An old foe will be looking to dethrone defending champion Lady Bucks
By Bees O’Brien
FARWELL- Old rivalries never die in sports and in District IV 1A softball there is no bigger rivalry than that of the rivalry between Bucktail and Montgomery on the softball diamond. A season ago seen the Lady Bucks go 16-5 and capture their second 1A district title. The 2023 season would see Bucktail 10-run their rival Lady Red Raiders on three occasions, including a 12-2 Bucktail win in the semifinals of the playoffs.
Don’t be fooled. Montgomery coach Chris Glenn will have his squad well-tuned before the season.
Montgomery travels to Farwell on March 28 in the first of two games scheduled.
Head coach Mike Poorman is back to lead the charge in an attempt to take Bucktail back to the state playoffs. Both appearances have resulted in losses to Old Forge, including last year’s 8-2 defeat.
Mak Wagner is back in the circle for the Lady Bucks. Lola English, Eva Sockman and Makenna Stone also return and gained valuable pitching time a season ago.
Bucktail’s offense also returns. The very dangerous Lady Bucks can put up runs better than any other team in District 4 1A.
Mak Wagner batted a team-best .620 and Eva Sockman’s .561 average, combined with Lola English’s .508 average only shows how dangerous this offense can be. Kendall Wagner, Matti Mason and Makenna Stone all batted over .400 too.
Bucktail can hit for power as well. Kendall Wagner led the way with 3 home runs, sister Mak blasted 2 home runs and Mason, Sockman and English all delivered over-the-fence long balls a season ago.
20-game winners and state quarterfinalists West Branch is just one of the many nonconference challenges the Lady Bucks will face. Bucktail will also meet District 4 2A champions and state semifinalists South Williamsport and District 4 4A champions Jersey Shore. Both of those meetings will be in Farwell this season. Bucktail knocked off Shore 1-0 on the road last season.
The Lady Bucks will also meet District 9 playoff contenders Oswayo Valley in a pair of games. They will also travel to Moshannon Valley, in a first time meeting between the schools.
Within the Mid Penn Conference, Bucktail and Muncy are the teams to beat in the West Division. Don’t count out Montgomery or playoff semifinalists St. John Neumann. Sugar Valley is also expected to be much improved in 2024.
East Division opponents include Sullivan County, Northwest, Benton, CMVT and Millville.
Bucktail’s opener is set for March 25 in Farwell against St. John Neumann, but the future of that game opening the season may be in doubt with Neumann’s run through the PIAA girls 1A basketball playoffs.
