Friday March 29th, 2024 5:41AM

(VIDEO) Playoff baseball: Buford sweeps past Ola and into 5A semifinals

By Jeff Hart Sports Reporter

BUFORD — Buford junior third baseman Brandon Jolliff picked just the right time Wednesday against Ola in the quarterfinals of the Class 5A playoffs to show what his coaches and fellow players already knew.

“He’s a tremendous player but we’ve been waiting for him to break out for us,” first year Buford coach Stuart Chester said. “We finally got to see it.”

Jolliff belted a pair of Game 1 home runs, drove in three runs, and scored three times in propelling the Wolves to a two-game sweep of the Mustangs -- 6-2 and 10-2 -- at Gerald McQuaig Field.

Jolliff’s first blast, a two-run shot in the second inning, helped the Wolves (25-11) overcome a very shaky first inning. Buford committed two errors in the field as starter Ramsey David also surrendered three hits and allowed two runs as the Wolves quickly fell behind.

“These kids had never been this far in the playoffs and sometimes you can squeeze the ball a little too tight,” Chester said. “Brandon’s home run really seemed to get us going.”

David certainly took the cue as he yielded just two more hits while fanning four in 6 1/3 innings to earn the win. CJ Couch closed out the game getting the final two outs on the Wolves’ third double play of the game.

Junior left fielder Evan Place also answered the bell lofting a two-run homer of his own in the third in Game 1 to give Buford a 4-2 lead it would never relinquish. Jolliff launched his second home run of the game in the sixth for the final tally.

“I think it was an awesome day for Brandon,” Chester said. “I thought we played well for the most part. Our goal was to take away their speed by keeping them off the bases and we did a pretty good job.”

Perhaps the biggest turnaround came in the field where the Wolves turned double plays in the third, fourth, and sixth to snuff out any potential rallies. The defense was flawless in Game 2 and appropriately finished off the sweep with a series-ending double play.

“I thought we played good defense after (the first inning of the first game),” Chester said.

In Game 2 Buford scored in all but two innings getting a six-run sixth to blow open the game and seal the series. The Wolves took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on a RBI single by Noah Ledford but the Mustangs tied it in the bottom of the second off senior starter Sean Adams.

Buford scored single runs in each of the third through the fifth and Ola cut the lead to 4-2 in the bottom of the fifth. In the pivotal sixth inning, the Wolves took advantage of four Mustang errors to go with two hits, a balk, and a wild pitch to bat around and explode for a 10-2 lead.

Adams went six innings allowing just two runs on three hits and senior Griffin Bonner pitched a perfect seventh to clinch the series win.

Now, Buford will turn its attention to fellow Region 8-5A foe Flowery Branch in the semifinals. Buford swept a pair of regular season games over the Falcons (22-16) who have found magic with their deepest playoff run in program history. The Falcons swept Region 1-5A champion Veterans 3-0 and 3-1 on the road on Tuesday and have now won 11 of their last 13 games overall.

The two teams were joined by Region 8-5A champ, and defending Class 5A state champion Loganville, giving the powerhouse region three teams in the Final Four.

“I think 8-5A is that good more than I think Class 5A is maybe not as strong,” Chester said. “All three teams have at least two really good (pitchers) and I always feel that good pitching beats good hitting. But, it’s also hard to beat a team three or four times in a season.

“Flowery Branch is playing very well and they have two really good pitchers that can beat anybody. It should be a great series and we’re looking forward to playing again at home.”

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