Buford looks for eighth straight title in new AAAA home

Buford’s softball team has won seven consecutive state championships. The Wolves won it all five times in Class AA and twice in Class AAA. An eighth straight title would come in a third different classification, as Buford has moved up to Class AAAA for the start of the 2014 campaign.

The more things change, however, the more they stay the same-at least for the Wolves. They return seven starters from the 2013 squad, including senior pitchers Bria Bush (committed to Tennessee) and Tessa Daniels (committed to Florida State). This year’s team is simply oozing with experience, as Bush and Daniels are joined by fellow seniors and four-year starters Jordan Deep, a second baseman, and Remy Hasty, an outfielder.

“We have a lot of talent returning and we have a lot of girls who are ready to move up and contribute,” head coach Tony Wolfe told accessnorthga.com. “Class AAAA will be a new challenge but we’re ready to face it.”

Buford earned two wins last Saturday, beating Milton 8-1 before scraping past South Forsyth 10-9. In the second game, the Wolves led 7-0 only to see South Forysth cross the plate seven times in the fifth inning to tie the score. They eventually took a one-run lead in the eighth and then Peyton Wolfe got out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam to preserve the victory. Buford will go up against Parkview on Wednesday night in the Hawk/Bulldog Invitational

Elsewhere in Class AAAA, Heritage-Catoosa returns nine starters from a team that finished runner-up to Northwest Whitfield in 2013. The Generals feature senior pitcher Lauren Lawson (committed to Georgia College) and outfielder Shea Headrick (committed to Tennessee Temple).

“We know what we have on paper,” head coach Steve Chattin told the Northwest Georgia News. “We know we still have to go out on the field and play. We have three mission statements we talk about all the time. That’s being the best they can be on and off the field, winning a state championship and having the opportunity to play in college if that’s what they want to do.”

Action at Kennesaw State on Monday saw Lassiter earn a 5-2 win over Mill Creek. Kaitlyn Howell pitched three innings and allowed no runs for the Hawks, but it was not enough to completely silence Lassiter. Defending Class AAAAAA Collins Hill opened its season with a 8-2 victory over Kennesaw Mountain. Brea Dickey went 3-for-5 with a triple to lead the Eagles.