Bucktail shows improvement in loss at Millville
By Bees O’Brien
MILLVILLE, PA – It was one week ago that the Bucktail baseball team gave up 16 runs in the top of the first inning against visiting Millville. Flash forward just seven days later and the Bucks were giving the Quakers a tough battle on the road. Millville would pound out 13 base hits and tack on 5 fifth inning runs to force the mercy rule 17-7 victory, but it was far better than the 20-3 loss a week ago Monday to that same Mid Penn Conference opponent.
Millville (6-7) is fighting for a District 4 1A playoff spot and couldn’t afford a major slip up against a Bucktail team that has struggled. The Quakers did open things up on Bucktail in the bottom of the first inning by scoring 7 runs to take an early lead. The Bucks would bend, but not break.
Bucktail (1-9) held Millville scoreless in the second inning and then came to life in their half of the third inning.
Evan Ransdorf and Yorick Smith each would reach base after being plunked by pitches to begin the Bucktail rally. The always reliable Kyler Friese would then drill a single, which was followed up by a fielder’s choice from Brett Mason. Ransdorf, Smith, Kyler Friese and Mason would all eventually score in the inning to shrink Millville’s lead to just 7-4.
Millville would extend their lead to 12-4 following a two-run third inning and 3 more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Down 12-4, the Bucks still had plenty of fight left in them. They would cross three more runs in the top of the fifth to pull within 12-7.
Mason would reach base again to begin the fifth inning Bucks’ rally. Kayden Friese would then drive him in with a triple. Friese would eventually score, as would Ashton Intallura.
The Quakers would eventually settle in, cross five runs in during their bottom of the fifth at bat to end the game at 17-7.
Mason led Bucktail at the plate going 2 for 3 with 2 runs scored. Kyler Friese, Kayden Friese, Tristan Probst and Yorick Smith each had hits for Bucktail.
The Bucks’ biggest chance at ending their 9-game slide will come on Wednesday when they travel to Lock Haven to meet Sugar Valley (0-12). The Bucks lone win was against the Phoenix, 12-11 in their opening contest of the 2022 season. The Phoenix play their home games at Taggart Park in Lock Haven. The contest will be steamed on therecord-online.
