BUFORD — The No. 6-ranked Buford baseball team dominated the West Forsyth Wolverines in both games of a doubleheader Wednesday, including a 9-0 win in Game 2.

The sweep — the Wolves won the opener 16-9 — sends Buford to the quarterfinals of the GHSA state baseball playoffs.

“In Class AAAAAAA, it means a lot," Buford head coach Stuart Chester said of advancing to the Elite Eight. “Each round gets tougher and tougher, and I didn’t think we played our best ball, but (Kyle) Krause did a good job locating, keeping the ball down and offensively I think we swung the bats well and had a good approach.” 

Starter Kyle Krause delivered a gem for Buford in Game 2, throwing 6 2/3 innings of shutout baseball and striking out six. Krause was strong in the strike zone, only walking one, and induced a lot of balls in play early in counts to get quick outs.

“Curveball started out good, the fastball felt good out of the hand,” said Krause. “But I had a great team behind me, and they gave me support early and were a key part to this win.”

Buford recorded a crooked number inning in the top half of the fourth, which they started by loading the bases with no outs. Caleb Griffin came through for the Wolves with a two-run single to the opposite field. Two errors by West Forsyth led to two more runs and a five-run lead after four.

The Wolves added some insurance runs during the seventh inning, which included Lockett driving in two on a single, and Ethan Murray adding a solo homer over the left field fence.

Lockett had a nice game at the plate going 1-for-2 with three RBIs and a walk. Murray gave the Wolves production with a three-hit game, including a double and his seventh-inning homer. Leadoff hitter Cam Wood got on base all four times and scored two runs.

The Wolves also came out on top 16-9 in the first game of the doubleheader. 

After giving up the game's initial two runs in the top of the first inning, Buford came out swinging in the bottom of the second when they put up a seven-run inning. Jayden Clark drove in two runs on a two-out single.

Buford then added five runs in the bottom of the third to give it an eight-run cushion. 

The starter who received the victory was Nate Taylor. Taylor earned the win going 4 2/3 innings, striking out five and giving up six earned runs. Damian Brown came in relief and threw for the remainder of the game, striking out five. Brown also recorded his first varsity hit in the game, which was a bases clearing double.

Caleb Griffin was a standout in the game, going 3-for-3 with two RBIs. Clark finished 2-for-3 with two runs scored. 

Buford will await the winner of Brookwood and Hillgrove series to decide who they will play in the Elite Eight starting Monday, May 6.

BUFORD — Buford rebounded from its first 8-AAAAAAA loss for a 7-1 win over Dacula on Thursday.

Damian Brown (3-1) was the winning pitcher, going 6 1/3 innings and allowing one run on three hits. He struck out seven and walked two. Kyle Krause recorded the last two outs.

Blake Russell (2-for-3, run, stolen base), Cam Wood (2-for-4, double, run), Caleb Griffin (1-for-3, two RBIs, run) and Madden Young (1-for-2, sacrifice fly, RBI) led the Buford hitters.

The Wolves improve to 19-8-1 overall and 13-1 in the region.

Dacula was led at the plate by Jared Glenn (1-for-3, run), D.J. Quary (1-for-3, RBI), Samuel Zaa (1-for-2, walk), Jacob Mayfield (0-for-1, two walks) and Harry Bouldin (1-for-3).

The Falcons’ Ryan Higdon pitched two scoreless innings of relief.