Lady Bucks Looking to Improve

by Jim Morgan

FARWELL–The 2016 Bucktail softball team is looking for leadership on both sides of the field. Who is going to be that offensive threat in the batter box? Who is going to be that strong defensive player on the field? Coaches Mike Poorman and Jim Morgan feel that this team can post about the same amount of wins as last year as the Lady Bucks finished 5-15.

The Lady Bucks are returning eight letter winners from last season: seniors Paige Sockman, Bridget Gardner and Katie Adams; juniors Amanda Tyrrell and Renee Werts; sophomores Anna Cowfer, Maria D’Onofrio and Dani Rider. There are also many new comers this season and they are seniors Kaitlyn Conway and Brandy Gregory; junior Katelyn Hand; sophomores Makenzi Brennan and Mariah Shuey.

There is one thing for sure from last year that the coaches are happy about and that is the development of three returning pitchers in Paige Sockman, Maria D’Onofrio and Anna Cowfer. Sockman was the number one pitcher last season. Now that D’Onofrio and Cowfer have a year under their belt, Bucktail coaches are feeling strong on the mound and feel confident enough to place any of these girls on the mound at anytime during the game.

This year Bucktail needs to work on its catcher who looks like Hand and Brennan will get the chance at this position. The coaches said the team has many infielders and it looks like they can move some of them around in other positions as well. The outfield is going to be up and down and that will depend on who is on the mound pitching.

The girls are working hard at practice and Poorman and Morgan are looking for perfection during practice so it will continue into the game. When mistakes are being made, Poorman said, “We must continue to go full force to finish the play and not to get relaxed and allow the opponent to continue to run around the bases.  

Bucktail is to host Muncy on Tuesday and Benton on Thursday, traveling to Galeton Saturday for an 11 a.m. contest.