BUFORD -- The Buford offense waited for its opportunity and then made the most of it Wednesday in the Wolves' Region 7-AAA showdown against White County ace and Georgia-commit Spencer Adams.
The Wolves used three walks, an error, and a timely squeeze play in a six-run fourth inning and then held on for a 6-5 win over the Warriors.
A couple of questionable ball-and-strike calls in the fourth temporarily rattled Adams and the Wolves (13-2, 10-1 Region 7-AAA) pounced. They had managed just one hit through the first three innings.
"We had our one chance against him and we were able to take advantage of it," Buford coach Tony Wolfe said. "That was good to see. He was tough but we tell the guys to find ways to make things happen. We snuck out with a win."
As expected it was a pitcher's duel from the opening pitch between Adams and Buford ace Jake Higginbotham.
Higginbotham, a sophomore, was sharp throughout fanning six Warriors the first time through the order and yielding just one hit through the first four innings. He worked out of a two-on, two-out situation in the first and then retired 14 of the next 15 batters until the sixth inning.
The Warriors (9-6, 6-5) had a chance to get some of the runs back in the sixth as Higginbotham walked the bases loaded. But the southpaw fanned Will Flowers and Stetson Gearin and got Blake Thomas to ground out to first to get out of the inning without allowing a run. Higginbotham (6-0) allowed just two hits, walked four, and struck out a career-high 14 in six innings to get the win.
"Jake has been dominant all year and I thought he was very tough (tonight)," Wolfe said. "He made some good pitches in the one inning they got guys on and was able to get out of it. That was big."
Adams gave up just one hit and struck out four in the first three innings. He worked through an error in the third but could not get out of a bases loaded jam in the fourth. He lasted just four innings allowing four hits, walking three, striking out five, and giving up six runs, five earned.
In the key fourth inning, Buford loaded the bases and then Patrick Burnette drove in a run with a walk and then Ryan Bramlett followed with a two-run single to right. Kayden Berrett drove in a run on a one-out squeeze driving in Burnette, Bramlett scored on an error by the left fielder on a shot to left by Austin Upshaw, and Upshaw scored on a single by Higginbotham to give the Wolves a 6-0 lead.
Spencer would not return to start the fifth. Chris Jackson and Joel Pritchett pitched the final two innings for White County allowing just one hit and no runs.
White County finally got its offense going against two Buford relievers in the seventh. The Warriors roughed up Connor Bennett, who walked two and hit one batter after an error and left with the bases loaded and no outs.
Upshaw came in and allowed an RBI ground out and a two-run single to Brett Westmoreland to cut the lead to 6-4. Westmoreland would score on an error to trim the lead to 6-5 but Upshaw got Pritchett to ground out with the tying run at second and the go-ahead run at first to end the game.
It was a tough loss for the Warriors, who have lost three straight as they battle Dawson County for third place in the region standings.
For Buford, the win kept pace with North Hall, which beat Banks County 12-2 Wednesday. The two teams are tied for first place after splitting a pair of games last week.
Friday
February 7th, 2025
5:25PM
