Lady Bucks set to host Old Forge in state playoffs
By Bees O’Brien
FARWELL- The rumor mill has been a buzz since Bucktail’s softball team captured their second straight District IV 1A championship last week. On Thursday morning the rumors became official. Bucktail will host their first ever PIAA state playoff game in softball, or in any sport for that matter.
Bucktail earned a home contest in basketball this past winter, but the Bucktail facilities couldn’t meet the strict PIAA criteria. The Lady Bucks softball complex however did meet the criteria.
Bucktail (16-4) will host District 2 champions Old Forge (18-5) on Monday, June 3 with a 1pm start time. This will be the third time the two programs have met in the PIAA 1A playoffs with the Lady Blue Devils winning the previous two meetings, including an 8-2 win last season in a game at the University of Scranton.
How They Got Here- Old Forge once again dominated District 2 and found little challenge in advancing with lopsided wins over Forest City, Mountain View and Halifax. The Blue Devils play in a challenging Lackawanna 3 Conference. State powers Mid-Valley and Holy Cross make up the opposition and Old Forge was the only team to defeat Mid-Valley this season.
Bucktail ran through District IV 1A this season and were a perfect 10-0 against D4 1A opposition, which included a 13-2 District Championship win over upstart Sullivan County. The Lady Bucks lone 1A loss was to District 6 runner’s up and fellow state playoff team West Branch on the road. Bucktail’s other losses were to District 4 2A finalists South Williamsport and twice to state bound Muncy.
Key Players- Old Forge has a golden arm in Karen Sickle. Sickle has thrown every inning for the Lady Blue Devils and she’s done extremely well. She is an opposing force in the circle and something that Bucktail will need to counter if they wish to win their first ever state playoff game. Sickle fanned 11 Lady Bucks a year ago in the Old Forge victory. The Lady Bucks did manage 8 hits in the game, but 3 costly errors would do in Bucktail.
Talia Piragas is back at catcher for Old Forge. Piragas comes into the contest with Bucktail batting a team-best .452 with 7 home runs. Meghan Marianelli can do long ball damage too. She has 6 home runs and is hitting .377.
The Lady Bucks enter the game with three players hitting over .500. Eva Sockman leads the way with a .585 average. Mak Wagner is batting at .549 and Lola English clocks in with a .524 average.
The Lady Bucks have a lot of long ball power. Mak Wagner leads the way with 6 dingers. Eva Sockman and Lola English each have 3 home runs, Matti Mason has two home runs and Alexis Lowery and Kendall Wagner both have a home run.
Keys to the game- For the Lady Bucks it will be confidence against Sickle. Bucktail’s four losses have been to teams with intimidating pitchers and Karen Sickle is one of those pitchers.
Old Forge’s biggest key will be more about how they adjust to playing following a long bus trip to Western Clinton County.
Who’s next up- The winner of this game will face District 11 and defending state champions Tri-Valley or District 12 champions Dock Mennonite.
