Bucks Close Out Season With A WIN
By Joe Walker
FARWELL – The Bucktail Bucks finished their season on a winning note, as they pounded out 13 hits enroute to a 14-9 win over the visiting Panthers of Northern Potter, as the season finale win set their final record at 3-16 on the season.
Although they finished with a 3-16 record, the Bucks dropped their first 11 contests, but then bounced back and went 3-5 over their final eight games. In the final game of the season they started four freshmen and one sophomore in their starting nine. The future’s looking brighter for the Bucks and first year head coach Casey Friese.
The Bucks jumped out to an 8-1 lead after two innings, as they had four hits to go with one walk and three hit batters and four Panther errors to account for the lead. Freshman Keller Friese had two of the four hits, one being a base clearing double. Braylon Fantaski and Xander Shearer had the other two hits.
The Panthers cut the Buck Lead to 8-5 in the third, but the Bucks responded with two runs in each the fourth and fifth innings to take a 12-5 lead after five innings. The Panthers then made it 12-9 in the top of the sixth inning with four runs, only to see the Bucks add two more in the button of the sixth to make it 14-9. Ethan Kalafut then set the Panthers down 1-2-3 in the top of seventh to nail down the win.
Freshman Tyler Hillyer started on the mound for the Bucks and then gave way to Kalafut with one out in the top of the third inning. The Buck duo combined to surrender the nine runs on six hits and fanning three batters, while walking five batters and hitting three.
The Panthers starter was Wyatt Bliss, who gave away to relievers Connor Snyder, Blake Risser and William Nicholas. The foursome surrendered the 14 runs on 13 hits, while walking two and hitting four batters. They were also hurt by seven Panther errors, while the Bucks had three errors..
Freshman Keller Friese led the Buck hitting attack by going a perfect 4 for 4 at the plate, including two doubles and accounted for seven RBI’s. Fantaski, Shearer and freshman Cael Dorman both added two hits apiece. Brett Mason, Kyler Friese and Johnny Green all added one hit apiece for the Bucks.
Noah Cady and Caden Hoopes had two hits apiece to lead the Panther hitting attack, while Ty Daniels and Connor Snyder both added a single piece to account for Northern Potter’s six hits.
Playing their final game in a Bucks uniform were seniors Kyler Friese, Brett Mason, Braylon Fantaski and Johnny Green.
