No matter what the role, Buford High junior Karly Fullem wants to succeed.

Whether it was as the winning pitcher for the Lady Wolves in their 2008 Class AA state championship game or coming on in relief to save a victory in a late-August game against rival Wesleyan, Fullem wants the ball in her hand when it matters the most.

Last week was no different than any week before, as Fullem recorded a pair of saves against Jefferson and Wesleyan and finished her week with two wins Saturday to give the top-ranked Lady Wolves the gold division title of the Buford Invitational.

“She got us out of some major jams to help seal those wins,” Buford coach Tony Wolfe said. “She’s just a quality pitcher and she’s been in big games since she was a freshman.”

Primarily used as a spot starter her freshman season, Fullem became a full-time starter last year and split time between the pitching circle and first base. Her role remains the same in her junior year, but only this year can she relish the fact that she has championship game experience.

“It gives me confidence to an extent,” Fullem said. “But we play so many games that everything’s new.”

And at Buford, emphasis is put on each of those games, including the ones in last weekend’s Buford Invitational.

“We’re not thinking about state,” Fullem said. “Getting momentum from the tournament helps a lot. It definitely means something to us.”

That could be because this year’s Lady Wolves are a new crop of players ready to compete for the program’s third straight state title. A third title would give Fullem a championship in each of her first three seasons at Buford.

“It’s different, but I feel like every year we’re a new team,” she said. “We have a lot of talent this year, but I know we have to do new things because we’re not as good in some aspects as we were last year.”

That isn’t the case for the pitching circle, where Fullem and fellow junior Melissa Dickie anchor the Buford rotation. Fullem, who is playing on an injured knee, had to take more of an integral role last week, as Dickie was sidelined with an injury.

“Karly had to step up with her knee bothering her,” Wolfe said. “I tried to back off on her innings because of the knee, but I couldn’t.”

Wolfe’s form of limiting innings came with Fullem pitching out of the bullpen to start the week. After she secured Trisha Warbington’s first win of the year with a save against Jefferson last Tuesday, Fullem again came on in relief of Warbington the next day and shut the door to a 5-2 Buford win over Wesleyan.

“Having someone like that is a blessing,” Wolfe said. “There’s a bunch of teams in Georgia that would like to have her.”

Especially since she throws six pitches for strikes. Her favorite and most effective pitches are the screwball and change up, which she used to perfection Saturday in her two wins in the Buford Invitational.

“I really like to throw the change, when it works,” said Fullem, who is 5-1 this year with a 1.27 ERA and 35 strikeouts in 38 innings pitched.

Not only is Fullem the team leader in wins, but she bats fifth in the lineup and provides protection for Buford’s sluggers Alysha Rudnik and Lexi Overstreet.

“Offensively is where she’s grown the most,” Wolfe said. “We have a pretty solid No. 3, 4 and 5 hitters.”

Fullem is batting .371 with four doubles and four RBIs on the year.