The Bucktail baseball team had one of its more promising opening-day games in several years as they went on the road and took Cameron County to extra innings, ultimately falling to the home team by a score of 10-9 in nine innings.

Still, Casey Friese’s Bucktail team saw some real potential from both the mound as well as the plate.

Tyler Hillyer allowed just three earned runs and struck out five Red Raiders in five complete innings of work. Austin Mosher came on in relief and scattered three earned runs as well while also fanning five.

Cael Dorman led the offensive output, picking up two hits including a double and three RBIs. Hillyer also added a pair of hits.

Red Raider Jacob Kolby picked up a two-out walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth, sending Braxtyn Neyman across the plate for the dramatic late-game heroics to end the contest that saw two extra innings of play.

The Bucks’ home opener is set for a chilly afternoon this Saturday, with temperatures not expected to reach 40 degrees, when they host 0-1 Canton.

Cameron County 10, Bucktail 9 (9 INN.)

Bucktail 011 510 100 – 9 9 10 4

Cameron Co 013 201 201 – 10 10 13 2

Bucktail batting: Cael Dorman 2-5, 3 RBIs; Teagan Stone 1-5, BB; Levi Stevenson 1-4, run, BB, RBI; Gavin Pick 1-4, run, RBI; Tyler Hillyer 2-5, run, RBI; Bransen Getz 1-4, RBI; Thomas Tarantella 1-4, run, BB; Otis Emerick 0-2, 3 BB, 2 runs; Angelo Tarantella 1-3, 3 runs, 2 RBI, 3 BB. CC batting: B. Pearsall 0 for 2, run; J. Kolby 1 for 2, run, RBI; T. Tucker 1 for 5, 2 RBI; C. Trumpie 2 for 4, run, 2 RBI; I. Grovanz 1 for 4, 2 runs, RBI; Z. Pearson 1 for 4, run; B. Neyman 5 for 5, 2 runs, RBI; R. Pearson 1 for 4, 2 runs, RBI; M. Zucal 1 for 5, RBI.

Bucktail pitching: Tyler Hillyer 5 IP, 6 hits, 6 runs, 3 earned runs, BB, 5 K; Austin Mosher (L) 3.2 IP, 7 hits, 4 runs, 3 ER, 3 BB, 5 K. CC pitching: G. Trumpie (W) 4.2 IP, 8 hits, 7 runs, 3 ER, 5 BB, 6K; T. Tucker 4.1 IP, 2 hits, 2 runs, 2 ER, 5 BB, 4K.