WALNUT GROVE, Ga. — Buford opened its 2025 season with a dominating 13-0 win over Walnut Grove on the road on Wednesday.
Senior Caroline Stanton tossed a two-hitter and struck out 16 in a complete-game effort to earn the win.
But it was a much closer game for five innings than the final score. Buford led just 3-0 heading into the sixth. But the Lady Wolves plated four runs in the sixth and six more in the seventh.
Buford pounded out 16 hits, including home runs by Brooklyn Atha, Taylor Sawyer and Summer Castorri.
Sawyer and Castorri both drove in three runs. Addie Rackley and LG Goldin knocked in two runs apiece for the Lady Wolves.
Buford next will travel to Dacula on Tuesday to open the Region 8-6A schedule for both teams.
MILL CREEK 16,
CHEROKEE BLUFF 12
The Lady Bears dropped a slugfest to the Lady Hawks at home on Wednesday.
Bluff led 3-1 after the first and 5-3 after the second. But Mill Creek exploded for nine runs in the third on four hits, including a grand slam by Ronnie Wade, four walks, and two hit batters in the inning.
Bluff scored four in the bottom of the third to close the gap to 12-9, getting two-run singles from Claire Carlson and Addy Cagle. But the Lady Hawks would answer again.
Mill Creek plated four more runs in the fifth and held on despite Bluff scoring three in the sixth on a bases loaded walk and an error.
Jaycee Archer started for Cherokee Bluff and gave up six runs (just four earned) on six hits over three innings. Lillie Diehl pitched 3 2/3 innings in relief , allowing four runs on four hits while striking out six.
Cagle, Quinn Kiewert, Carlson and Archer all had two hits for the Lady Bears.
Cherokee Bluff next will travel to South Effingham on Saturday.
JOHNS CREEK 6,
FLOWERY BRANCH 3
The Lady Gladiators scored four runs over the final two innings to rally for the win over the Lady Falcons.
Branch led 1-0 after the first inning and it was tied 2-2 after the third. But Johns Creek scored twice in the sixth on a two-out, two-run single to grab a 4-2 lead. The Lady Gladiators added two more in the seventh to push the lead to 6-2.
Flowery Branch loaded the bases with one out in the seventh and scored one run on a fielder’s choice. But Natalie Brennan flew out to center to end the game as the potential tying run.
Ella Hooper took the loss for Flowery Branch, allowing four runs on five hits in 2 1/3 innings. Lindsey Heck pitched 4 2/3 innings in relief yielding two runs on four hits.
