Lady Bucks Impressive in First-Ever Playoff Game

FARWELL — A young Bucktail High School softball team Tuesday saw the school’s first-ever postseason playoff game but the Lady Bucks never flinched, putting together seven solid innings on the way to a 7-1 win over St. John Neumann.

Bucktail moves to 10-8 with the win, Neumann ends its season at 8-8. The Lady Bucks advance to a District 4 Class A semifinal contest against #2 seed Northeast Bradford (14-4) at the Mosser Complex in Turbotville Thursday at 4:30 p.m.

Third-year head coach Mike Poorman was high in his praise for a Bucktail team starting five freshmen, all of whom he said “came up big.” He said the program is further along than he had hoped at this point and said the Lady Bucks played “truly their best defensive game all year.” Bucktail committed but one error and received solid defense all around, including a spectacular line drive grab from centerfielder Anna Cowfer.

The defense backed a masterful route-going performance from freshman pitcher Myka Poorman. She tossed a 3-hitter, striking out four and walking three. Her father/coach Poorman said once Bucktail got the lead the game plan was for her to pound the strike zone and make Neumann put the ball in play; she did that and the defense made the plays.

Bucktail meanwhile made contact all game and kept constant pressure on the Neumann defense. The first run came in the bottom of the second, Emma Intallura pushing a double to right and later scoring when Nuemann’s second baseman misplayed a ground ball off the bat of Amanda Tyrell.

Walks hurt the Williamsport team in the third inning: Cowfer and Poorman walked and Emily Cross drilled a double to left, scoring both. Bucktail added another run in the fifth as Poorman walked for a third time and came around to score as Neumann mishandled some throws. Bucktail would break things open with three runs in the sixth. The home team put together a walk to Kayli Casper, an infield error off the bat of Maria D’Onofrio, and Cowfer was hit by a pitch. Casper scored on a fielder’s choice RBI from Poorman and Cross hit her second double, driving in two more runs.

Cross finished with three hits, two doubles and a single, and drove in four runs. Cowfer had a single, Intallura her double and Renee Werts a single. Bucktail also worked six walks.