The secret to their success
Bucky the Ballpark Ballhead keeps players and fans smiling
By Stephen Dorman sdorman@theacorn.com

SURPRISE, SURPRISE- Bucky the Ballpark Ballhead is actually Taylor Lovullo, a third-grader from Meadows Elementary School.

The secret weapon has finally been exposed.

It's no mystery that the Newbury Park High baseball team is one of the county's finest. During the regular season the Panthers went 20-6 and finished in second place in the Marmonte League standings behind Thousand Oaks.

But what is it that makes Newbury Park so good?

The play of stars such as Andrew Lambo, Jack Marder, Mike Schwartz and Anthony Montenegro certainly has something to do with it. Head coach Scott Drootin and his staff probably deserve a little bit of credit, too.

The third factor, though, may be the most important. Her name is Bucky the Ballpark Ballhead, and she's the team's official mascot.

"What she does is, she takes all the players' minds off the game," said Lambo, who led the Marmonte League with eight home runs and a .450 batting average.

"When we see her jumping around and stuff, we start laughing and smiling and we get going. She's kind of like a motivator. Say we're playing a team like T.O. and you look over and see her with the big hat on and everything; it gives you a whole different perspective on life and just how important a high school baseball game is to a lot of people and what it means to her in particular."

PROUD PANTHER- Meet the official mascot of the NPHS baseball team: Bucky the Ballpark Ballhead.

Bucky, who was unsuccessful in attempting to conceal her identity from this article, is actually Taylor Lovullo, an 8-year-old thirdgrade student from Meadows Elementary School in Thousand Oaks. Taylor's stepfather, Matt Goldfield, is an assistant coach for the Panthers.

Drootin said Bucky is an excellent mascot and a good-luck charm for the team.

"Honestly, I can't remember us losing a game when Bucky's been here," Drootin said. She's our secret weapon."

Bucky is an original character. Her head is a giant baseball with a smiley face. She also wears an old jersey and pants to compliment the ensemble.

Constructing Bucky's oversized head was an exercise in creativity, Taylor said.

"My brother had an old soccer ball head," she said. "We covered up the black parts and just made some seams for the ball."

Although she still hasn't reached fourth grade, Taylor's probably witnessed more live baseball than some people see in their entire lifetimes.

Taylor's father, Torey Lovullo, manages the Buffalo Bisons, a Triple-A minor league affiliate of the Cleveland Indians based in Buffalo, N.Y. During her dad's time as a minor league manager, Taylor's traveled throughout the country watching him work.

"She's been active in the major league and Triple-A baseball scene," said Taylor's mother, Lynn Goldfield. "She tries to bring that environment to the high school level."

While at the various ballparks, Taylor's also been scouting opposing mascots to see what moves she can incorporate into her act.

"Sometimes they'll be clapping or making music with their hands and knees," she said. "They also do different dances."

With a potpourri of tricks up her sleeve on game days, the Newbury Park players, coaches and fans can never be too sure of what Bucky's next move might be. If one thing's certain, though, it's that Bucky is going to make people smile.

"It's so much fun dressing up and giving people high-fives and dancing," she said. "It's fun making them happy."

As for Bucky's identity being leaked to the public, Taylor's pretty sure none of her classmates at Meadows will ever find out.

"I don't think they read the Acorn that much," she said. "I have no idea why."

We'd tell you, Taylor, but it's a secret.