BUFORD, Ga. — It never gets easier in the Georgia High School Association baseball playoffs. With the second round beginning this week around the state, nine northeast Georgia area teams face some stiff competition as they look to advance across five classifications.
Classes 4A up to 6A are up first with best-of-three matchups starting on Tuesday. Class 3A and below will begin on Thursday.
No one has to tell Buford just how difficult things are in the state’s largest classification. The Wolves lost to Brookwood in the Elite 8 in 2024, dropping two 1-run games after taking the opening game against the Broncos. They lost in the second round to Walton in 2023.
On Tuesday, the Wolves look for a return trip to the quarterfinals but will have to take on North Paulding in a matchup of two top 10 teams in Class 6A.
Buford (25-7) was ranked seventh in Class 6A in the final Coaches Box poll. North Paulding (25-8) was ranked third. The Wolfpack were semifinalists in Class 7A in 2024. It won’t be for the faint of heart.
Buford coach Stuart Chester knows they will once again have their work cut out for them even though they will be in the familiar confines of Gerald McQuaig Field, where they are 16-4 this season. The Wolfpack finished third in Region 5-6A behind defending Class 6A state champ Etowah and perennial East Cobb power Walton.
“North Paulding is very good. They have every component of the game -- pitching, hitting, defense,” Chester said.”They are very well coached and add that with talent, and being battle tested: they’re a very tough opponent.”
Buford rolled through the first round, routing Chapel Hill by a combined 21-0 in a two-game sweep. North Paulding needed three games to beat Tift County after dropping the opening game of the series.
The Wolves are a young team at several key positions, with talented freshmen Lio Garcia and Dexter McCleon Jr. starting from day one. But they also have one of the state’s top recruits in senior Cannon Goldin.
The Buford offense is averaging 8 runs/game with Goldin leading the way. But North Paulding pitching is only yielding 3.3 runs/game on the season. Will something have to give?
“Cannon has been and is a huge factor of any success we have had the last few years,” Chester said. “It will definitely be a plus for him to have a great series.”
The Wolfpack offense is no slouch, averaging just under 7 runs/game on season. Chester said they will need their entire arsenal and to limit the mistakes.
“In the playoffs, you have to rely on your entire pitching staff,” he said. “Our three starters -- Braden Burton, Luke Hopper, and McCleon Jr. -- need to be efficient and keep their pitch count down.
“We need to throw strikes, play great defense, and have a good approach at the plate. I think the team who makes the fewest mistakes will have an edge.”
http://accesswdun.com/article/2025/4/1290797/baseball-playoffs-early-battle-of-ranked-teams-buford-n-paulding-in-2nd-round