Persing, McRae triplets too much for Bucktail
By Bees O’Brien
MONTGOMERY, PA – Bucktail entered their Mid Penn Conference clash with Montgomery 9-0 and outscoring their opponents 140-15 in those nine previous victories. Montgomery had the ultimate counter to that high-powered Lady Bucks offense in Pennsylvania 1A Player of The Year Faith Persing.
Persing proved why she is considered to be the best pitcher in the state time and time again on Thursday afternoon. Persing would fan 13 Bucktail batters and only allow three base runners in six innings of work. She also had plenty of help on the offensive side of things.
The Lady Raiders are blessed with an oddity in high school sports, triplets. The senior sisters, Taylor, Shelby and Brynn McRae combined 5 hits and knocked 4 RBI’s to power Montgomery to a decisive 11-1 six inning victory over Bucktail.
Persing also was hot with the bat by going 2 for 3 on the day with a run scored. She would score Montgomery’s first run in the bottom of the first inning to take a 1-0 lead.
She was on target in the first two innings as she mowed down a very dangerous lineup that includes the likes of Jordan Burrows, Haley Burrows, Mak Wagner, Emma Poorman and Matti Mason, all of whom entered the game batting close to or over .500.
Two scoreless Bucktail at bats and single runs in the first two innings for Montgomery led to a 2-0 lead for the home team.
Bucktail’s only life on offense would come in the top of the third with an Alexis Lowery one out double. Jordan Burrows would walk with two outs. Haley Burrows would score Lowery from second on a single to make it 2-1.
Persing would buckle down and not allow another base rummer in the game’s final three innings. Montgomery however would continue to score.
Three more scores in their half of the third and a five-run burst in the fourth would extend their lead to 10-1.
The Lady Bucks offensive struggles continued until the Lady Raiders crossed a single run in the bottom of the sixth inning to force the 10-run mercy rule at 11-1.
Mak Wagner would take the loss in the circle for Bucktail. Lowery’s double and Haley Burrows’ single would be Bucktail’s only hits. Jordan Burrows would be the only other Lady Buck to reach base with a walk.
Bucktail fans need not worry however. The 2019 District Champion Lady Bucks squad lost 12-1 to Montgomery in their final meeting of the regular season and eventually rebounded to win districts and move on to the state playoffs.
Bucktail (9-1) will now look to rebound at Sugar Valley on Tuesday and then will be tested again with a tough road trip to MPC East-leading Northwest (8-2) on Wednesday. They’ll end their week at home on Friday against a very talented Oswayo Valley (3-3) team. Oswayo Valley is currently fighting for a berth in the District 9 1A playoffs and should provide a challenge for the Lady Bucks.
