WOODSTOCK, Ga. — Defending Class 7A champion Buford opened its 2024 season with a 9-2 win over River Ridge on Thursday on the road.
The Lady Wolves (1-0) got a pair of RBI ground outs for a 2-0 lead. River Ridge answered in the bottom of the first with two runs to tie the game and it stayed that way until the fourth.
Buford, which pounded out 10 hits for the game, scored one in the fourth, two in the fifth, one more in the sixth, and then blew it open with three runs in the seventh. In the final inning, Addie Rackley smacked a solo home run, Janie Goldin singled in a run, and Brooklyn Atha added a RBI double.
Caroline Stanton earned the win for Buford, scattering two hits and walking two while fanning eight in a complete-game effort.
Brooke Beam took the loss for River Ridge, surrendering five runs on three hits and walking five.
Ella Pierce Hensley and Izzy Rettiger each had two hits for Buford.
The Lady Wolves will be back in action on Tuesday traveling to Walnut Grove.
BANKS COUNTY 5,
JEFFERSON 1
The Lady Leopards moved to 3-0 on the season with a win over the Lady Dragons at home.
Banks County jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the first on a two-run home run from Tylee Strickland.
Jefferson closed the gap to 2-1 in the third on a RBI hit from Skyler Brady but they could not add on. The Lady Leopards pushed the lead to 4-1 in the fourth on RBI hits from Cylee Whitfield and Ryleigh Murphy.
Peyton Gaylor got the win for Banks County, allowing just three hits and the one run in seven innings. She struck out four and walked just one.
Addison Self took the loss for Jefferson. Self lasted just four innings giving up four runs on five hits and four walks.
CHEROKEE BLUFF 10,
COMMERCE 9
In a back-and-forth contest, the Lady Bears got the final word, scoring three runs in the top of the seventh to rally for their first win of the season.
Bluff (1-2) led 5-0 in the fourth before Commerce (1-2) exploded for two runs in the bottom of the fourth and five more in the fifth, highlighted by a two-run double from Addy Grace Martin. Lily Sears and Camden Thomason also had RBI hits in the inning as the Lady Tigers tied the score at 7.
Commerce took a 9-7 lead in the sixth on RBI hits by Brooklyn Nunley doubled, and Brooklyn Harbin singled. But it didn’t last.
In the seventh for the Lady Bears, Lillie Diehl homered to lead off the inning and Claire Carlson doubled, and Amelia Spencer also drove in runs to give them the lead.
Cherokee Bluff next will travel to North Hall on Monday. Commerce next heads to Stephens County on Tuesday.
