Multiple records broken by the 2023 GHSA Class 7A Softball State Champions

The Buford varsity softball team broke multiple records during the 32-game season and they not only won the state championship title for the second consecutive year but did so in a dominating fashion.

This year’s state title is the Buford High School fastpitch softball program’s second consecutive Class AAAAAAA title and the program’s 12th state title since the program began in 2002. It is the second state championship for head coach Trent Adams.

During the four-day state championship tournament held at the South Commons Softball Complex in Columbus, the Wolves played four games where they outscored their opponents 28-7. To win the championship, the Wolves had to defeat Lowndes, Mill Creek and East Coweta (played twice). In the semifinal round, Buford and East Coweta battled for eight innings with the Wolves pulling off a 3-2 victory over the Indians.

In the championship game, Buford and East Coweta faced off again but this time, the Wolves got the win in just five innings after invoking the run rule. The final score of the championship game was 9-1 in favor of the Wolves.

Five Buford seniors played crucial roles in securing the state championship trophy during the game. Adriana Martinez hit a two-run home run in the first and hit another home run, a solo shot to lead off the bottom of the second inning. Mackenzie Pickens hit a solo home run in the fourth inning and Martinez was driven home by a single hit from Tavye Borders. Madison Pickens added her 20th home run of the season in the fifth inning, a two-run home run and she was followed up by a solo home run from her twin sister Mackenzie Pickens. Emma Grace Williams recorded the win on the mound for the Wolves.

Madison Pickens, after hitting her 20th home run of the 2023 season is now the Buford High School fastpitch program’s record holder for the most home runs hit in a single season.

Mackenzie Pickens became the program’s career home run leader earlier this season when she hit her 33rd home run against Apalachee on August 16. She has since added on additional home runs that will make it a tough record to beat. Mackenzie’s career home run total came to an impressive 46 home runs hit during her four years on the Buford softball team.

Buford’s 2023 season began on August 10 against South Forsyth with a 14-0 victory. Their most challenging opponents have been Wesleyan who forced the game to go into extra innings and East Coweta.

This year’s team is the first team in program history to go undefeated at 32-0. A staggering 20 of the 32 wins were shutout victories. Only six out of the 32 games were full games at seven innings or more. The rest of the games were called early due to the run rule. Buford outscored opponents this season 336-27.

In the 2023 season the team as a whole set many new records for the program.

The offensive records include:

• Runs scored per game – 10.5
• Fewest runs allowed per game – 0.84
• Batting average – .460
• On Base Percentage – .535
• Slugging Percentage – .898
• On Base + Slugging (OBS) – 1.433
• Home runs – 78
• Doubles – 91
• Fewest strikeouts – only 72 out of 771 At Bats

The pitching records include:

• Strikeouts per game – 10.81
• Walks allowed per game – 0.21
• ERA or Earned Run Average – 0.86 (the lowest since the pitching distance was changed from 40 to 43 feet in 2009)

The team started the season at the top of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Top 25 National Poll and remained on top the entire season. They did not start at the top of the MaxPreps national rankings but did end as the No. 1 team in the nation.

It is safe to say that the 2023 BHS varsity softball team has cemented its place among the legends that called BHS home during their four years of high school. The future generations of Wolves coming up through the program will look up to this team and aspire to play at the same level. Their records will be the ones that will be the goals of younger generations to break.