BUFORD, Ga. — Another region championship belongs to Buford softball.

The Wolves secured their fifth consecutive region title Tuesday with a 15-3 victory over Mill Creek, improving to 18-2 overall and completing an unbeaten 9-0 run through Region 8-7A.

It is Buford's 17th region championship since the program moved to fastpitch competition in 2002. The victory also secured the region's automatic position in the Class 7A state tournament.

Mill Creek scored first on Laila Torres' RBI double, but Buford answered before the opening inning was over. Brooklyn Atha sent a two-run home run to right field, turning a one-run deficit into a 2-1 Wolves lead. The homer was Atha's team-leading 13th of the season.

The separation came one inning later. Buford scored six times in the second, with Mackenzie Fritsch drawing a bases-loaded walk and Ansley Kehren adding a sacrifice fly. LG Goldin supplied the inning's biggest swing, driving a three-run home run to center field. It was her fourth homer of the season and her third in as many games.

Buford put the game away with seven more runs in the third. Fritsch brought home two with a single, Kehren drove in another pair with a double and Goldin worked a run-scoring walk. Ella Pierce Hensley capped the inning with a two-run home run to left field, her sixth of the year.

Kehren finished with a double and three RBIs. Fritsch reached twice, scored two runs and stole a base, while Janie Goldin recorded a hit, a walk, two runs and a stolen base. Lydia Hamrick reached on two walks, scored twice and accounted for three of Buford's six stolen bases.

Olivia Nagel earned her first victory of the season after working all four innings. She allowed three earned runs on five hits while striking out one and walking one. The defense behind her completed the game without an error.

The championship continues a run that has defined Buford softball across classifications and regions. With the postseason berth secured, the Wolves return to the field Thursday at Seckinger.