Download This Version in Microsoft Word format
TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE BUFORD HIGH SCHOOL VARSITY SOFTBALL TEAM, COACHES, AND SCHOOL OFFICIALS FOR A REMARKABLE SEASON AND TO CONGRATULATE THEM FOR WINNING THE 2016 SOUTH CAROLINA CLASS AA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE.
Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives is pleased to learn that the members of the Buford High School softball team of Lancaster County took top honors at the state competition held at South Florence High School on Friday, May 20, 2016; and
Whereas, to the cheers of their exuberant fans, the Buford Lady Yellow Jackets defeated the Dillon High School Lady Wildcats 2-1 in the best two-out-of-three to bring home the team's first state title in Class AA; and
Whereas, in 2009, the Lady Jackets won the state softball championship when Buford was classified as single A, but the 2016 victory was the team's first state title as a Class AA school; and
Whereas, in the opener of the championship series, Buford won a 3-0 victory over Dillon on the Wildcat diamond but fell 5-3 to Dillon in extra innings on the home field, but Buford ground out the third game with dominant pitching and a defense that could not be intimidated; and
Whereas, the Yellow Jackets' Hannah Boone hit a two-run single in the second inning that opened scoring for the final game to give her team a 2-0 lead, which Buford held until the Wildcat's fifth inning; and
Whereas, after the Lady Wildcats posted a single run, Buford's star pitcher, Sydney Sullivan, staved off a rally from Dillon with a strikeout for the inning's third out with the bases loaded for Dillon; and
Whereas, two Buford softball parents, the mother of shortstop Hunter Allen and the mother of second baseman Kristin Wemes, Jennifer Allen and Sandy Wemes, were members of the 1990 Buford Class A state runner-up team when the Lady Jackets had hoped to capture the team's first state softball title; and
Whereas, the grandfather of Hunter Allen and father of Jennifer Allen, Dickie Hunter, who graduated from Buford High in 1969 and served as a former Buford softball coach, was gratified to watch the 2016 victory for his granddaughter, his alma mater, and the team he had once coached; and
Whereas, in a sport that demands skill, strength, and strategy, third-year Head Coach Lael Allen and her skilled coaching staff capitalized on their own experience and passion to hone a championship-caliber team and teach these athletes lessons that will prove invaluable through life both on and off the diamond; and
Whereas, the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives value the pride and recognition that the Buford High School softball players have brought to their school and their community and look to hear of their continued achievements in the days to come. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:
That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, recognize and honor the Buford High School varsity softball team, coaches, and school officials for a remarkable season and congratulate them for winning the 2016 South Carolina Class AA State Championship title.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Principal Rodney Miller and Coach Lael Allen.
This web page was last updated on January 11, 2017 at 3:22 PM