Buford sophomore Caroline Stanton pitched her fourth shutout and the team’s 11th shutout of the season on Monday, September 18 at Walnut Grove. The Wolves picked up the non-region win in seven innings with a final score of 8-0 over the Warriors.
Summer Castorri kicked off Buford’s scoring in the top of the second inning with a solo home run over the centerfield wall. Tavye Borders was up next and was walked. She then stole two bases before scoring off of a sac fly by Kylie Gower.
The Wolves would not score again until the top of the sixth inning. Adriana Martinez hit a single to lead off the inning and then stole two bases. She crossed home plate when Castorri hit a single. Borders and Addie Rackley followed Castorri with a single from each. Castorri would make it home on another sac fly from Gower. The sac fly allowed Borders to reach third base. From there, Borders stole home base making the score going into the bottom of the sixth inning 5-0 in favor of Buford.
Madison Pickens led off the seventh inning with a solo home run, her home run of the season. Her sister Mackenzie Pickens, batting next, hit a double. She was driven in by a two-run home run from Martinez. Martinez led the Buford offense, going 3-for-4 on the night with that two-run home run, two RBIs earned and one run scored.
Other offensive standouts for the Wolves were Castorri (2-for-3, solo home run, two RBIs, two runs scored), Madison Pickens (1-for-2, solo home run, one RBI, one run scored) and Gower (two RBIs, sac fly, sac bunt).
Stanton had a great night on the mound earning her eighth win of the season. She pitched a full seven innings, her fifth complete game of the season. Stanton gave up her only hit in the sixth inning which was a single by Emma Folds. Stanton ended the threat two batters later when she struck out her 14th batter of the game. She would go on to strike out a total of 16 Walnut Grover batters while only walking two. She didn’t give up any runs and only one hit earning her fourth shutout of the season.
Buford’s overall season record improved to 17-0 and 7-0 in Region 8-AAAAAAAA.
The Wolves host region opponent Central Gwinnett on Tuesday, September 19. The game starts at 6 p.m.
Featured photo: Caroline Stanton pitches her fourth shutout of the season against Walnut Grove on Monday, September 18, 2023. She is seen here pitching against Mountain View. Photo by Jody Jenkins.
