District IV leading Benton outlasts Bucktail baseball 16-1

By Bees O’Brien

FARWELL, PA- Bucktail found out why Benton has been constantly the program to beat in District IV 1A. The defending district champions and current district leaders would pound out 15 hits and score 16 runs over a span of four innings to make quick work of the Bucks.

The Tigers managed one run in the top of the first and would ride the arms of strong pitching to work their way to the top of the second inning. Errors and hard-hit balls contributed to a huge 10-run second inning for Benton. Up 11-0 the Tigers’ lead would only grow from there in the third inning with three more runs, but they failed to hit the 15-run mark so the game would continue.

Benton would cross a pair of runs in the fourth to build a 16-0 lead.

The Bucks would get out of the jam thanks in part to an incredible diving catch from pitcher Brett Mason. Mason thought quickly and would double up the Tigers at first when the runner had no idea that Mason had caught the ball.

The Bucks would battle back thanks to Braylon Fantaski’s shot up the middle. This gave the Bucks their first and only hit of the night. Fantaski would later score on a ground out from Ethan Kalafut. It was too little and too late for the Bucks as the game was set at 16-1 after 4 innings.

Benton improved to 5-4 on the season, while Bucktail fell to 1-6.

The Bucks will next be in action on Monday when they travel to Sullivan County.