Lady Bucks Edged by Montgomery, 3-2

MONTGOMERY – The Bucktail Lady Bucks gave it their all in a well-played District 4 playoff game at Montgomery. But the home-standing Lady Red Raiders did just enough to come away with a 3-2 victory.

The game turned on a fly ball lost in the sun in inning number three. In a 1-1 contest, the home team’s Riley Fry lofted the fly into left-center field and Lady Buck centerfielder Anna Cowfer struggled with the sun in her eyes; the ball fell to the ground and two runs scored on the Fry single and Montgomery led 3-1.

Bucktail got back one run in the top of the sixth as Myka Poorman was hit by a pitch, stole second, advanced to third and scored off a sacrifice bunt from Tess Cowfer. That made the score 3-2 for Montgomery. And Bucktail seemed to gain some momentum when Poorman, solid in the circle all day, worked out of a bases-loaded, no-out situation in the bottom of the same inning. There was a fielder’s choice and then an umpire-called infield fly rule which resulted in two outs when the Montgomery runner on third base advanced towards home when the ball was dropped and then walked from the field.

But Montgomery pitcher Emily Snyder set Bucktail down 1-2-3 with three strikeouts in the top of the seventh to secure the 3-2 win, moving the Lycoming County team into the District 4 Class A semifinals against Northeast Bradford.

Bucktail had scored the game’s first run in the top of the first when Poorman picked up a two-out single, stole second and scored all the way from second when Emily Cross hit an infield single to short. Bucktail had few scoring opportunities as Snyder hurled a complete-game 3-hitter, striking out 13, walking two and hitting one; Lady Buck hits came from Poorman and Cross with singles and Anna Cowfer with a booming double.

Poorman pitched more than well enough to win, finishing with a 5-hitter with two strikeouts and three walks.

Buck coach Mike Poorman said the difference in the game was Montgomery’s ability to put the ball in play, while Bucktail did not. He commended the Lady Bucks for their defensive work. The coaching staff had to juggle its defensive lineup when starting leftfielder Emma Intallura was injured in pregame warm-ups when a fly ball struck her in the face and she could not play.

Poorman noted it was his team’s fifth loss this season by one run. He lauded the team for its comeback from a 4-9 (Bucktail finished 8-10) start and said the program is moving “in the right direction” as the coaching staff works to “change the culture.” He said a strong group will be coming up next season from the junior high program.