Improvements Set to Continue with Bucktail Baseball in 2025

By Bees O’Brien

FARWELL- Second-year Bucktail baseball head coach Casey Friese won’t exactly come out and say it, but his Bucks are expected to be in the mix of the District IV 1A playoffs. That was apparent by simply taking a read on their improvements a season ago.

Bucktail’s offense was right in line with fellow Mid Penn Conference teams. This was a team that scored more than 10 runs on 6 different outings. Most notably were the Bucks’ 30-12 win at Northern Potter and close losses to 1A District 4 champions Millville by a 16-15 score and a 14-11 loss to district IV 2A powerhouse Muncy.

The Bucks return a ton of talent that includes All-state outfielder Keller Friese. Friese’s numbers were virtually unheard of. As a freshman he batted .655, best amongst freshman in the entire state. Friese bashed a pair of home runs and 14 doubles in 2024. He was the Bucks’ ace with 37 strike outs on the hill.

Cael Dorman also returns to the Bucktail lineup. Dorman’s impressive .406 average as a freshman will only improve in 2025. Dorman is expected to be Bucktail’s starting catcher this season and could occasionally see some time on the mound.

Senior Ethan Kalafut has been a strong glove at first base for Bucktail and his .395 average a season ago will only help cement his spot in the Bucks’ lineup. Kalafut, like many others on the roster will be expected to spend a few innings pitching.

The PIAA pitch count rules and multiple games in a week is usually a burden on coaches, but Friese feels he has a total of 8 players that can help his squad keep a reliable arm in the game at all times.

One of those hurlers in the returning Austin Mosher, who came out of nowhere midseason to become Bucktail’s number two pitcher. Mosher will lack the advantage of sneaking up on teams this season, but he will be a focal point to give Friese’s squad another arm to go to. Mosher had a team best 3.73 ERA, but only made 7 appearances.

Tyler Hillyer is expected to be back in the Bucktail rotation and his .321 average at the plate will be very much needed. Gavin Pick, Xander Shearer and newcomer Thomas Tarantella are also part of the 8-man Bucktail bullpen.

Coach Friese also praised Talan Ditty and Ethan Charcalla, two seniors with experience. Freshman Teagan Stone should be an instant factor for the Bucks. Nick Dennis has shown some positives and Sam Mansfield continues to do whatever is asked of him.

The Bucks’ quest to get back into the postseason will start right out of the gate with a home game against the defending champion Millville Quakers on March 24. They’ll meet Clinton County rivals Sugar Valley Rural Charter on March 28 and again at Taggert Park on April 29 in a pair of Mid Penn Conference games.

Northwest, Montgomery, Muncy, Sullivan County, Benton, St. John Neumann and Columbia Montour VoTech round out Bucktail’s conference slate.

Coach Friese and the Bucks didn’t shy away from a host of nonconference foes. The Bucks will meet Canton on the road, host West Branch and travel to Cameron County this season. Bucktail will also host a tournament on April 12. This tournament will be a three-team round robin featuring Sugar Valley and Northern Potter.

Bucktail will once again have a junior high program on the diamond. Chuck Probst Jr. has taken over the critical feeder program for the Bucks.

“Thomas Tarantella and Teagan Stone both played in the junior high program last year.” Friese said of the program “Both will have big roles on varsity this season.”

The Bucks’ junior high season starts March 17 with a home game against Bellefonte. Other junior high contests include games against West Branch, Northern Potter and St. Mary’s.

“That JH program with Chuck’s leadership and extensive knowledge of the game from the collegiate level is going to huge for the varsity program.” Friese added

If Coach Friese’s Bucks are going to make a serious run this season and make all of the pieces fall into place, it will surely take some intense efforts. This could be the year to finally erase something many fans in Farwell have been waiting to see go away and be replaced by victories.