Bucktail Dominates in Battle of District IV Leaders
By Bees O’Brien
FARWELL- Angel Kmetz and Gigi Balchun were unknown factors on head coach Mike Poorman’s 2024 roster. They both are no longer unknown and both have contributed to the success of the Lady Bucks impressive regular season and both had base hits in Monday night’s huge 8-2 victory over District IV 4A’s top ranked Jersey Shore Lady Bulldogs.
It would be Kmetz, the Bucktail sophomore right fielder that would deliver a key blow against Jersey Shore. Kmetz’s leadoff single in the bottom of the fourth inning would be the start of a big 4-run inning for Bucktail that would all but sink any hopes that Shore would have.
Lola English would follow up Kmetz’s hit with a single. Kmetz then would steal third base and be called safe on a rare error by Jersey Shore’s Jocelynn McCracken. The out of play miscue would allow Kmetz to score.
English would later score on a Mak Wagner ground out, which was followed by an Eva Sockman walk.
Kendall Wagner would then deliver a monster two-run home run off of freshman starting pitcher Lexy Frey to swell Bucktail’s lead to 8-2 following the fourth inning rally.
Lenna Clark would take advantage of a Bucktail first inning error, which eventuallu ;ed to her scoring the game’s first run in the top of the first inning.
The Lady Bucks would take the lead for good in their half of the first inning and never would look back.
English would lead off with a walk and Makenna Stone would reach base on an error. A Mak Wagner single would score English and Sockman’s RBI single of her own would score Stone to give the Lady Bucks the 2-1 lead.
The Lady Bucks continued to swing the bats well against Frey in the bottom of the second inning. Matti Mason would lead off the inning with a single and Alexis Lowery would draw a walk. English would drive in both Mason and Lowery on a double, but be thrown out on her attempt to stretch out a triple.
Shore would score another run in the top of the third inning. Dani Miller would double on a deep fly ball to left field. Miller would advance to third base on a Clark infield single. Miller would eventually score on a Jaymison Stellfox RBI single.
Frey was phenomenal against Central Mountain last Saturday, shutting out the Lady Wildcats 11-0 but Bucktail’s offense was on target pounding out 11 base hits and scoring 8 runs.
English, Mak Wagner, Sockman and Mason each collected two hits each. Kendall Wagner’s home run accounted for her lone hit of the afternoon. Balchun and Kmetz both finished with a single each.
Lenna Clark led Shore at the plate going 3 for 3. Miller, Stellfox and Emma Pfirman also had hits for Shore.
Jersey Shore (12-6) has now dropped their third straight contest and will look to get back on track at Hughesville on Wednesday before they host District 4 2A title contenders Troy on Friday.
Bucktail (12-4) will travel to Oswayo Valley on Tuesday for a doubleheader before they finish their regular season at home on Wednesday when they host Millville.
