![]() Facing a strong team like Old Forge Monday, having a win like that, against a program like that, sure instills a positive attitude. Jersey Shore winning the district title last Thursday, again showed how impressive that win was. ![]() Makenzie Wagner threw a three-hit shutout, Sockman went 2 for 3 with an RBI and Bucktail stunned Jersey Shore on the road, 1-0. Another was scheduled against 2022 Class A runner-up Dubois Central Catholic but could not be made up due to league conflicts for both squads late in the season.Īnd what happened against Jersey Shore not only changed the perception of Bucktail softball by many, but convinced the players that anything is possible. ![]() Bucktail played regular season games against District 4 Class AAAA champion Jersey Shore and 3A finalist Warrior Run. Letting the Bucks be themselves has paid huge dividends. “But the dynamic changes within that system and I as a coach have to change with that dynamic and have to be OK with some of these new groups.” I talked to my wife and said we built a system and I think that’s why we’ve been so good for so long,” Poorman said. “This is the most happy go lucky group I’ve ever been around. Doing so, has helped Bucktail make its mark again. Bucktail may be having a lot of fun at practice, but when it’s time to work the players attack it. Turns out both approaches have worked wonders. The 2019 squad seemed laser focused all the time, while this one seems looser. This team and the 2019 district champions offer stark contrasts in approaching the game. Poorman credits his team for its work ethic, but has had to adjust his mindset as well. “If the start of the lineup isn’t hitting, the bottom is and if the bottom isn’t, the top is. Even if something went wrong, we picked each other up and it was a good outcome,” Sockman said. Put it together, and Bucktail left no doubt it was the district’s best Class A team, outscoring Montgomery and Canton, 22-4 in two playoff wins. The Bucks not only returned a quality core from that team, but also were boosted by four freshmen who quickly became starters. ![]() The Bucks have not missed the postseason since and have won at least 15 games in four consecutive years.īucktail won its first district championship in 2019 and gave 2022 state champion Montgomery one of its toughest playoff games last year, dropping a 1-0 district semifinal heartbreaker. And when Bucktail reached the playoffs for the first time in 2017, things started dramatically changing. Those coaches had started working with the high school players when they first started competing and built a strong feeder system in the process. But that started changing when Poorman and his assistant coaches took over in 2016. Just fielding a team was difficult at one of the state’s smallest public school for many years. There was a time when the softball program did not win much of anything. “They all came and supported us and they’re all happy that we won.” “We have a wonderful following, and we love it,” third baseman Eva Sockman said after producing a hit, RBI and run against Canton. It’s one of those things you don’t ever want to see end.” Until the game is over I’m so in the moment that I really don’t notice, but the town definitely supports us and they have done so since 2017,” Bucktail coach Mike Poorman said. They don’t want to miss a thing, especially from a program which has risen from the ashes to become one of District 4’s most consistent winners over the last six seasons. This squad joined the 2019 softball one as the best in program history and had a Red Army supporting it from first pitch until the last celebratory photograph was taken.īucktail (16-4) faces a long road trip to the University of Scranton Monday when it plays District 2 champion Old Forge in the state tournament, but expect those fans to arrive in force again. The Bucks defeated Canton, 10-2 and captured the second team district championship in Bucktail sports history, winning the District 4 Class A crown. Elm Park turned into a Sea of Red that day as the Bucktail softball team again showed small teams can achieve some mighty big things.
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