BUFORD — After a frustrating and crucial Region 8-AAAAA shutout loss to Flowery Branch on Wednesday, the Buford offense took it out on the Loganville pitching staff on Friday.
The Wolves pounded out 11 hits, including two home runs, and were a blistering 6-for-11 with runners-in-scoring-position en route to a stunning 9-3 victory at McQuaig Field.
Buford coach Tony Wolfe said a tough day of practice on Thursday paid off.
“We put them through probably the toughest practice of the season,” he said afterwards. “We were definitely frustrated after the other day.”
The win pulled Buford (16-9, 8-1 Region 8-AAAAA) into a first place tie with the Red Devils (16-10, 8-1). The two teams will conclude their home-and-home series on Monday in Loganville and both squads are expected to pull out all the stops in an effort to grab the upper-hand in the final week of the season.
“We still have to go to their place and it’s a tough place to win,” Wolfe said. “The winner will certainly have the advantage. We still have two games with (third place) Walnut Grove so it’s big for us.”
A pair of sophomores played huge roles for the Wolves. Southpaw starter Sean Adams had perhaps his best outing of the season going five-plus innings allowing two runs on just three hits and striking out five. He brushed off a shaky start giving up a home run in the first inning to settle down.
Designated hitter Reese McIntyre, playing in just his third varsity game after being called up from the junior varsity, had two hits, including a two-run home run, and scored a run.
“In terms of competing it was probably Sean’s best game of the season,” Wolfe said. “I was really proud of how he came back (from the home run) and didn’t let that bother him. McIntyre had a great JV season and we’re always looking to find guys that can contribute for us. He had a good game.”
It was a much-anticipated matchup between two teams that both finished as state runners-up in 2016. Now, it will be a three-game sprint to the finish in a quest for the region title for both teams.
Both offenses came out ready.
Adams fanned both Morgan Copeland and Blaine Marchman to begin the game but Aaron Knight connected for a towering home run three pitches later to give the Red Devils a quick 1-0 lead.
Buford answered right back in the bottom of the inning when Nathan Haines drove in Garrison Price with a two-out single to tie the game at 1-1. The Wolves had a chance for a bigger inning but left a pair of runners on base.
The Wolves exploded in the second to take the lead for good. Grant James singled with one out and moved to second on a ground out by Christian Griffin. James scored on an infield hit by Austin Turner and a throwing error by Loganville shortstop Joseph Brandon trying to get Turner at first. Then Garrison Price, Noah Ledford, and Haines all followed with RBI singles. The Wolves pounded out six hits, went 4-for-5 with RISP in the inning, and had a 5-1 advantage when the dust settled.
All five of the early runs also were scored with two outs.
Loganville starter Bay Witcher got the Wolves in order in the third but did not make it out the fourth. Turner singled to lead off and then Garrison Price snuck a line drive over the left field wall for a two-run home run and a 7-1 lead knocking out Witcher.
Blake Stowe came in for Witcher and was greeted rudely. Ledford walked and McIntyre blasted a towering shot into the trees in left center for the second two-run home run of the inning and a 9-1 advantage. Stowe lasted just five batters and was replaced by Michael Knight with runners at first and second. Knight got out of the jam striking out James and getting Griffin to line out to left.
Tyler Perkins finished the final two innings for Buford allowing just one run on three hits and struck out three.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2017/4/525187/baseball-buford-vs-loganville