Breaking News
Local sports

Bucktail softball run-rules sixth opponent in row, routs Sugar Valley on road

By From staff reports 3 min read

LOGANTON - Exactly one week ago, the Bucktail softball team took it to Mid-Penn rival Sugar Valley (1-10), racking up 13 runs and needing just five innings to seal the deal by way of mercy rule. On Monday, it was much of the same in the rematch, this time on the road.

Senior catcher Eva Sockman headlined an offensive effort that saw the Bucks log 14 hits through three innings, batting in a season-high eight RBIs on four extra base hits, including a third-inning grand slam. Lola English added three hits and a game-high four runs while pitchers Carrie Ditty and Kelsie Wagner combined for a one-hit gem from the mound, as Bucktail run-ruled the Phoenix in three innings, 18-1.

The win not only marked the sixth in a row for Bucktail (10-2) but also marked its sixth consecutive victory by mercy rule. It did close out its shutout streak at five, but the Bucks have certainly been dominant. Through the last six games, they've outscored their opponents 96-1 through 22 innings.

Bucktail did much of its damage early, scoring 11 of its runs and attributing seven of its hits through the first. Two-RBI triples from Kendall Wagner and English highlighted the frame, as it almost went through its full lineup twice and 14 Bucks got on base.

The Phoenix did get out of a bases-loaded scenario in the second, but only after Bucktail added two runs to its lead. Those runs were scored by English and Wagner, who were batted home on an RBI single from Wagner and RBI double from Sockman respectively.

The third was enough to activate mercy rule, even with Sugar Valley cracking the scoreboard. Kylie Lebo, Makenna Stone and English got on base before Sockman drilled a homer over the left field wall for a grand slam. Then, after hitting a double, Kelsie Wagner scored the team's final run of the afternoon on an RBI single from Rebekah Conway.

Apart from Sockman and English, Kendall Wagner and Makenna Stone each notched two hits and scored thrice, with Wagner logging a triple and three RBIs.

Seven Bucks attributed at least one hit on the day while nine scored at least one run. And defensively, Ditty and Wagner combined for six strikeouts, with Ditty falling one walk short of a perfect game through two innings pitched.

For Sugar Valley, Abigail Immel contributed the team's lone hit on the afternoon, an RBI double which bat Cayln Harris home in the third. Immel also had positive moments from the mound, tossing four strikeouts through three innings pitched.

The Phoenix return to action on Tuesday, traveling to take on Mid-Penn foe Muncy (1-10) as they look to end a five-game losing streak. Bucktail also returns to action on the road on Tuesday, where it'll take on a familiar foe in Montgomery (10-5) as it looks to protect its six-game win streak.

Both games are set for 4:30 p.m.

Bucktail 18, Sugar Valley 1

(3 INNINGS)

Bucktail 11 2 5 - 18 14 0

S. Valley 0 0 1 - 1 1 2

Carrie Ditty, Kelsie Wagner (3) and Eva Sockman. Abigail Immel and Ellynn Scarborough. W - Ditty. L - Scarborough.

Top Bucktail hitters: Eva Sockman 4-4, HR, 3 2Bs, 8 RBIs, run; Lola English 3-3, 3B, 2 RBIs, 4 runs; Kendall Wagner 2-3, 3B, 3 RBIs, 3 runs; Makenna Stone 2-3, RBI, 3 runs; Kelsie Wagner 1-3, 2B, run; Rebekah Conway 1-2, RBI, run. Top Sugar Valley hitters: Abigail Immel 1-1, 2B, RBI; Cayln Harris run, BB.

Starting at /week.