Lady Bucks draw Old Forge in a state playoff rematch from 2019
By Bees O’Brien
SCRANTON, PA- The location was less than desirable for Bucktail when the 2023 PIAA 1A state playoffs bracket was released on Friday. A two-and-a-half-hour trip to the University of Scranton was on tap. Their opponents will be Old Forge, facing just a 14-minute trip to the site of their first round meeting with the Lady Bucks.
This is a field the Lady Devils are used to playing on, with games in 2023 on the turf surface field under their belts and a state playoff victory last season on that same field.
Old Forge boasts a 17-5 record, a district championship and a District II/III subregional win over Halifax entering the contest.
The Lady Devils downed Bucktail 12-1 in the western Clinton County program’s only other trip to the state playoffs in 2019, but that is old news now. This is a new Bucktail team with a completely different mindset. These Lady Bucks have been battle tested in 2023.
Bucktail won three games against defending 1A state champion Montgomery by the 10-run rule in every contest, knocked off District 4 1A champions Jersey Shore 1-0 and downed a 13-win Canton team 10-2 to claim their own district title.
Their four losses are also equally notable. They fell to Muncy 3-0 and 1-0. The Lady Indians are heading to the 2A state playoffs as District 4 runner’s up. Warrior Run defeated Bucktail 9-8 and will be in the state 3A tournament and West Branch finished second in District 6’s 1A tournament and is state tournament bound.
The long trip and the playing surface will only add fire to this tough Bucktail squad. They love proving critics wrong and don’t be surprised if they pull off an opening round shocker.
In order to continue their quest through the state playoffs, Bucktail will have to figure out Old Forge pitcher Karen Sickles. Sickles has totaled 258 strike outs, 17 wins and 2 no-hitters this season. She has been a workhorse for the Lady Devils pitching in all but two of their innings in 2023.
Talia Piragas swings a dangerous bat for Old Forge. Her .462 average is tops on the team. She also is tied for the team lead with 3 home runs. Meghan Marianelli also has 3 long balls. Mazzie Musgrave is next in line with 2 home runs.
The 16-4 Lady Bucks have the offense to battle Old Forge and it begins with one of the best all-around players in the field of 16. Mak Wagner is batting an amazing .612 with a pair of home runs. Wagner also has an ERA of 1.41 and will more than likely be going the distance for Bucktail in the circle.
Eva Sockman (.571) and Lola English (.525) are both having amazing freshmen seasons at the plate and in the field. Both were all conference selections this season.
Bucktail may also have the best shortstop in the tournament in Haley Burrows. Burrows has yet to have an error in 2023 and has been hot from the plate during the Lady Bucks playoff run to a district title.
Catcher Matti Mason and senior Kayla Probert could be huge in this game. The two final batters in the Bucktail lineup have been producing all season. Mason is batting .400 with a home run on the season and Probert is hitting .341. Both have been known to lay down beautiful bunts.
Freshmen Makenna Stone and Kendall Wagner have also stood out at times. Stone came up big against Canton and Wagner delivered a monster shot against Montgomery in the semifinals that completely altered that contest.
Game time is set for 5 p.m. on Monday from the University of Scranton softball complex with the winners meeting the Dock Mennonite (15-7) vs. Tri Valley (20-2) winner on Thursday at a site to be determined.
