seven Dacula batters.
Standout playmakers for the Wolves against Dacula
- Sophomore Summer Castorri went 1-for-2 with a triple, two RBIs, one run and a walk
- Senior Madison Pickens hit a solo home run — her seventh of the season — had an RBI, two runs and one walk
- Junior Kylie Gower had a double, an RBI and one run scored
- Senior Gracie Griffin hit a solo home run, had an RBI and one run scored
Buford’s win against Dacula was preceded by a victory against Wesleyan — the 2022 Class AAA state champions — on Wednesday, Sept. 6. In a hard-fought game that lasted 12 innings and almost three-and-a-half hours, Buford batters broke through a 1-1 tie in the 12th inning by putting runs on the board with hits by seniors Madison and Mackenzie Pickens, sophomore Caroline Stanton, senior Tavye Borders, and a sac fly by sophomore Addie Rackley, taking a 5-1 lead going into the bottom of the 12th. Stanton sealed the win for Buford on the mound.
Next up for the Wolves is a non-conference game versus Cambridge, which is ranked second in Region 6-5A. Game time is 6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 11, at the Buford Softball Complex. The Wolves plan to recognize Buford High School resource officers prior to the game.
FEATURED PHOTO: Sophomore Summer Castorri goes to bat for the Buford High School softball team in a game against Dacula on Sept. 7, 2023, at the Buford Softball Complex. Photo courtesy of Buford High School’s softball program.