Ditty, Sockman no-hit Sugar Valley in 15-0 win
By Bees O’Brien
FARWELL-It has been a challenging experience for Bucktail’s freshman pitcher Carrie Ditty. Ditty was thrown into the juggernaut that is Bucktail softball. She made the leap from junior high and right into the circle for one of District IV’s top programs.
For Ditty, stepping into the circle for the defending two-time District IV 1A champion Lady Bucks has been a change that she has welcomed.
“The Jersey Shore scrimmage was a challenged, but it helped me get better. Hughesville was a solid team and that also made me try to get better.” Ditty said following her combined no-hitter against Sugar Valley.
“Sugar Valley can hit and they have a lot of good players.” Ditty added.
Ditty and Eva Sockman held the Lady Phoenix hitless in a four-inning 15-0 mercy rule win over the visiting Lady Phoenix. Ditty pitched 3 of those innings and fanned 7 Lady Phoenix batters, while Sockman finished off the final Sugar Valley at-bat by striking out 2.
Bucktail took advantage of 16 walks and took advantage of starting Sugar Valley starting pitcher Olivia Johnson’s 7 walks to score 7 runs in the bottom of the first inning. Lola English, Makenna Stone, Sockman, Matti Mason, Ditty, Angel Kmetz and Hailey Dent all crossed the plate in the inning.
Lyla Breon reached base on a fielder’s choice in the top of the second inning, but the Lady Phoenix failed to continue the rally.
Kendall Wagner drew a walk in the second inning and scored on a Matti Mason single to extend Bucktail’s lead to 8-0, but Cheyenne Weaver struck out the side in relief of Johnson. Weaver collected four strike outs in just two innings of work for Sugar Valley, but the Bucktail bats eventually found their mark against Weaver.
The Lady Bucks put the game out of reach in their half of the third inning by plating 5 more runs and taking a 13-0 lead.
Sockman entered in relief and forced Weaver to ground out before walking Breon. She fanned Ellynn Scarborough and Kaylee Showers to end the inning and preserve the combined no-hitter.
Johnson re-entered the circle for Sugar Valley in the fourth inning. Stone and Sockman both walked to start the Bucktail at bat. Matti Mason delivered a single to score Stone to give Bucktail a 14-0 lead.
With the bases loaded Ditty drew a walk to set the 15-0 final.
Lola English’s 3 hits led Bucktail, with Mason adding a pair of base knocks. Makenna Stone, Kendall Wagner, Carrie Ditty and Angel Kmetz also collected hits for Bucktail.
Bucktail (1-1) will be in action on Friday afternoon when they make a tough trip to Canton (0-3).
