Thursday March 28th, 2024 7:40AM

Softball: Buford, East Jackson advance to semifinals; Jefferson faces elimination

By AccessWDUN Staff

COLUMBUS — Buford got another stellar pitching performance from junior Logan Caymol, who led the Lady Wolves to a 2-0 win over Walnut Grove Friday in the second round of the Class AAAAA state softball championships.

East Jackson moved into the Class AAA semifinals with a 4-3 win over Morgan County.

For Buford, the win moved the Lady Wolves (30-2) into the semifinals. They will take on Harris County, which knocked off Union Grove 8-0 in the other winner's bracket game, in the semifinals on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 9 a.m. with the winner moving into the 3 p.m. championship round.

Caymol, a Tennessee-commit, went the distance scattering three hits, fanning 12, and outdueling senior Texas A&M-commit Kayla Poynter, who also allowed just three hits and struck out 12. Caymol worked out of two bases loaded jams in the third and fifth to keep Walnut Grove off the board.

Buford broke the scoreless tie in the third when Maddie Marchiando reached on an infield single, stole second, and then scored on a Arielle Oda single to left. Oda advanced to second on the throw and Samantha Thomas singled to right scoring Oda.

That would turn out to be all the Lady Wolves needed.

Hannah Jo Hyatt also had a hit for the Lady Wolves.

In Class AAA, East Jackson will take on Pike County, which was a 12-2 winner over Cook County, in the semfinals at 9 a.m. Saturday.

In Class AAAA, Jefferson dropped a 3-0 decision to Central-Carroll to fall back into the elimination bracket. The Lady Dragons will play Marist, which eliminated Oconee County 2-1, in an elimination game at 7 p.m.

Stephens County was eliminated in the Class AAAA tournament after a heartbreaking 1-0 loss to Chapel Hill in the elimination bracket.

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