Friese goes yard in close Bucktail loss to CMVT

By Bees O’Brien

FARWELL- Sometimes when a baseball is hit, there’s never really any doubt. Keller Friese found himself in that position on Friday night to lead off the bottom of the fifth inning with a shot over the left field fence that left very little doubt.

The freshman’s home run helped bring Bucktail to within two runs at 8-6 against visiting Columbia Montour Vo Tech, but the Rams would fend off a valiant Bucks’ offensive effort to down the home squad 9-7 on Senior Night.

The Rams started the game hot against the Bucks by plating a pair of runs to open the game. Bucktail would strike back in their half of the first inning.

Braylon Fantaski’s leadoff single, a walk from Brett Mason and singles from Friese and Johnny Green would allow Bucktail to take a 3-2 lead.

Bucktail found success in the bottom of the second inning, too. Freshman Cael Dorman turned over the lineup perfectly with a single. Gavin Pick would be hit by a pitch and Friese would crush a ball off of the fence for a 2 RBI double that would score both Dorman and Pick to give the Bucks a 5-2 lead.

Errors would mount up on the Bucks in top of the third. Three miscues would lead to a 5-run inning for CMVT and gave the Rams a 7-5 lead. They would never trail again.

The fifth inning home run from Friese would narrow the gap. Friese would later score on an RBI from Green, who reached on an error. That short seventh inning rally would be the end of Bucktail’s offense.

Friese led the Bucks at the plate by going 4 for 4 on the day with the home run, a double and a pair of singles. Both Dorman and Green each collected two hits apiece. Ethan Kalafut and Gavin Pick both added doubles for a Bucktail team that collected 12 hits in the loss.

Bucktail seniors Braylon Fantaski, Brett Mason, Johnny Green and Kyler Friese were honored prior to the contest.

The Bucks will next be in action on Tuesday as they take their 0-7 record out of conference and host winless Northern Potter out of District 9.