The Buford softball team continued its postseason run Thursday by beating Savannah Christian Day 3-2 and Rutland 1-0 at the Columbus Softball Complex in the Class AA state softball finals.
Ashley Razey hit a home run in the top of the sixth inning against Savannah Christian Day, which proved to be the winning run for the Lady Wolves.
Melissa Higginbotham earned the win for Buford, striking out four, walking one and allowing four hits. She is 17-3 on the season.
Against Rutland, Karly Fuellem earned the win, her sixth of the season, by striking out eight and allowing three hits.
"She pitched a heck of a game," Buford assistant coach Brad Brown said. "Just beautiful."
Higginbotham hit a triple to drive in Nichole Bell for the game’s only run.
The pair of wins set up a rematch with Region 6-AA rival Greater Atlanta Christian, who the Lady Wolves have a 1-3 record against in 2007, today at 7 p.m. in Columbus.
Cross Country
Elephants take first
The Gainesville High boys cross country team took first place at the Lumpkin County Tri-meet Thursday, placing four runners in the top five.
The Red Elephants finished with 19 points. Lumpkin County took second with 37 points and Johnson finished with 110. Freshman Aurelio Montano led the way, taking first place with a time of 19 minutes, 6 seconds. Trey Davenport wasn’t far behind, taking second place in 19:10.
Andrew Aubuchon took third with a time of 19:33 and Facundo Arroyo finished fourth in 19:35. Joey Summer rounded out Gainesville’s scoring, taking ninth in 20:30.
In the girls race, Lumpkin County took first by a point, finishing with 32 points. Gainesville took second with 33 and Johnson finished third with 58.
Claire Kannapell led Gainesville, finishing second. Adelaide Whitehead finished third and Kelly Mattick finished fifth.
Anna Katherine Yarger took the No. 8 spot.
Football
Lakeview Academy 27, Pickens 12
The Lakeview Academy football team finished its season with a 7-0 record with a win against the Dragons’ junior varsity squad on Thursday night in Jasper.
Lex Little scored on a 10-yard run and Haughton Carswell scored on a run from the 45 to help build a 17-0 lead going into halftime. Nick Saye added a 45-yard field goal.
In the second half, the Lions’ Jordan Chastain returned a 45-yard interception for a touchdown. Saye kicked his second field goal from 37.
Next season, Lakeview Academy will probably play a varsity schedule in Region 8-A, according to coach Matthew Gruhn.
"This was an unbelievable season, who would have thought we would have gone undefeated," Gruhn said. "I hope this gives us momentum going into next season. "I know the kids feel confident and are buying into what we are doing here."