Recent Buford Wolves (V) News
Luke Hopper pitched five dominant innings
BUFORD — Luke Hopper pitched five dominant innings, and the Buford offense rode a six-run second inning to a 11-1 victory over Mountain View in its Region 8-AAAAAA baseball opener.
Hopper struck out a career-high nine in the shortened complete game, giving up two hits and one earned run. He didn’t surrender a walk.
Ryan Johansen paced the Buford hitters, going 4-for-4 with three RBIs and a run. Cannon Goldin (2-for-3, two RBIs, two runs, walk), Leo Garcia (2-for-2, double, RBI, walk, run) and Caleb Griffin (2-for-3, double, triple, two runs) also had big games.
The Wolves (2-1) also got offensive contributions from Dexter McCleon Jr. (1-for-2, double, walk, two runs), Ayden Lockett (1-for-4, double, three runs, stolen base) and Payton Walker (1-for-2, two RBIs).
Mountain View’s Sean Forbes blasted a second-inning solo home run for the only damage against Hopper. Samuel Betancourt had the Bears’ other hit.
Buford scraped together a fifth-inning run
BUFORD — Buford scraped together a fifth-inning run in a matchup that featured stellar pitching Friday, pulling out a 2-1 victory over Parkview in the teams’ annual early-season baseball clash.
Each team managed just three hits over the seven innings.
Luke Hopper was hit by a pitch to lead off the fifth inning, moved to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Ian Chafin and reached third on a wild pitch. Cannon Goldin followed with a sacrifice fly to score the game-winning run in the Wolves’ season opener.
Parkview (1-1) took a 1-0 lead with a massive leadoff home run from Malachi Washington in the first inning.
Buford tied the score in the bottom of the first, taking advantage of a leadoff double from Goldin. He came home on a sacrifice fly from Leo Garcia, and the score stayed 1-1 until the fifth inning.
Kanon Nelson (1-0) pitched two scoreless, hitless innings of relief for the win. He struck out five and walked none.
Braden Burton was Buford’s starting pitcher, going three innings with two strikeouts. He gave up three hits and the home run to Washington. Freshman Dexter McCleon Jr. struck out four over the final two innings for the save, holding Parkview without a hit and walking one.
Ayden Lockett (1-for-3, stolen base) and Walker Taulbee (1-for-1) added hits for Buford.
Porter Berryman (four innings, two hits, one run, eight strikeouts, two walks) and Grant Benefield (two innings, one hit, one run, one walk) split the pitching duties for Parkview.
Emani Ford (1-for-3) and Miles Norman (1-for-3) had the Panthers’ other hits.
Parks Cleveland, a catcher for Buford High School’s varsity baseball team announced that he has chosen to further his academic and baseball careers at Brevard College next fall.
Parks Cleveland, a catcher for Buford High School’s varsity baseball team announced that he has chosen to further his academic and baseball careers at Brevard College next fall.
Brevard College is a private college located in Brevard, N.C. with an undergraduate student population of 780. The Brevard Tornados compete in the NCAA Division III in the USA South Athletic Conference.
“He (Parks) is a player blessed with skills and knowledge of the game, but more importantly, a set of intangibles that make him special on the field, in the classroom, in our community, and in our locker room,” said Buford head baseball coach Stuart Chester.
The 6-foot-2, 195-pound senior began his baseball career at just 3 years old playing in the Greater Buford Athletic Association youth baseball league at the Legion Fields. Cleveland transitioned to travel ball at age 9. Currently, in addition to playing for Buford High School, he is also a member of the Aquasox travel team. Cleveland is rated as a 7 by Perfect Game.
“Parks sets the example for us all to follow, not just in baseball but in life as well. He has worked very hard on his skill set as well as in the weight room. Brevard is blessed to have Parks Cleveland in their program just as Buford Baseball!” added Chester.
Buford grad Dylan Lesko traded from Padres to Rays
- By Brandon Sudge 07/29/2024, 1:30pm EDT
Buford Baseball Rolls Past West Forsyth in Second-Round Sweep
- By T.J. French Staff Correspondent 05/01/2024, 11:45pm EDT
Buford Baseball Gets Past Kennesaw Mountain in First Round
- By Staff Reports 04/26/2024, 11:00pm EDT
Buford 7, Dacula 1
- By Staff Reports 04/19/2024, 11:00pm EDT
Samuel Zaa Gives Dacula Baseball Walk-Off Win Over Buford in 9 Innings
- By Staff Reports 04/18/2024, 11:30pm EDT