BUFORD — When Buford High sends out Jake Burnette and Josh Heddinger, it makes it tough for any opposition hoping for a win.

Just ask Appling County.

After Burnette recorded 11 strikeouts in a 3-1 win in Game 1, Heddinger took the hill in Game 2 and struck out 10 batters Monday to lead the Wolves to a 6-1 win and their first appearance in the Class AA state championship series since 1978.

“I couldn’t be prouder of those two guys,” said Buford coach Tony Wolfe, whose team improved to 8-0 in the postseason. “They were the difference makers in both games. They really brought their ‘A’ game.”

Heddinger was impressive from the start of Game 2, and he didn’t allow a hit until the third inning. The only run he surrendered was unearned.

“It wasn’t easy for either of us,” Heddinger said. “We just came out and did what we had to do.”

Heddinger didn’t just get it done on the mound; his RBI single in the fourth inning opened the scoring for Buford (29-3). The Wolves increased the lead to 2-0 when Appling County’s shortstop couldn’t field a grounder hit by James Nix, allowing Troy Herterick to score from third.

Buford tacked on two more runs in the top of the fifth, the first coming on a wild pitch that scored Tyler White, who led off the inning with a double. Jamie Ritchie followed with an infield single, and his courtesy runner Upshaw scored on an RBI single by Herterick.

“We’re just all working together and working hard,” said Burnette, who like Heddinger, is committed to play for Georgia Tech. “We’re doing the small things and playing as a team with one common goal.”

The Pirates (22-12) finally got on the board in the bottom of the fifth inning when Colby Griffin led off with a single and scored on a fielding and throwing error by Zac Lynn, who made a leaping catch earlier in the game to rob Tyler Avera of a hit.

Lynn’s was the second great defensive play by the Wolves, who saw centerfielder Adam Hampton make a diving catch in the third inning.

“If we just make plays for them and make teams hit us to beat us, it’s not going to happen too often,” said Wolfe, who stated that the error was only Lynn’s error of the year. “I thought we played excellent defense today.”

White’s second double of the game in the sixth inning scored James Nix to give the Wolves a 6-1 lead and put them well on their way to the state championship series.

“It’s an awesome feeling,” Wolfe said of reaching the finals. “These kids, especially the seniors, worked so hard to get to this point.”

The Wolves, who haven’t won a baseball title since 1977, will play either Lovett or Pike County in the Class AA state championship, which begins Saturday at Buford.

“I want to play both really bad,” Burnette said. “Lovett is in our region, so that would be nice to play them in the state championship game, but Pike put us out last year and I want revenge.”

Heddinger said he didn’t really care which team he plays for a state championship, and that his goal of winning a title has more to do with his team than himself.

“I’m playing for the people here and the guys,” he said. “It’s more for them than for me. They deserve it more than I do.”

The rest of the team likely will disagree with that, but one thing they can all agree on is their chances at bringing home a state title.

“We do feel like we’re on a roll,” Burnette said. “We think we’re in a good spot to win it all.”

BUFORD 3, APPLING COUNTY 1: Bryon Buxton homered for the Pirates, but loaded the bases on three straight walks that led to all three runs for the Wolves in Game 1 of the Class AA semifinals.

Buxton’s home run came in the third inning and gave Appling County a 1-0 run, but that’s all Wolves’ starter Burnette allowed, holding the Pirates to two hits in the final four innings.

Burnette, who said he hung a curveball that led to Buxton’s home run, worked out of a jam with two strikeouts after Appling County loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the second inning.

The Wolves won despite getting only two hits — a single by Nix and an infield hit by Ritchie.

Buxton dominated the Wolves for the first three innings before losing control in the fourth. The junior, who is committed to the University of Georgia, left after walking the bases loaded to start the fourth. He finished with five strikeouts and four walks on 82 pitches.