TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Bucktail’s Makenna Stone (7) prepares to swing during an earlier softball game against Sugar Valley.

Bucktail made history Monday when it defeated District 3 champion Greenwood, 3-2 and won the program’s first state tournament game in five tries. Freshman Kelsie Wagner hit a lead-off double to start the seventh inning before stealing home and sophomore Carrie Ditty shined in relief, throwing five innings of three-hit softball with eight strikeouts.

Kendall Wagner and Eva Sockman are two of Bucktail’s four 100-hit batters and each had hits with RBIs against Greenwood. Makenna Stone and Lola English also have topped 100 career hits and put together impressive district tournaments. Bucktail is playing in its fourth straight state tournament and bounced back well after Montgomery defeated it in the district final. Five players are hitting .413 or higher, including Rebekah Conway, while Ditty and Kelsie Wagner have combined for 152 strikeouts.

Tri-Valley captured its sixth straight District 11 championship and is seeking its third state title of the decade after taking the crown in 2021 and 2023. Sophomore Myah Schwalm threw a two-hitter with eight strikeouts in a 7-1 opening round win against Christopher Dock. Four players collected multiple hits, including Summer Cupsta-Klinger who was 3 for 4. Schwalm is one of three pitchers Tri-Valley has utilized this year, striking out 62 in 62 2/3 innings and allowing 64 hits. Alina Leonard and Amber Lettich also have thrown a lot and each has 48 strikeouts.

Like Bucktail, Tri-Valley features a dangerous offense and is hitting a collective .398. Cupsta-Klinger hits a team-high .562, while Schwalm is at .484 with 33 RBIs. Olivia Witmer has generated 14 doubles and has 28 RBIs.