Farwell- Small ball was Bucktail junior high head coach Mike Poorman’s strategy Monday afternoon in a clash with Keystone Central rivals Central Mountain. The strategy paid off, especially against the Wildcats’ ace Sienna Schneider.
Despite Schneider mowing down 17 strike outs against Bucktail, the home team managed a rally with some well placed bunts and a risky late game call from Poorman.
With two outs and his team trailing by a run, Poorman was looking at a bases loaded situation with catcher Gemma Braunns at the plate. Braunns took a gutsy call from her coach and bunted the ball down the third base line that allowed Audrina Tarantella to score a tying run in the bottom of the sixth inning.
It was the second time the Lady Bucks evened the score in the contest. Bucktail trailed the Wildcats 3-0 entering the bottom of the fourth inning. The Lady Bucks began to break through on Schneider with multiple bunt singles and a 3-0 rally of their own to knot things up at 3-3. CM responded with a lone run in the top of the sixth before Braunns delivered for Bucktail.
Bucktail pitcher Kiplee Friese painted corners on the Wildcats for seven innings. Friese wiffed six batters along with forcing multiple ground outs back to herself, shortstop Blake Houser and Tarantella at second base. Friese retired the Wildcats in order in the seventh, which brought up some late game heroics from Bucktail.
Bucktail was down to their last out when Aady Marr delivered her this hit of the game. With Ariana Robinson batting, Marr stole second base and advance to third base on a passed ball. Robinson then connected on a bunt, beat the throw to first and scored Marr from third base to give the Lady Bucks the 5-4 lead.
Now 9-6, Bucktail will be back home tomorrow afternoon at 4:30 when they host Muncy. Wednesday Bucktail will travel to Millville before heading to LaPorte the following afternoon to face Sullivan County.
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