Caroline Stanton pitched a perfect game in Buford’s 9-0 win over Collins Hill in Region 8-AAAAAAA play on Tuesday, September 5 at the Buford Softball Complex.
Stanton (5-0) pitched a complete five-inning game where she gave up no hits, runs or walks and struck out 10 Collins Hill batters.
Buford (10-0, 3-0) scored early and often with senior Mackenzie Pickens hitting her 10th home run of the season to left-center field allowing her sister Madison Pickens and herself to score. Adriana Martinez got walked then made it to second on a wild pitch. Addie Rackley hit a single and Martinez was thrown out at third base. Kadyn Gabrels was up next and hit a single allowing Rackley to advance to third after Rackley had stolen second base. Rackley and Gabrels were driven in to score by Stanton’s three-run home run hit to centerfield.
Collins Hill’s troubles were long from over in the first inning as two more Buford players would score in the first inning. Tavye Borders then came up and hit a double, stole third base and scored on a sacrifice fly by Kylie Gower. Izzy Rettiger got on base with a single and then stole second base. She was then driven in by a double from Madison Pickens.
Mackenzie Pickens scored in the second inning from a double by Martinez and a ground out by Rackley. Collins Hill made a double play to get themselves out of the inning. Buford scored their ninth run in the fourth inning and after Collins Hill failed to score in the fifth inning, the game was called due to the run rule.
Offensive standouts for Buford were Madison Pickens (3-for-3, two doubles, one RBI, one run scored), Stanton (2-for-2, three-run home run, three RBIs, one run scored), Mackenzie Pickens (2-for-3, two-run home run, two RBIs, three runs scored) and Martinez (2-for-2, double).
Buford travels to play Wesleyan on Wednesday, September 6 at 5 p.m. in their annual matchup. Wesleyan is the 2022 GHSA Class AAA State Champions.
Featured photo: Buford’s Caroline Stanton (seen here against Mountain View) pitches a perfect game against Collins Hill on September 5, 2023. Photo by Jody Jenkins.
