BUFORD — Yes, Buford baseball has talent; yes, the Wolves have experience. But those two factors alone do not guarantee success.
So when Buford set out on its quest to make history this season, the Wolves knew they could not rest on the laurels of last year’s Class AAAA title.
“(It’s been) a lot harder work, but, ultimately, we still have a really good chance of winning it all,” Buford senior outfielder Nick Wilhite said.
And despite putting up a 31-3 record and marching back to this weekend’s Class AAAA title series – with some authority – Austin Wilhite (Nick’s twin brother) also assures it has been anything but a pleasure cruise.
“When you come in here everyone's expecting you to make it back, and then you lose a few games -- more than last year -- we had a few hesitant thoughts on it,” said Austin Wilhite, a senior shortstop and one of six Division I signees on a roster that also features seven senior starters. “But finally when you make it back here, everyone's like, 'OK, here we go, one more time.' Everyone's got to push through it, however we can.”
Do that in what promises an intriguing series with Locust Grove and Buford’s 2016 squad will become the first team in program history to defend its state crown – something that has not escaped the Wolves’ attention.
“Buford baseball has never gone back-to-back state championships, so I think that's something that will always be remembered,” Austin Wilhite said. “We'll be the first team to come through and be huge contributors to last year's state championship and this year's too. I think for Buford that we can leave a legacy of being one of the best ever teams to come through.”
Certainly the current Wolves have already made a big impact – but to leave an indelible mark they will have to find a way past the stingiest pitching staff in all of Class AAAA and an opponent looking for some postseason revenge.
After falling to Buford in last year’s quarterfinal round, Locust Grove (31-4-1) returns for this postseason face-off aiming to shut down a Buford offense that has been red hot in the previous four rounds, scoring just over nine runs per game while winning all four of the best-of-three series in two-game sweeps.
Sparked by lead-off hitter Brandon Marsh (team leader in batting average, .542, doubles, 15, triples, 8, total hits, 58, on base percentage, .628, and runs scored, 58), Buford has averaged nearly 10 runs per game for the season.
Locust Grove, meanwhile, will bring to bear a pitching staff that features an ERA of just 1.17 and has yielded just 74 runs in 36 games.
Something has to give.
Meanwhile, Buford’s own pitching staff has been only marginally less dominant. Led by Georgia signee Justin Glover and Georgia Tech signee Griffin Jolliff, the Wolves sport a 1.80 ERA and have yielded just 80 runs.
“I think we really know what we're up against. They can really pitch. We know that for sure,” Glover said. “It's going to be a battle. We've just got to figure a way out to get guys on, get them over and get them in. I think our pitching will be able to hold up; I don't know how good they can swing it, but if we can score runs I think we've got the advantage.”
Glover also believes playing at home could prove a significant edge.
“I feel like everybody knows the state championship goes through Buford every year. They know they're going to have to find a way to beat us if they want to have a shot to win the state championship. And that plays to our advantage in many ways, as people come on this campus and they see 'Buford University' it's a little intimidating,” Glover said. “That definitely plays to our advantage and gives us a little edge for sure.”
Buford also believes the difference can come via that experience -- both in terms of games played and with each other.
"It's our senior year; we've all grown up together. We're all close to each other; we all know each other inside-out," Marsh said. "That's what makes us click on the field really. We know each other so well; we just know what we have to do to get it done. So far we've gotten it done, knock on wood, but there's still one more step that needs to be taken care of."
Buford has taken care of business for much of the season. Yet there were some speed bumps along the way -- however minor they appeared to those outside the program -- one of which was the replacement of All-State catcher Joey Bart, now playing (and playing well) at Georgia Tech.
"He was a four-year starter, and he's starting at Georgia Tech as a true freshman. He was pretty much irreplaceable," Buford coach Tony Wolfe said of Bart. "As much pitching as we lost, he was the hardest guy to replace. And we went through some growing pains with our young guys early in the year, but Nathan Haynes and Noah Ledford have really stepped up from about the middle of the season on. They've done a quality job for us. And we're really happy with the way they're playing now and the way they're handling our pitching staff. And offensively they've given us some punch too. So it's been a process, but we're happy with the job these guys are doing."
With experienced standouts in other positions -- including the pitching rotation, which still had talent despite graduating four seniors -- Wolfe watched his squad progress through the season and then hit another gear in the playoffs, as history began to hove into view.
"Last year's team was so focused and so hungry to finish a mission after falling in the semifinals the year before. This year, this group had the goal of going back-to-back," Wolfe said. "It's a talented group but probably a little looser group, little more fun. But they certainly work hard, and they've been focused and dedicated all year."
That dedication is just a few hours away from producing something truly special -- and even a team as focused as the Wolves can't help but get a few butterflies in preparation.
"They're really excited. They've been talking since midseason about what's it like to play a championship series at home, and asking me, 'Was (2011) better when we won it here, or was last year better when we won it on the road?' And I'm like, 'Guys it's better when you win it no matter where you're at,' " Wolfe said. "But they're excited to get a chance to win it at home. And we'll have to play well at home to win it. It's a chance to play in front of their home crowd a couple more times and play on their home field for the last times in their careers, especially these seniors. So the focus has been to get here and do this, and their desire was to play at home all year, so we're excited for them and them getting this opportunity."
