Bucktail, CM represented well on 2023 All-State teams
By Bees O’Brien
FARWELL, PA- Clinton County found itself well represented on the 2023 PaHSSBCA All-State Teams on Thursday when the selections were released. Seven Keystone Central athletes would receive all-state nods.
Bucktail, who went 16-5, captured a district title and advanced to the first round of the 1A state playoffs would have four players earn all-state honors.
Eva Sockman would lead the way with a first team selection at third base. Sockman was a first team selection on the Mid Penn Conference all-conference team this season as well. The Bucktail freshman would burst onto the scene following an injury to Bucktail’s starting third baseman early in the season. Sockman’s .561 batting average would be the second best amongst the Lady Bucks. She would hit safely in 19 of her 22 games, including a team leading 9 doubles to go along with 36 RBI’s.
Central Mountain’s Adalynn McKeague would earn first team honors in 5A as a pitcher. McKeague would lead the Lady Wildcats to a 16-4 mark and a first-round state tournament game. Teammates Madison Hardy at first base and Katelyn Bowman at third base would be selected to the second team.
Also earning second team nods were the Bucktail trio of senior Haley Burrows, junior Mak Wagner and freshman Lola English.
Burrows finished up her career as a Lady Buck by earning her third straight all-state selection. Burrows also achieved the feat at three different positions. She earned the selection at catcher, second base and now shortstop. Burrows scored a team-high 39 runs, batted 4.75 with a pair of home runs but it was her fielding at shortstop that locked her on to her third straight all-state team.
Mak Wagner had another impressive campaign in 2023. The Bucktail junior hit over .600 for a second straight season by batting .620 with a pair of home runs. She also became the program’s all-time hits leader. Wagner earned her third straight all-state honor at utility.
Freshman Lola English would round out Bucktail’s all-state selections at 1A. English would earn the honors in the outfield thanks in part to her .508 batting average and her five triples.
Other notable selections to the all-state squad out of the Mid Penn Conference were Nolah Moyer (Muncy) Izzy Gush (Muncy), both first team selections at 2A. In 1A St. John Neumann’s Gigi Parlante and Montgomery’s Vallyn Ault were both selected to the second team.
Jersey Shore’s Jocelyn McCracken was a 4A first team selection at Utility. Bald Eagle Area grabbed two selections on the 2A first team. Pitcher Sierra Albright and first baseman Ava Stere were both selected to the first team. Teammate Taylor Habovick would earn second team honors at outfield.
