Buford’s softball team was able to clinch their 14th consecutive region title since 2002 after a 19-5 victory over Mill Creek on Tuesday, October 3. This is Buford’s fourth region title in five years. The Wolves remain undefeated with an overall record of 22-0 and 12-0 in Region 8-AAAAAAA.
Buford bats were hot in Hoschton where they hit five home runs and had a total of 21 hits against Mill Creek in six innings.
In the first inning, Madison Pickens led off with a single followed by a stolen base and would score a run off of a single by her sister, Mackenzie Pickens. Mackenzie Pickens would add a run after stealing a base and capitalizing off a double-play situation to cross home plate. Mill Creek answered back in the bottom of the inning with two runs of their own to tie the game at 2-2.
Kylie Gower was walked and then scored when Izzy Rettiger hit a two-run home run. That was quickly followed by a solo home run from Madison Pickens to make it 5-2 going into the bottom of the inning. The Hawks were unable to add any runs in their half of the second inning.
Tavye Borders was the first to get on base in the top of the third inning with a double. That double was followed by a double from Addie Rackley, allowing Borders to add the sixth run of the game for the Wolves. A two-run home run by Mill Creek’s Haley Barrett cut Buford’s lead to just two runs.
Four single hits and a wild pitch helped Buford add three runs in the top of the fourth inning. Buford wasn’t done adding to their lead in their part of the inning as Summer Castorri hit a two-run home run putting the Wolves up 11-4 going into the bottom of the fourth inning. Mill Creek was able to add a run in the bottom of the inning.
Rettiger was the lone Buford player to cross home plate in the fifth inning. Castorri led off the top of the sixth inning with her second home run of the night. Madison Pickens got her second home run of the game when she hit a three-run homer. The Wolves added three additional runs and after the Hawks failed to score in their half of the sixth, the run rule ended the game giving Buford a 19-5 victory over the Hawks and earning the region title.
Caroline Stanton (10-0) recorded the win after pitching five innings. She gave up seven hits, five earned runs and walked two while striking out four. Emma Grace Williams relieved Stanton to pitch the sixth inning and made quick work of Mill Creek to end the game.
Madison Pickens had her best game of the entire season going 4-for-4 with two home runs, four RBIs and four runs scored to lead Buford’s offense. Other offensive standouts were Castorri (3-for-4, two-run home run, solo home run, four RBIs, two runs scored), Stanton (3-for-5, double, two RBIs), Rettiger (2-for-2 two-run home run, two RBIs, four runs scored, two stolen bases) and Adriana Martinez (2-for-4, double, three RBIs, one run scored).
Buford has one more away game this Wednesday, October 4 at Central Gwinnett before they are set to host the Super Regionals. The first pitch is thrown out at 6 p.m.
Featured photo: Buford won its 14th region title since the program began in 2002 on Tuesday, October 3, 2023, after defeating Mill Creek on the road. Photo courtesy of Buford softball team.
