Lady Bucks Looking To Become The Elite Program In District 4

By Bees O’Brien

FARWELL, PA –  Their 2021 season didn’t end the way they had hoped. Bucktail found themselves at the wrong end of the upset spectrum against Millville. The Lady Quakers came to Farwell with one mission. Their stunning 15-3 upset victory over Bucktail sent shockwaves through the District 4 1A playoff bracket, but the Lady Bucks are back to try it all again.

  Bucktail will return all nine starters from a 15-5 that put out some amazing offensive numbers last season. Bucktail crossed 248 runs last season, that’s 6 more runs scored than the 2019 District Championship team and their defense was better too. Bucktail only surrendered 71 runs during the 2021 season. In 2019 they gave up 84. 

  Bucktail pitchers hurled a combined seven shutouts last season and won 10 games by 15 runs or more. They also defeated 4 opponents by the 10-run rule. 

  The Lady Bucks are dominate and a premier team in District 4, but they won’t be able sneak up on anybody this season and a revamped non-conference schedule is just what head coach Mike Poorman is excited about. 

“We added Warrior Run and West Branch on to the schedule” Poorman said “Galeton and Oswayo Valley too. It gives us a variety of bigger schools to play.” 

  Bucktail did play Galeton a year ago, defeating the Tigers 17-0 in the season opener. Many will remember Bucktail’s thrilling 9-8, come from behind win over Galeton in 2019 that sent the Lady Bucks to their first ever state playoffs. Galeton always does offer an interesting task for Bucktail. That game at Galeton is set for April 25 in Galeton. 

  3A Warrior Run should provide a great test for Bucktail. They’ll meet the Lady Defenders for the first time ever on the road at Warrior Run in the last regular season game on May 17. Just before district playoffs begin. 

  West Branch will be in their last year of their 2A classification cycle before moving back to 1A next season. The Lady Warriors and Lady Bucks have not met on the softball field since the late 90’s. April 14 will be the Lady Bucks trip to Allport. 

  A matter of fact the Lady Bucks will be tested on the road with eleven away contests this season and just nine home games.

 

  One of those non-conference home games will bring Oswayo Valley down to Farwell. The Green Wave were a 4 seed in District 9’s 1A playoffs a year ago and were upset by Clarion at home 18-0 to end their 2021 season. 

  Bucktail also has a pair of scrimmages before the official season gets underway. They will have already traveled to 3A Philipsburg-Osceola on Saturday before hosting District 4 4A Jersey Shore on Tuesday for another scrimmage. 

  The usual suspects in the Mid Penn Conference should be challenges for Bucktail, both in conference play and district playoffs. Montgomery is loaded again with Faith Persing in the circle again. Persing was the small school player of the year a season ago. 

  Millville, St. John Neumann, Muncy and Northwest all promise to provide challenges within the league. Canton, Cowanesque Valley and Northeast Bradford will provide challenges from the north when District Playoffs begin. 

  Bucktail returns plenty of offense. The team hit an incredible .423 as a unit and crushed 8 home runs. Emma Poorman (.558, 3 HR) and Mak Wagner (.551 2 HR) lead the offensive charge. Jordan Burrows (.471 1 HR), Haley Burrows (.464), Alexis Lowery (.410 HR), Lily Francis (.385 HR), Raileigh Isaacs (.368), Julie Green (.351) and Kayla Probert (.283) round out the returning starters from last season. 

  Coach Mike Poorman was also optimistic to have freshman Matti Mason on this year’s roster. “She’s going to be the one to watch this season.” Poorman said of his freshman. “If she can control the game from behind the plate, we’ll be that much better.” 

  In the circle Bucktail is expected to be healthy this season; something that bogged down the Lady Bucks towards the end of the 2021 season. Both senior Emma Poorman and sophomore Mak Wagner are expected to be back to 100 percent. Poorman went 7-4 last season, Wagner went 4-1 and sparingly used pitcher Jordan Burrows went a perfect 4-0. 

  Bucktail’s attempt at becoming an elite 1A team in District 4 begins on Saturday, March 26 with a long trip north to face 2A Williamson. Their first home contest is slated for Wednesday, March 30 against Montgomery, in what should be a classic battle.