BUFORD, Ga. — No. 2 Buford stormed past Glynn Academy, 8-3 and 14-0, in the second round of the Class 6A playoffs at Gerald McQuaig Field on Tuesday.
The Wolves' offense has now scored 43 runs in the first two rounds of the playoffs and held their opponents to just nine total runs.
Buford (26-7, Region 8-6A No. 1 seed) will travel to top-ranked Houston County (27-4, Region 1-6A No. 1 seed) in the quarterfinals by way of the Georgia High School Association's universal coin toss that determines the home team when like seeds play each other. The quarterfinal round for Class 6A is set to begin on Monday.
In Game 1, Buford racked up 10 hits and had the game in control, 7-3 in the fourth inning.
Stan Zargrodnik, who was 2-for-3 with three RBIs, started the Wolves scoring in the first inning with a two-RBI single. The Wolves led, 3-0, after the opening inning.
After the first inning, the Wolves added two runs in the third, two in the fourth and one in the fifth.
Carson King, Riley Stanford, and Parker Walsh all were part of the offensive output.
Stanford and Walsh were 2-for-3, while King was 2-for-4 with an RBI.
Jackson Gaspard earned the win, allowing three runs on seven hits in 5 2/3 innings of work. He also struck out two.
In Game 2, Buford racked up 14 runs on six hits, including a four-run first inning and six-run sixth inning to blow past Glynn Academy.
Brent Baughcum, who had a 3-for-4, three-RBI day at the plate, smashed a two-run home run in the second inning to give the Wolves a 6-0 lead.
In the six-run sixth inning, Ethan Murray hammered a three-run homer to send Gaspard and Ashton Kehren -- both walked earlier -- to the plate.
Riley Stanford was the winning pitcher, allowing three hits over five innings of work. He also struck out eight.
2nd ROUND BASEBALL PLAYOFF SCORES
(All series are best-of-3 at home of higher seed)
TUESDAY, MAY 3
Class 6A
Buford 7-14, Glynn Academy 3-0 (Buford wins series 2-0)
Class 4A
Flowery Branch 2-6, LaGrange 6-3 (Series tied 1-1)
WEDNESDAY, MAY 4
Class 4A
Flowery Branch (R8, S2) at LaGrange (R2, S1) (Game 3), 5:30 p.m.
Class 3A
Appling County (R1, S2) at North Hall (R7, S1) (DH), 4:30 p.m.
Cherokee Bluff (R7, S2) at Pierce County (R1, S1) (DH), 4:30 p.m.
Class 2A
Banks County (R8, S2) at Vidalia (R2, S1), (DH), 4 p.m.
Class A Public
Irwin County (R2, S2) at Commerce (R8, S1) (DH), 4 p.m.
