Bucktail set to travel to Claysburg-Kimmel in freshman pitching showdown at states
By Bees O’Brien
FARWELL- Bucktail’s softball team found out their destination for Monday’s PIAA 1A state playoffs. The Lady Bucks’ reward for their second place finish will be a tough road trip to 25-0 Claysburg-Kimmel. The Lady Bulldogs captured the District 6 title by outlasting Juniata Valley, 5-4 on Thursday afternoon.
Claysburg, much like Bucktail has relied on a young freshman in the circle. CK’s Isabella Paris has been a workhorse. She’ll enter Monday’s game with a 16-0 record, a 2.09 ERA and an impressive 139 strike outs in 94 innings of work. Paris has also only allowed 27 walks in her freshman campaign,
The good news if you are a Bucktail fan is that Paris has given up plenty of long balls. Opponents have blasted 12 home runs off of her this season, including Juniata Valley’s 3 home runs on Thursday.
If Paris doesn’t get you, then Launa Musselman will. Musselman has worked 55 innings this season for the Lady Bulldogs and sports an insane 0.76 ERA.
Freshman Carrie Ditty has been Bucktail’s workhorse. Ditty will enter Monday’s first round meeting with 122 strike outs on the season. Ditty has been strong for the Lady Bucks when runners are on base. She has mastered pressure situation be stranding 85 opponent’s baserunners.
Bucktail has the power to challenge Paris in the circle. Eva Sockman leads the team with a .565 average and her 2 home runs are tied with Kendall Wagner for the team lead. Wagner is batting .377. Makenna Stone’s .500 average is something to keep an eye on. Stone delivered a pair of hits in the Lady Bucks’ 9-0 district title game loss to Northeast Bradford.
Lola English and Matti Mason have both gone yard this season to add to the Bucktail deep ball threat. English will enter the game hitting .424 and Mason is currently at .293.
Outfielder Angel Kmetz has had a strong season at the plate, batting at .319.
Power is exactly what Claysburg-Kimmel brings to the plate. 10 different players have hit home runs and they’re led by Paris, who’s clubbed 7.
Freshman Harlee Harclerode and Payton Hinish each have 6 and their best overall hitter in Bella Francona has 5 to go along with her team leading .512 average.
Junior catcher McKenna Black is hitting .464 and Paris is batting .449.
This will be Bucktail’s fourth trip to the state playoffs and their third straight trip. The Lady Bucks are 0-3 in state playoffs, with all three losses coming at the hands of Old Forge.
Bucktail (11-8) is set to travel to Claysburg-Kimmel for a 4pm start on Monday.
