ABOVE PHOTO:  Buford senior Abbi Perkins hammers a three-run home run in the sixth inning against Heritage-Catoosa on Saturday.  Photo – Julie Adams

Buford 11   Heritage-Catoosa 6

BUFORD — Buford took on Heritage-Catoosa on Saturday as part of the Hawks Invitational at the Buford Softball Complex.  The Wolves behind a three-run home run from senior Abbi Perkins and a two-run homer by freshman Madison Pickens, the first home run of her varsity softball career, beat out the previously undefeated Generals 11-6.

Freshman pitcher Emma Grace Williams (2-0) pitched all six innings for Buford giving up six runs (four earned) and striking out two.

Perkins led the offense with that impressive three-run bomb in the sixth inning, a double, earned three RBIs, and scored two runs.  Freshman Mackenzie Pickens went 3-for-4 earning two RBIs and scoring two runs while her twin sister Madison Pickens was 2-for-3 with that two-run homer in the sixth, a double, two RBIs, and two runs.  Sophomore Chloe Hatcher hit 2-for-4 and added two runs for Buford.

Buford (4-2, 1-0) will host region opponent Winder-Barrow on Monday at 5 p.m. at the Buford Softball Complex.  This is a game that was originally supposed to take place on Thursday but was postponed due to rain.

Before the game on Thursday, Buford head softball coach and athletic director Tony Wolfe was honored in a short ceremony to celebrate his 400th career win which came against Dacula last Tuesday.  Superintendent Dr. Robert Downs, Assistant Superintendent Melanie Reed, Principal Teresa Hagelthorn, former Athletic Director Dexter Wood, Assistant Athletic Director Rebecca Moon, and Associate Principal Keith Johnson along with Coach Wolfe’s wife Kim and his daughters presented him with a plaque commemorating the special achievement.

Lanier wins two

GAINESVILLE — The Lanier Longhorns were on the road on Saturday in Gainesville where they took on both Chestatee and North Hall.  Lanier started off their day with a 13-2 win over Chestatee and finished it with a 4-3 victory over North Hall.

Lauren Cothern was on the mound for Lanier against Chestatee and had a solid performance.  She pitched for five innings where she gave up four hits but struck out 10 batters.

In the game against Chestatee, Payton Franklin went 3-for-4 with a home run and earned two RBIs.  Carly Forrester was 3-for-4 at the plate with a double and one RBI.  Earning two RBIs after going 2-for-4 was Sara Byrum.  Cothern was 2-for-2 with two walks.

Pitching for the Longhorns against North Hall was Carly Forrester who pitched for seven innings giving up eight hits.

Offensive standouts for Lanier against North Hall were Cothern who was 2-for-3 with a double, Franklin busted out a home run, and Cecelia Sampona was 1-for-2, had two walks, and an RBI.

On Monday, Lanier (3-3) will host Dacula at 5 p.m. after their game on Thursday was rained out. Then they will take on new region opponent Buford at the Buford Softball Complex on Tuesday at 6 p.m.

— Staff Reports