COLUMBUS, Ga. — Buford blasted East Coweta 9-1 on Saturday in the finals of the Class 7A tournament at the Olympic Softball Complex to capture the 7A state title.
It is the 11th overall title for Buford since 2007 and the first since 2016, the last of 10 straight from 2007 to 2016 spanning four classifications.
Buford completed a perfect 4-0 run in the double-elimination format, starting with a win over Parkview on Wednesday. The lady Wolves dispatched East Coweta in their first matchup on Thursday, 2-1, and then took down defending state champion North Gwinnett, 3-1, on Friday to move into the championship round.
East Coweta rallied in the elimination bracket with wins over South Forsyth on Friday and then North Gwinnett on Saturday morning to advance to the championship round.
In the championship game, Buford scored in all but two innings, jumping out to a quick 3-0 lead after the second inning. Freshman Caroline Stanton continued her torrid playoffs belting a pair of two-run home runs, including a towering blast in the first inning to set the tone, giving her 14 for the season, and finished with 4 RBI.
Juniors Tavye Borders and Adriana Martinez combined for six hits and scored three runs and senior Emma Castorri also had a hit for the Lady Wolves.
That was more than enough for Olivia Duncan (13-1) in the circle. The senior lefty went the distance scattering three hits and striking out 3 and walking just one. The only run she gave up, which was unearned, came in the fifth with Buford already leading 6-0.
Buford finished the 2022 season with a 32-1 record, losing only to Lambert in the Super Regionals.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2022/10/1142373/state-champs-lady-wolves-capture-7a-softball-title