STATE CHAMPS: Lady Wolves snag record-tying 8th straight state title

COLUMBUS -- Baylee Sexton did everything she could Saturday to make sure the Buford seniors could go out in style -- really, almost everything.<br /> <br /> The junior third baseman legged out three bunt singles, stole two bases, drove in one run, and added eight put-outs on defense to help lead the Lady Wolves to a 9-1 win over Thomas County Central in the Class AAAA state finals at the Olympic Softball Complex in Columbus.<br /> <br /> Her defense was crucial in helping senior Bria Bush toss a one-hitter on a biting, windy, cold afternoon. She took at least three hits away from the Lady Yellow Jackets while the game was very much up for grabs. She did not sell concessions between innings, however.<br /> <br /> "Baylee just played awesome all day today," Buford coach Tony Wolfe said. "She made some great plays and helped Bria keep them off the board."<br /> <br /> "Some of the seniors are my best friends and I just wanted to make sure they finished with another title," Sexton said. "On defense I just try to take the bunt away and I was able to get to some tough balls. My job is just to help us win any way I can."<br /> <br /> Bush (19-0) allowed just a solo home run in the sixth with the Lady Wolves leading 7-1. However, the cold and wind almost proved disastrous in the early goings. She hit two batters and walked two more in the first two innings and left the bases loaded in the top of the first.<br /> <br /> "My hands were a little frozen at the beginning but I was finally able to get things figured out," Bush said. "It makes it a little more challenging but we were able to get through it. It was a great way to end my career."<br /> <br /> Senior Remy Hasty had a solid final game with two hits and three RBI, including the title-clinching hit in the bottom of the sixth, driving in Jordan Deep. Senior Sydney Stavro had two hits and scored twice and Alexus Murray and Gabby Benson also had hits for the Lady Wolves (37-1).<br /> <br /> "I thought everyone played well considering the conditions," Wolfe said. "We played a lot of small ball and then got some big hits on the back end. The girls showed the kind of heart they have to rise to the occasion."<br /> <br /> The wind and cold were a factor early but nerves also may have played a part as well.<br /> <br /> Bush and Thomas County Central starter Erika Greek both were able to pitch around mistakes in the first two innings. Bush hit two batters and walked another to load the bases in the top of the first but also fanned two in the inning to get out of the jam. Greek worked around a hit and error in the bottom of the first to keep it scoreless.<br /> <br /> In the second Bush issued a two-out walk but got Emily Corbitt, who belted the sixth inning homer, to pop out to short to end the inning. Greek retired the side in order in the bottom of the second.<br /> <br /> Bush settled down in the middle innings retiring eight in a row through the fifth inning. The Lady Wolves got all they would need in the third and fourth innings.<br /> <br /> Breanna Gutierrez was hit by a pitch with one and then moved to third on a single by Stavro and a bunt single by Sexton. Gutierrez would score on a bases loaded walk to Jordan Deep for a 1-0 lead. They could have had move but Samantha Thomas grounded into a fielder's choice at home and Tessa Daniels popped to short to end the inning.<br /> <br /> Buford put the game out of reach in the fourth. Hasty started things off with a walk and moved to second on an off a ground ball by Drew Puckett. Murray chased both home with a single and Gutierrez and Stavro followed with bunt singles to load the bases. Deep and Daniels added RBI walks and Hasty knocked in Deep and Thomas with a double to left for a 7-0 lead.<br /> <br /> TCC finally got on the board in the top of the fifth on Corbitt's solo home run to left. It would be the only ball to leave the infield for the Lady Yellow Jackets on the day.<br /> <br /> Buford pushed the lead to 8-1 in the bottom of the fifth on a RBI bunt single by Sexton, who was then gunned down at second trying to stretch it to a double.<br /> <br /> The end came in the bottom of the sixth when Deep walked, moved to third on a ground-rule double by Thomas, and scored on Hasty's single off the glove of Greek.<br /> <br /> The title tied Buford with the most softball titles all-time with Oconee County. Wolfe said it has been more a testament of the hard work of his players than any secrets of the coaching staff. Though he did give a shout-out to Oconee County.<br /> <br /> Buford won five straight Class AA titles and the last two Class AAA titles before moving up to Class AAAA this season. <br /> <br /> "We've been very blessed over the years with some great players," Wolfe said. "When I decided to start coaching softball I went and talked to the guys at Oconee and they were gracious enough to give some advice and pointers on how to coach the game. It's a great honor to be mentioned at that level."

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