Makenzie Wagner (00), Lola English (44) and Kendall Wagner (33) of Bucktail celebrate their win over Sullivan County at Elm Park in Williamsport. Bucktail won 14-2. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
As first baseman Kendall Wagner secured the game’s final out, Bucktail players strolled toward the pitcher’s circle and offered each other congratulations. There were smiles, but nothing really suggested this was anything more than an ordinary win
But it so much more.
The Bucks had just made history and become the first team in school history in any team sport to repeat as District 4 Class A champions.
The thing is, winning district titles has become the norm for this program. From the ashes, Bucktail rose and now it has become a district power. The Bucks proved it again Thursday at Elm Park, defeating Sullivan County, 13-2 in five innings and capturing their second straight district championship and third in five years.
“I guess it’s the expectation and I’m glad. It should be the expectation,” Bucktail coach Mike Poorman said. “Our goal is to win a district title and we set that as our goal every year and it’s nice to have two in a row.”
Makenzie Wagner of Bucktail tries to make the tag at home as Karlee Wettlaufer of Sullivan County slides safely across home to score in the first inning at Elm Park in Williamsport. Bucktail won 14-2. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
“I’m happy for the seniors that they get to experience this again. It’s great to go out with a bang with them,” catcher Matti Mason said. “It’s just pretty cool having made it this far for a small school.”
Bucktail will try going even farther June 3rd when it competes in the state tournament against the District 2-3 champion, either Old Forge, Mountain View or Halifax. Before 2017, Bucktail had never even reached districts. Now the Bucks are three-time champions who have made seven straight playoff appearances with the core and pipeline remaining strong in the coming years.
Mason was in sixth grade when Bucktail won its first district title in 2019. Five years later she took center stage and highlighted a six-run first inning, smashing a three-run home run which put the Bucks up, 6-2. Mason nearly went deep again in her next at-bat, belting an RBI double which was part of a seven-run inning as the Bucks broke things open and extended the lead to, 13-2.
“I was thinking, ‘No way!’ It was pretty awesome,” Mason said of her home run. “I feel like today I was more comfortable. It gave us confidence with everyone hitting and I think that carried throughout the lineup.”
“I believe when Matti hit the home run, that energized the team,” Poorman said. “From that point on, I felt pretty good.”
Matti Mason (3) of Bucktail celebrates with her team mates after hitting a home run against Sullivan County during the first inning at Elm Park in Williamsport. Bucktail won 14-2. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Mason’s home run capped a big response after Sullivan (11-9) scored two runs in the top of the first inning to take a quick 2-0 lead. Lola English led off with a walk, Makenna Stone hit an RBI double and winning pitcher Makenzie Wagner an RBI single, helping Bucktail tie it, 2-2.
After Kendall Wagner (2 for 3) ripped an RBI double to put Bucktail ahead to stay, Mason tattooed her game-changing home run over the center field fence as Red-clad Bucktail fans who filled up the first base and right field lines loudly voiced their approval.
“The beginning of the first inning we were like, ‘Oh no what just happened?'” Mason said. “That just ignited the fight in us and then we just started hitting the ball.”
They sure did.
Bucktail collected 11 hits in four at-bats with the bottom of the order especially doing damage. Mason, Alexis Lowery and Angel Kmetz reached base seven times with Kmetz adding an RBI double in the fourth inning. Mason, Makenzie Wagner, Kendall Wagner and Gianna Balchun (2 for 3, 2 runs) all produced multiple hits and Makenzie Wagner did not allow a run after the first inning.
Matti Mason of Bucktail celebrates after hitting a home run against Sullivan County during the first inning at Elm Park in Williamsport. Bucktail won 14-2. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Makenzie Wagner earned her second straight district title win, scattering three hits and striking out four. The defense played flawless softball after the first inning and all parts of the Bucktail arsenal started humming together.
“We settled in after the first inning,” Mason said. “We had confidence in Makenzie and in our defense.”
“We knew Sullivan County had a great year and finished well and had a big win Tuesday night,” Poorman said. “We knew they were going to come ready to play and that it would be a tough game.”
Sullivan became a tough team throughout the season and became the second team in program history to reach the district final. The Griffins upset Montgomery in the semifinals after exacting revenge on Sayre in their regular season finale.
Immediately Thursday, Sullivan showed it was eager to continue its revenge tour. Karlee Wettlaufer walked, Mariah Hallabuk singled and Kayla Fowler hit an RBI grounder before Hallabuk scored on a wild pitch. In a flash, the Griffins led 2-0.
Makenzie Wagner of Bucktail pitches to Sullivan County in the first inning at Elm Park in Williamsport. Bucktail won 14-2. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
“It was an awesome season. I couldn’t be happier; I couldn’t be prouder of the team and the girls themselves,” Sullivan coach Brian Heisman said. “They pushed through a lot of hard times. It’s all been great.”
Although Sullivan did not score again, it threatened twice, loading the bases in the third and putting runners on second and third in the fifth. Wagner denied the Griffins the timely hits they delivered against Montgomery, but that does not diminish what they achieved this year.
Pitcher Emilia Viveiros reached a milestone, striking out four and topping 100 this season. Hallabuk went 3 for 3 and the Griffins built momentum going forward since they will graduate just two seniors. It was not the ending Sullivan wanted, but it still produced quite a ride.
“It’s the momentum of driving forward. They have that taste; they have that drive and we’re only going to try and follow up from here,” Heisman said. “Their attitudes have changed dramatically from the middle of the season until now and they have played phenomenal games.”
Sullivan200 00–2 3 4
Eva Sockman of Bucktail tags out Kassidy Durland of Sullivan County in a run down play between second and third base to end the top of the second inning at Elm Park in Williamsport. Bucktail won 14-2. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Bucktail607 0x–13 11 1
Emilia Viveiros and Kayla Fowler. Makenzie Wagner and Matti Mason. W–Wagner, (10-4). L–Viveiros, (11-9).
Top Sullivan hitters: Mariah Hallabuk 3-3, R. Top Bucktail hitters: Matti Mason 2-3, HR, 2B, 4 RBIs, 2R; Kendall Wagner 2-3, 3B, 2B, RBI, 2R; Gianna Balchun 2-3, RBI, 2R; M. Wagner 2-3, 2 RBIs, 2R; Angel Kmetz 1-2, 2B, RBI, R; Lola English 1-2, RBI, 2R; Makenna Stone 1-3, 2B, RBI, R.
Records: Bucktail 16-4. Sullivan 11-9.
Matti Mason of Bucktail laughs as she stands on second base after hitting a double against Sullivan County in the third inning at Elm Park in Williamsport. Bucktail won 14-2. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
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