Bucktail hasn't had much luck against Neumann Regional Academy recently, but that could start to change on Monday. Bucktail will be playing in front of their home fans against Neumann Regional Academy at 4:30 p.m. Both come into the matchup bolstered by wins in their previous matches.
Bucktail took a 17-run defeat the last time they faced off against Sugar Valley Rural, but this time they managed to keep it close and that made all the difference. Bucktail skirted past Sugar Valley Rural 8-6.
Keller Friese made a big impact no matter where he played. He struck out 12 batters over 5.1 innings while giving up five earned (and one unearned) runs off three hits. Those 12 strikeouts gave him a new career-high. He was also solid in the batter's box, scoring two runs and stealing four bases while going 1-for-4. He is on a roll when it comes to stolen bases, as he's now snagged at least one in each of the last four games he's played dating back to last season.
Ethan Kalafut
| 03/28/25 vs Sugar Valley Rural | 2 |
| 03/24/25 vs Millville | 1 |
| 05/06/24 vs Millville | 1 |
| 04/19/24 vs Columbia Montour Vo-Tech | 1 |
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Ethan Kalafut, who scored two runs while going 2-for-4. The dominant performance also gave him a new career-high in doubles (two). Another player making a difference was Gavin Pick, who scored two runs and stole a base while getting on base in all four of his plate appearances.
Meanwhile, Neumann Regional Academy got the win against Muncy on Friday by a conclusive 10-1. For those keeping track at home, that's the biggest victory the Golden Knights have posted against the Indians since May 4, 2021.
Like Bucktail, Neumann Regional Academy also got a great game from a two-way player: Angelo Birch. He looked comfortable on the mound, striking out ten batters over seven innings while giving up just one earned run off seven hits. Birch was also big at the plate, going 1-for-4 with three RBI and one triple.
In other batting news, Neumann Regional Academy let Gino Birch and Andrew Walter run wild. Birch scored two runs and stole a base while going 2-for-3, while Walter scored two runs while getting on base in three of his four plate appearances. Kane Meixel was another key player, scoring two runs and stealing a base while getting on base in two of his four plate appearances.
Neumann Regional Academy now has a winning record of 2-1. As for Bucktail, the win got them back to even at 1-1.
Bucktail beat Neumann Regional Academy 12-9 in their previous matchup back in April of 2024. Does Bucktail have another victory up their sleeve, or will Neumann Regional Academy turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
