Bucktail Dedicates New Softball Scoreboard in Honor of Maggie Clemente

By Kevin Rauch
Back in the spring of 2011, Bucktail 12th grader and the heart of that seasons’ Lady Bucks team Maggie Clemente unveiled the softball fields first ever scoreboard that she took on as her senior project. Many kids hit their minimum required hours for their senior projects, while a select few take on a venture that involves something that they are passionate about, putting months or even years into their undertaking.

That later was certainly the road that Maggie took. Before Bucktail’s current golden age of softball, the program was the bare minimum, a partial fence, a field and dingy dugouts.

On opening day in April of 2011 she along with her parents Pat and Marsha unveiled her efforts, a scoreboard off of the third base line next to the field. Maggie was one of those unique players who despite having a cannon of an arm at her third base position and was always near the top of the team in batting average, yet was at the same time was constantly bringing smiles and laughs with her quick humor to her teammates. On that day in 2011 as fate would have it Maggie had one of her team’s hits and scored a run in their 8-5 loss to Benton.
Sadly, Maggie passed away from the results of an automobile accident 2 years later. The scoreboard has since served as much of a tribute to their beloved former player as a senior project.

With the success of Bucktail softball over the last ten seasons, the program and field requirements have expanded. With the emergence of batting cages and many more fans that now follow Bucktail softball, Maggie’s scoreboard was no longer in a great location. It became apparent that the scoreboard had to be replaced.
Just as Maggie had done years earlier, this time it took a team of adults to take on the monstrous task of bringing a new scoreboard to Farwell. Phil English and the Bucktail Booster Club began their undertaking a couple of years ago, putting Bucktail coach Mike Poorman in a tough situation.

As the architect of the Bucktail softball program, Coach Poorman realized the new scoreboard was necessary. However, as a family friend of the Clemente’s and someone who remembered the day her parents, Pat and Marsha brought her home years earlier, it wasn’t sitting right with him that the scoreboard was being replaced.

“I remember when we realized that the new scoreboard was going to happen for sure, I was sitting in the dugout with (booster club member) Janene Sockman and I said to her ‘I just can’t leave Maggie’s name off of this’”. After only seconds, all involved knew that the only way they could be part of a new scoreboard project was to dedicate the latest scoreboard in Maggie’s memory.

Poorman’s thoughtfulness should not be overlooked. Maggie had played years before Poorman took over the softball program, having never played for him. Outside of Maggie’s immediate family, it’s likely not many fans would have noticed had her name been left off.

That’s not how ‘Bucktail Proud’ works though.

On Monday March 24th the opening day of the 2025 the Lady Bucks season got underway as the Bucktail Campus proudly invited Pat and Marsha to the field. Following a brief introduction of the Clemente’s and of Maggie’s efforts in bringing the original scoreboard to Farwell, Suellen Wagner introduced Martha Sykes who said a brief prayer.

Afterwards, the Clemente’s were shown a large wooden softball sign that will hang from the new scoreboard, proudly dedicating it in remembrance of their daughter.

Although they were invited for the dedication of the new scoreboard, the Clemente’s tearfully tried to take it all in, unaware of the outpouring of love that they were about to receive. Showered with hugs and well wishes, tears were as plentiful from those in attendance that remember Maggie well, just as much as they rolled off of Pat and Marsha’s faces.

“We can’t express our gratitude enough, we were very touched by the tribute given in honor of our daughter Maggie” said Marsha who was obviously in awe of the support that they received. “We appreciate everyone involved in making the presentation, Phil English and the Bucktail Booster Club, Smith Excavating and Construction, Gordy Newlen and Turn Key Electric, Roland Davenport and of course Mike Poorman who is such a class act in everything that he has done for Bucktail and Renovo Elementary” added Pat.

“The presentation was such a memorable event, having her name on the scoreboard keeps the memory of her alive” Pat and Marsha both said out of an abundance of appreciation.

Martha Sykes offered this prayer before the start of the 2025 season prior to the Clemente’s seeing the sign with Maggie’s name:

“We gather here today with gracious hearts as we dedicate this new scoreboard on this day. We wish to dedicate this to Maggie Clemente who left this earth but today we remember that the very first scoreboard on this field was created by Maggie for her senior project.

“We thank you for this gift and this field where friendships are created, and many memories are made. May this field always be a place where our young people and students of Bucktail can find joy, build character and find faith and all that you have given us in this world. Bless the player’s coaches, families and especially Marsha and Pat, the parents of Maggie and the many fans who continue to support our students. May this scoreboard and field be a source of pride and testament to the spirit of our school and community. We ask all of this in Jesus’ name, Amen.”