‘Chasin’ History’: Bucktail softball looks to earn first state tourney win at Greenwood
TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Bucktail’s Kelsie Wagner (00) meets with her teammates at the mound before pitching during an earlier game. The Bucks face Greenwood in the first round of the PIAA softball championships Monday.
DAVE KENNEDY/For the Express Bucktail’s Kendall Wagner tries to make the play on a pick-off attempt during the District 4 Class A championship against Montgomery. The Bucks face Greenwood in the first round of the PIAA softball championships Monday.
TIM WEIGHT/For the Express A Bucktail runner takes her base during an earlier game vs. Sugar Valley. The Bucks face Greenwood in the first round of the PIAA softball championships Monday.
TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Bucktail’s Kelsie Wagner (00) meets with her teammates at the mound before pitching during an earlier game. The Bucks face Greenwood in the first round of the PIAA softball championships Monday.
DAVE KENNEDY/For the Express Bucktail’s Kendall Wagner tries to make the play on a pick-off attempt during the District 4 Class A championship against Montgomery. The Bucks face Greenwood in the first round of the PIAA softball championships Monday.
TIM WEIGHT/For the Express A Bucktail runner takes her base during an earlier game vs. Sugar Valley. The Bucks face Greenwood in the first round of the PIAA softball championships Monday.
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Bucktail is making its fourth straight state tournament and is trying to make program history. No Bucks team has won a state game in its previous four appearances. The Bucks shared the Mid-Penn West Division championship with Montgomery and split two regular-season games against it.
Monday's first-round matchup is set to begin at 4 p.m. at Greenwood.
The Bucks are and experienced team which also features exciting young players like freshman Kelsie Wagner and sophomore Carrie Ditty, both who have pitched well this season. Seniors Eva Sockman, Kendall Wagner, Lola English and Makenna Stone all have topped 100 career hits with Stone generating five hits in two district playoff games. Ditty and Kelsie Wagner each have topped 70 strikeouts in 50 innings or fewer this season.
Greenwood repeated as District 3 champion, winning a two-team field and beating York Catholic in the final. The Wildcats are seeking revenge against District 4 after losing to eventual state finalist Northeast Bradford in last year's first round. Pitcher Makenzie Devore has 56 strikeouts in 69 1/3 innings, allowing 82 hits. Sammi Cuccia is hitting a team-high .389 and Kylie Willow is among Tri-Valley League leaders with 17 stolen bases.