Prom or softball championship? Local team forced to choose

BUFORD, SC — The Buford High School girls' softball team was supposed to take on Landrum in the upper state championship Thursday night, but the game got rained out.

The game was moved to Friday, but that was Buford High's prom night. State league officials refused to move the game to Saturday.

So, the girls - part of a winning team that was state champions in 2016 - were forced to choose between an important game and their senior prom.

"I've had my dress for 7, 8 months," said one of the players.

Buford Head Coach Lael Allen was in tears.

"I didn't want to have to put them in the position to make that choice," said Allen.

After Thursday's game was postponed, parents started calling the state high school league. Lancaster County Superintendent Jonathan Phipps got involved.

"It's just one of those stories, that, it's just not the right thing to do for kids," Phipps said.

They even called on some heavy hitters including Congressman Ralph Norman and former Congressman Mick Mulvaney, but the league refused to budge even though both teams agreed to a delay.

"I chose prom at first, and then I thought about it, and I could not do it over softball," said one player.

In the end, four players decided not to board the bus to Spartanburg. The other players said they had no hard feelings.

Later, Coach Allen said two of the players had a change of heart and drove themselves to the game.

Channel 9 contacted the league to ask about their rules and why they wouldn't move the game. We haven't heard back.

Cox Media Group