Just understand there is nothing small about Bucktail’s squad. Because those Bucks continue achieving mighty big things.

They did so again Tuesday at Elm Park, fighting off determined Sullivan County and winning a hard-fought 10-7 District 4 Class A semifinal. Makenna Stone (3 for 3) and Lola English (3 for 4) both collected three hits and Carrie Ditty produced a bases-loaded strikeout when it was a one-run game in the sixth inning as Bucktail (15-4) reached both a fourth straight District 4 Class A championship and state tournament.

Bucktail plays Montgomery for the crown Thursday, back at Elm Park.

“It is a great accomplishment,” Bucktail coach Mike Poorman said after guiding Bucktail to its fifth district final and state playoff appearance. “I texted my coaches the other day that when you put it in perspective, it’s pretty amazing what we’ve accomplished the last 10 years or so.”

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Sullivan County assistant coach Kateri Viveiros congratulates Bucktail pitcher Carrie Ditty with a hug at the end of a District 4 Class A semifinal softball game on Tuesday at Elm Park.

It certainly is. Prior to 2017, Bucktail had never reached the postseason. It has done every year since and now is a victory from its third district title in four seasons. Stone, English, Kendall Wagner and Eva Sockman are four-year starting seniors who will graduate as the only class in program history to reach states every year there.

All played a key role again Tuesday. Stone and English both doubled twice and scored four runs; Sockman went 2 for 4 with three runs and Wagner hit a first-inning RBI double which highlighted a five-run surge as Bucktail went ahead to stay, 5-2.

“For the seniors, they’ve all worked hard,” Poorman said. “To be here four times is a tremendous accomplishment.”

So, while the seniors are eager to try and add another district title banner, they also are happy they are guaranteed at least two more games together. For a group as tight as this one, it’s two more opportunities to make memories in softball journeys filled with great ones.

“My big thing was I just wanted to win this game. Obviously, I care what happens in the district championship and want to win, but I wanted the two more games with my teammates,” Stone said after driving in two runs and scoring twice. “I love my teammates. We’re all very close.”

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Sullivan County's Bailey Smith, left, and Maizey Keeney return to the dugout after Smith fielded a fly to center field to end the fourth inning during a District 4 Class A semifinal softball game against Bucktail on Tuesday at Elm Park.

So is Sullivan (10-9) which put up a great fight after Bucktail had blanked it, 15-0 in four innings at midseason. Bucktail led 8-2 after four innings, but the Griffins surged back, taking advantage of nine walks and hit three batters, rallying within 8-7 in the sixth.

Pitcher Emilia Viveiros and Hannah Kelley brought in two-out runs in the sixth, making it a one-run game before Ditty, who threw the first four innings, returned and produced a strikeout on a well-placed 2-2 pitch. Sockman led off the bottom half with a single and two bunts and two errors put Bucktail up, 10-7 before Ditty closed things out an inning later.

“I think it was good for us because we needed to humbled a little bit,” Stone said. “I just keep having faith that we’re going to pull through when we need to pull through.”

Sullivan is another small program which continues scaling large heights and reached districts for a record-setting fifth straight season. Again, too, the Griffins represented themselves well there after reaching the final two years ago and pushing eventual state finalist Northeast Bradford hard in last year’s semifinals.

Viveiros struck out six and closed her terrific scholastic career with 351 strikeouts, while eight players reached base.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Sullivan County's Mariah Hallabuk (7) and react to a play during a District 4 Class A semifinal softball game against Bucktail on Tuesday at Elm Park.

“I respect Sullivan for coming out and giving us a tough game. They could have given up and they didn’t,” Poorman said. “They pushed us and made us do some different things we aren’t used to and, hopefully, we’ll rebound and get a good practice in and come out Thursday ready to go.”

Mariah Hallabuk scored three times and opened the game with a walk before Charley Insinger singled and Bailey Smith hit an RBI grounder as part of a two-run first inning. Down 2-0, Bucktail immediately fought back and scored five times in the bottom half, taking a lead which was threatened but never relinquished.

Wagner smashed her RBI double high off the center field fence; Sockman hit a game-tying RBI single and Stone a two-run double as the first five batters reached base. English opened the next inning with a double off the left field fence, Kelsie Wagner hit an RBI single and Stone another single as Bucktail went up, 7-2. Stone continued raking in the fifth inning, belting a double and scoring a batter later on Rebekah Conway’s RBI double which made it, 8-2.

“I executed when I needed to execute,” Stone said. “It’s really fun (coming through in the playoffs) and it makes you feel really good.”

Ditty helped Bucktail feel good from the second through fourth innings, allowing no hits and striking out seven of her eight batters. And, while Bucktail did not play its best game, playoff wins do not come with style points. It’s survive and advance and the Bucks checked that box.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Bucktail's Makenna Stone attempts a tag at second on Sullivan County's Charley Insinger during a District 4 Class A semifinal softball game on Tuesday at Elm Park.

The school is small, but the team continues playing big. And now it has another large opportunity Thursday against Montgomery.

“It’s turned into a really good rivalry if you want to call it that,” Poorman said. “It goes back to when my daughter (Myka) was playing. They have played travel ball together and they all know each other from other sports, so I would expect it to be a great game.”

Sullivan 200 023 0–7 4 5

Bucktail 520 102 x–10 13 1

Emilia Viveiros and Charley Insinger. Carrie Ditty, Kelsie Wagner (5), Ditty (6) and Eva Sockman. W–Ditty. L–Viveiros.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Sullivan County's Mariah Hallabuk attempts a tag at third on Bucktail's Makenna Stone during a District 4 Class A semifinal softball game on Tuesday at Elm Park.

Top Sullivan hitters: Mariah Hallabuk 2-3, BB, 3R; Insinger 1-3, BB, R; Vivieros 3 BB, RBI; Hannah Kelley 1-3, BB, RBI. Top Bucktail hitters: Makenna Stone 3-3, 2 2B, 2 RBIs, 2R; Lola English 3-4, 2 2B, 2R; Sockman 2-4, RBI, 3R; Kendall Wagner 1-4, 2B, RBI, R; Rebekah Conway 1-4, 2B, RBI.

Records: Bucktail 15-4. Sullivan 10-9.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Carrie Ditty throws for Bucktail during a District 4 Class A semifinal softball game against Sullivan County on Tuesday at Elm Park.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Bucktail's Kendall Wagner attempts a tag as Sullivan County's Maizey Keeney dives back to first during a District 4 Class A semifinal softball game on Tuesday at Elm Park.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Emilia Viveiros throws for Sullivan County during a District 4 Class A semifinal softball game against Bucktail on Tuesday at Elm Park.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Sullivan County's Mariah Hallabuk attempts a tag at second on Bucktail's Lola English during a District 4 Class A semifinal softball game on Tuesday at Elm Park.