BUFORD — Defending Class AAAAA state softball champion Buford opened its title defense Wednesday in dominating fashion.
The Lady Wolves routed Hiram 16-0 in three innings and 10-0 in five innings in the two teams' best-of-3 first round series.
In the first game, Buford exploded for 10 runs in the bottom of the first inning and added five more in the third to invoke the 15-run rule.
Lady Wolves' starter Logan Caymol struck out 8 of the 9 batters she faced and sophomore Anabel Adams ended the game in the third inning with a two-run home run, the first of her varsity career. Senior Kelsey Bennett also added a two-run home run and a sacrifice fly and senior Hannah Jo Hyatt had two doubles and two RBI and scored twice for Buford. Senior Arielle Oda had two hits, two RBI, and also scored two runs for the Lady Wolves.
In the second game, senior Bennett blew the game open with a grand slam in the 4th inning, the first grand slam of her high school career. Senior Ansley Byers (6-0) got the win going three innings and scattering two hits and fanning three..
The Lady Wolves led just 3-0 before exploding for six runs in the fourth and then another in the fourth to seal the win and the series.
Buford next will play host to Miller Grove in the second round next Wednesday. A doubleheader will be held on Wednesday with the “if necessary” game played on Thursday.
The winner of that series will advance to the Elite Eight state tournament in Columbus October 26-28
