What once was a three way tie for first place with the Bucks, Invaders and Cavaliers, went down to one team who was sitting on top for almost 24 hours, is back to a two-way race for the top honors.

West Scranton was on top after Tuesday’s 16-2 over North Pocono and Scranton Prep’s lost to Abington Heights but the Bucks had their game postponed until Wednesday. West Scranton is now 7-2, Prep drops to 6-3 and after Wednesday’s win the Bucks are 7-2, tying them for first with West.

So the saga continues in one of the most exciting battles for first place the Lackawanna Division One League has seen in quite some time. All of the top teams seem to exhibit signs of dominance and then in the blink of an eye things turn sour. Scranton Prep seemed like the team to beat, but then dropped three games. Wallenpaupack, last year’s team to beat, is on the right track and at times seems like this year’s team to beat. West Scranton has been dominating as of late, but the race is still up for grabs, and the motto of who wants it the most and who can stay healthy is what it’s going to boil down to in the next few games.

The Buckhorn Pride traveled down the road to take on their rival Honesdale on Wednesday and after two scoreless innings the Bucks broke the ice and touched home plate first.

In the top of the third Joe DeFebo ripped a single up the middle and reached first base. Things got interesting from there. DeFebo seemed to have been caught stealing, or at least the thought may have crossed his mind, before the Hornets had him between bases and seemingly out. DeFebo, quick on his feet, threw a couple of head fakes and eventually the second baseman made the throw to first that was a little off and DeFebo took off. He was safe at second and awarded third on the errant throw. Up comes Corey Linden and he does what he does best by driving a shot through the middle for an RBI single. The Hornets picked up a nice double play to end the inning but not before some damage was done.

Kevin Hendrickson added to the lead in the fourth when he touched home and it was a two nothing advantage for the Bucks. Hendrickson reached base three times in the game and scored twice in the outing.

The eventual game-winning run came in the fifth when Nick DeFebo scored to take the three nothing lead. Nick DeFebo would go one for four with one run scored, that run being the most important in the game.

The Hornets didn’t lay down and in the bottom half of the frame they stung back. Mead Sandercock and Jake Shilling both scored in the inning tightening up the gap and making it a 3-2 ballgame. Sandercock would have a good game at the plate for Honesdale going two for three with an RBI and a run scored.

The Bucks put the final nail in the coffin in the next inning. Jeff DeSane blasted a two-run shot over the fence, scoring Hendrickson in the process and giving them the big lead of 5-2. DeSane was one for one in the contest.

Ryan Loughran picked up his third win of the season in the victory. The southpaw pitcher, throwing everything from heat to off speed change ups collected five Ks and only allowed one earned run on four hits. Tim Silsby pitched a scoreless sixth inning and Ian Dassance got the save, striking out two in the seventh.