Bucktail’s upset bid falls short vs. Neumann, 7-6

By Bees O’Brien

FARWELL PA- St. John Neumann baseball finished 2022 with a 10-9 record and were District IV 1A finalists. Their district championship loss to Benton signaled the end for some key players, but the Golden Knights were expected by many to be district title contenders again in 2023. Those dreams may have been brought back down to reality on a cold, blustery day in Farwell on Wednesday afternoon.

The Bucks, who were expected to make some improvements following their 2-14 season a year ago, tried their best to make huge improvements and knock off St. John Neumann. Bucktail outhit and outpitched the Golden Knights throughout much of the game, until the final inning of play.

Neumann jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning and would use a huge 4-run second inning to build a 5-0 lead. It looked as though this game was about to duplicate Neumann’s 20-9 victory over the Bucks a season ago.

Freshman Xander Shearer would breathe new life into the Bucks with a leadoff double to start the Bucktail second inning. Shearer would eventually steal his way around the base paths and score on a wild Aiden Vogt pitch to get the home team on the board.

Bucktail starting pitcher Braylon Fantaski would silence the Neumann bats in the third inning with 3 of his game-high 12 strikeouts. Fantaski then would start a huge third inning rally with a single, which was followed by a Kyler “Noodles” Friese RBI double that would score Fantaski.

Shearer would reach base when he was hit by a Chase Wright pitch. Friese and Shearer would both be knocked in on a 2-out, 2 RBI double from Gary Whipp.

Bucktail now trailed 5-4 and began to make a game of their Mid Penn clash with the Golden Knights.

St. John Neumann would tack on another run in the top of the fourth, but the Bucks were far from done.

In the top of the fourth inning it would again be the combination of Fantaski and Friese that would deliver for the Bucks. Fantaski started the inning with a single. Friese would then drive him in with a standup double.

Ethan Kalafut’s shot to left centerfield would score Friese and knot things up at 6-6.

In the sixth inning Bucktail starting pitcher Braylon Fantaski would reach his 100 pitch count and be forced to be removed from the game. Fantaski finished with 12 strike outs and just one walk. He also allowed just 5 hits.

Neumann’s Corey Agnew led off the top of the seventh inning with a double and would eventually score the go ahead run off of relief pitcher Brett Mason.

The Bucks had a chance to tie the game in their final at bat following another single from Kalafut, but the Bucks failed to score pinch runner Jake Leiter.

Kyler Friese swung the big bat for the Bucks on opening night. Friese went 3 for 4 on the day with a pair of doubles, 2 RBI’s and two runs scored. Fantaski would go 2 for 4 with 2 runs scored. Ethan Kalafut also had a multiple hit day with a pair of singles and an RBI. Xander Shearer and Gary Whipp each had a double and an RBI.  The Bucks collected 9 base hits to St. John Neumann’s 6 and committed just 2 errors.

The loss drops Bucktail to 0-1 on the very young season and 0-1 in Mid Penn Conference play. The win put the Golden Knights at 1-1 and 1-0 in conference play.

Bucktail is scheduled to host Montgomery in another conference matchup on Friday with weather permitting. Start time is slated for 4:30.