The Wolves saw what started as a promising season come to a sudden and disappointing end against St. Pius Monday in a 7-4 loss in Game 3 of their Class AAA first round series.
The two teams had split the first two games with St. Pius taking Game 1, 4-2, and Buford staying alive with 2-1, nine-inning win in Game 2.
The Golden Lions, who move on to the second round for the first time since 2010, took advantage of a slow start by Buford starter Conner Bennett and never looked back.
Bennett and fellow sophomore Russell Klein were tagged for seven runs and six hits and walked seven in less than three innings. The Wolves defense, which had committed just 22 errors all season, didn't help its young pitchers with three key errors early as St. Pius ran out to 7-2 lead.
"We didn't throw the ball well early and we didn't play good defense either. They made us pay for our mistakes," Buford coach Tony Wolfe said.
Buford (22-6) did finish with a couple of positives. Sophomore Kevin Coulter was solid on the mound Monday giving the Wolves a chance to rally pitching the final 3 1/3 innings allowing no hits, walking two, and fanning two.
The offense scored twice in the seventh and got the tying run to the plate. But Josh Bryan struck out to end the game and the Wolves' season.
Despite the earliest playoff exit in four years, Wolfe said they have plenty to build on with just three graduating seniors.
"We're excited about the progress we made as a young team," Wolfe said. "Our youth showed at times but they also grew up some as well. We're excited about Kevin's future. He threw very well and gave us a chance at the end. That's all you can ask for."
St. Pius starter Will Robertson kept the Buford offense off-stride the entire game and the Golden Lions defense, behind flashy shortstop Grant Williams, turned two double plays and committed just one error.
Robertson went 6 2/3 innings allowing four runs -- just two earned -- on six hits and striking out three.
The Golden Lions (21-7) used its defense early turning a double play to end the first and then the offense coaxed two walks to go with two hits to grab a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Jack Walsh got a bases-loaded walk to drive in Justin Yestrumsky.
St. Pius would blow the game open in the second inning. Matt Nall doubled and later scored on an error after the Golden Lions loaded the bases again with one out. Quincy Nieporte and Peter Zyla had RBI singles and Jack Walsh and Branden Mitchell each followed with bases loaded walks for a 6-0 lead.
Buford finally got some offense going in the third. Ryan Groves reached on an error and would score on a scorching ground ball hit by Austin Upshaw that the St. Pius first baseman could not corral. Bryan would follow with an RBI single to cut the lead to 6-2.
St. Pius would add a run in the bottom of the third on a sacrifice fly from Zyla scoring Grant Williams for a 7-2 lead.
In the seventh Jake Mayo would stroke a one-out single but would trade with Burnette on a fielder's choice. Ryan Groves would walk to load the bases and then Burnette would score on a single by Joey Bart. Groves would then score on a wild pitch to cut it to 7-4 and Austin Upshaw would walk to bring up Bryan with a chance to tie the game with a home run.
Burnette and Bryan each finished with two hits to lead Buford. Bart, Upshaw, and Mayo had one hit apiece for the Wolves. Bart and Bryan each had one RBI.
Zyla finished with two hits and two RBI to pace St. Pius. Williams had a perfect day with one hit, three walks, and scored twice from the lead-off spot for the Golden Lions.
Buford's season came to a disappointing ernd Monday in a 7-4 loss to St. Pius in Game 3 of their Class AAA first round playoff series.
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