BUFORD — Pope did what no one thought possible coming into the 2021 Georgia High School Association baseball playoffs.
The Greyhounds rallied for a 5-3 win over Buford, the top-ranked team in the nation, to win Game 3 of the two teams' Class 6A second-round series on Thursday at Gerald McQuaig Field.
The Wolves (32-2) came in undefeated on the season and as heavy favorites to not only move past the Greyhounds but to win the 6A state title. But that's why they play 'em instead of just awarding the hardware.
Riley Frost stroked a two-out, two-run single in the top of the seventh to break a 3-3 tie. Carson Kerce then set the Wolves down in order in the bottom of the inning to complete the improbable series win.
Buford won the opening game, 8-1, on Wednesday. But the Greyhounds stayed alive with a nail-biting 1-0 in 11 innings in Game 2.
The Wolves vaunted pitching staff struggled just enough to open the door for Pope. Jackson Gaspard started and went four innings allowing three runs on seven hits. Treyton Rank pitched the final three innings and took the loss giving up two runs on just three hits but struck out five.
Buford looked poised to make quick work of the Greyhounds as Riley Stanford opened the scoring with an RBI single in the first. But they could not add on against Pope starter Dawson Campbell.
The Greyhounds (27-9) used that momentum to plate three in the second as Cade Heflin tied the game with an RBI single and Kent Schmidt and Campbell followed with two-out RBI hits for a 3-1 advantage. But the Wolves answered.
Ayden Digiacomo belted a home run to lead off the second inning to cut it to 3-2 but Buford would leave the bases loaded. In the third Brett Rogers smacked a run-scoring double to tie the game.
It stayed that way until the seventh.
Rogers finished with two hits while Nathan Smith and Brant Baughcum each had one hit for Buford.
Three Greyhound pitchers -- Campbell, Quinn Kerce, Carson Kerce -- scattered six Buford hits. Quinn Kerce and Carson Kerce allowed just three baserunners over the final four innings.
Pope, the 2017 and 2018 Class 6A state champion moves on to play South Effingham in the quarterfinals.
AREA SCOREBOARD, Thursday, May 6
CLASS 6A
Pope 5, Buford 3 (Pope advances)
CLASS 4A
Cedartown 4-4, Flowery Branch 0-3 (Cedartown advances)
CLASS 3A
Cherokee Bluff 4, Greater Atlanta Christian 1 (Cherokee Bluff advances)
North Hall 12, Hart County 8 (North Hall advances)
