Above Photo: Buford athletic director and head softball coach Tony Wolfe picked up his 400th career win against Dacula on Tuesday. He is seen here clapping for one of his players during a game in 2019. Photo – Alicia Couch Payne
BUFORD — The Buford Wolves varsity softball team opened their region play on Tuesday against Dacula at the Buford Softball Complex. The GHSA reclassified Buford for the 2020-2021 school year bumping them up to Region 8 in Class AAAAAA. Buford kept Dacula off the scoreboard with a 5-0 win.
Buford’s win over Dacula gave Buford Athletic Director and Head Softball Coach Tony Wolfe his 400th career win. Wolfe has an impressive overall record of 400-71-2 as the head coach of Buford’s softball team. As the head coach of the softball team, the Wolves have captured 10 region titles and a GHSA softball record of 10 state titles.
Freshman Emma Grace Williams pitched her first varsity softball game for Buford going seven innings, allowing five hits, no runs, striking out seven, and walking three batters.
Williams faced off against Dacula’s star pitcher senior Sydney Boulware. Boulware held the Wolves scoreless through three innings before Buford finally got on the scoreboard. Boulware would make a costly fielding error that would come back to bite her. Two batters later, Buford put their first run on the board. Boulware would walk three Buford batters and she hit another one allowing the Wolves to put up four runs on just three hits during the fourth inning. Buford would add one more run in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Offensive standouts for Buford (3-1, 1-0) against Dacula were senior Emmy Hall who hit 2-for-4 with an RBI double, scored a run, and had one stolen base; freshman Mackenzie Pickens went 1-for-4, hit a double, earned two RBI’s, and scored a run; senior Abbi Perkins was 1-for-2 hitting a double and scoring a run; and junior Abby Cochran hit 1-for-2, got an RBI, and scored a run as well.
Buford will take to the road on Wednesday as they participate in Mill Creek’s Hawk Invitational tournament. The Wolves take on South Forsyth at 4:30 p.m. at Mill Creek High School.
— Staff Reports
