COLUMBUS, Ga. — Buford's run of state softball titles came to an end on Saturday, falling 4-3 to East Coweta in the Class 6A championship series at the Olympic Softball Complex.
Meanwhile, Cherokee Bluff's bid for a first-ever state title also came to an end with a 5-0 loss to Heritage-Catoosa in the Class 3A finals.
Buford, who had won back-to-back Class 7A titles, forced a deciding game with a 1-0 win over the Lady Indians in the seventh inning of the first game. They trailed 4-1 going into the seventh of the finale.
Consecutive RBI singles from Izzy Rettiger and Caroline Stanton pulled the Lady Wolves within 4-3, but Summer Castori was thrown out at the plate trying to tie the game. East Coweta was able to get out of the jam with runners at second and third to clinch its first state title since 2020.
The Lady Bears hung close with the defending Class 4A state champs, trailing just 1-0 after the fourth inning. But the Lady Generals exploded for four runs in the bottom of the fifth to put the game out of reach. Heritage pitchers retired 12 of the final 14 Bluff batters.
SEMIFINAL ROUND
In the semifinal round, both teams stormed back through the loser's bracket.
Buford routed fellow Region 8-6A for Mill Creek 14-1 in Class 6A as the Lady Wolves fought back from the loser's bracket to play for the title. The Lady Wolves will play East Coweta for and will need to win two games to capture the state title. East Coweta knocked the Lady Wolves into the loser's bracket on Thursday with a 2-0 win.
Cherokee Bluff staged a thrilling seventh-inning rally to beat fellow Region 8-3A opponent Monroe Area, 4-3, to make the Class 3A finals. The Lady Bears will take on Heritage-Catoosa and will need to win two games to capture the state title.
In earlier action during the day, the Lady Wolves, coming out of the loser’s bracket, hammered North Gwinnett 11-0 in the first game and then knocked out North Cobb, 7-0, in the second game to stay alive.
Cherokee Bluff also made it to Championship Saturday in Class 3A, beating Lafayette 3-2 and then eliminating Pickens, 9-1, in the second game to stay alive.
