The Buford varsity baseball team’s season came to an end after Brookwood defeated the Wolves in game three of the GHSA Class 7A quarterfinals on Wednesday, May 7 at Gerald McQuaig Field. Buford fell just short of advancing to the Final Four as Brookwood beat them 5-4.
Sophomore Kyle Krause started on the mound for the Wolves and through the first three innings the game remained scoreless. In the top of the fourth inning, the Broncos cranked out three runs and another run in the top of the fifth inning putting them up 4-0 going into the bottom of the fifth inning.
Buford scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning with two of those runs coming off of a line-drive single to right-centerfield by senior Madden Young. A single hit, sac fly and a ground out later, Young would cross home plate to add the third run.
In the sixth inning, Buford had a pitching change with two runners on base and one out. Junior Luke Hopper relieved Krause but a wild pitch allowed Brookwood to add another run.
The Wolves trailed the Broncos 5-3 going into the bottom of the seventh inning. With two outs, sophomore Ayden Lockett hit a single driving in a run to pull within one of tying the game and forcing an extra inning. Junior Cannon Goldin is called upon to pinch hit with two runners on base. He hits a hard ground ball up the middle but Brookwood’s shortstop was there and made an out at second base to end the game.
Krause (4-2) records the loss after pitching for 5.1 innings where he gave up 11 hits and five earned runs. He struck out four and walked one.
Buford’s top offensive efforts came from senior Nate Taylor (3-for-4), Young (1-for-2, two walks, two RBIs, one run scored), Lockett (1-for-2, one RBI) and senior Sam Humphrey (1-for-3).
The Wolves ended their season with an overall record of 25-10-1, their 24th region title and the program’s fifth Elite Eight finish.
