Maria Patroni scored two goals to lead sixth-ranked Buford’s girls soccer team to a 3-1 win against Athens Academy during the first round of the Class A/AA state tournament on Friday in Athens.
Haley Holderfield added a goal and Elizabeth Durden had two assists for the Lady Wolves (14-3-1).
Buford faces the winner of the Dawson County/Calhoun game on Wednesday.
Baseball
Gainesville 6, White County 5
Red Elephants senior Max Joseph connected on walk off bases loaded single that scored Robby Hefflinger in the bottom of the seventh inning on Friday night at Ivey-Watson Field.
Hefflinger finished the game 2-for-3 with a two run home run. Sloan Strickland added a solo home run for the Red Elephants (18-5, 17-2 Region 7-AAA).
Zach Bennett added two hits for Gainesville.
Gainesville visits West Hall at 5:30 p.m. on Monday in Oakwood.
Lakeview Academy 20, Athens Academy 3
Colin King, Ralston Cash, Nick Saye and Matt Reynolds each hit home runs as Lakeview Academy crushed Athens Academy on Friday night in Athens.
Reynolds finished the game 3-for-3 with four RBIs and Tyler Ward was 2-for-4 with four RBIs for the Lions (15-7, 13-3 Region 8-A).
Lakeview Academy plays host to Commerce at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday.
East Hall 12, West Forsyth 10
Zeb Miller led the Vikings with a grand slam and a double on Friday night at the East Hall Park. Jimmy Byers was 2-for-5 with a double, triple and two runs scored for East Hall (8-15, 7-12 Region 7-AAA).
Drew Adams was 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Cody Davidson had a pair of singles and a triple for the Vikings.
East Hall visits White County at 5:30 p.m. Monday in Cleveland.
Jefferson 14, Social Circle 4
Jake Fields, Tyler Hill, Chris Beck and Blaine Skaggs combined for six home runs for No. 6-ranked Jefferson (17-3, 16-0 Region 8-A) Friday night in Jefferson.
Jake Fields led the Dragons offensively with three home runs for the second consecutive night. He finished the game with five RBIs.
Beck finished the game with a two-run home run and three RBIs. He also picked up the win on the mound with seven strikeouts and only allowed one hit.
Jefferson visits Towns County at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday in Hiawassee.
Banks County 7, Oglethorpe Co. 6
Alex Gailey went 2-for-4 with a pair of home runs and two runs scored for the Leopards (15-8) in the Region 8-AA tournament series opener against the Patriots on Friday night in Homer.
Zack Dale added a home run, RBI and a run scored for Banks County. Jeff Smith had three hits and a run scored for the Leopards.
Chris Porter and Kyle Smith each added a home run for Banks County.
Banks County 16, Oglethorpe Co. 4
The Leopards finished with a series sweep of the Patriots in the Region 8-AA tournament Friday night. With the win, Banks County qualified for the Class AA state tournament.
The Leopards advance to the second round of the Region 8-AA tournament on Thursday night in Dawsonville.
Justin Gibbs went 2-for-4 with a single, double and three runs scored against the Patriots. Dale added a home run, three RBIs and a pair of runs scored.
Porter, Tyler Hulsey and Gailey each added two hits for Banks County.