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Montoursville Section 3 champs in 10-11 Baseball

When a batter hits two home runs and drives in eight in one game, you could say he had pretty good night at the plate. When he does it in one inning, on just two pitches, you can say he had an amazing night.

That’s what happened when Montoursville’s Mason Sechrist stepped to the batter’s box in the first inning as Montoursville faced Upper Dauphin in the Section 3 10-11 Baseball championship on Monday at Lyter Field.

After Upper Dauphin’s Mason Grow walked three of the first four batters in Montoursville’s lineup to start Monday’s game, Sechrist took full advantage by sending the first pitch he saw whistling past the center field wall, earning him his first grand slam of the All-Star season.

“[Coach] gave me the green light,” Sechrist said. “He usually says to take the first pitch, but it was right there and I saw it, and it went out.”

Following Sechrist’s big hit, Montoursville kept its offensive attack going, as seven of the next eight batters reached base, scoring four runs along the way.

It was much of the same in Sechrist’s second plate appearance of the first inning, as he approached the plate with bases loaded, and sent another first-pitch fastball back the direction it came from, marking his second grand slam of the evening.

“If you put batters on base against them they are going to make you pay, and they certainly did,” said Upper Dauphin’s manager, Jeff Lentz.

Our hat is off to them. They hit the ball better than any team we’ve played this year.”

In all, Montoursville scored 12 first-inning runs, and went on to win, 20-2, in four innings.

“I was speechless, and not much leaves me speechless,” Montoursville’s coach Mitch Wood said of Sechrist’s performance. “I just don’t know what to say to that.

“That’s two good swings and they went a long way, and it opened up the game for us,”?Wood said.

But perhaps nobody was more shocked by Sechrist’s second grand slam than he was himself.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen it happen, but it feels really great,” he said. “I was surprised though. I never thought I would hit two grand slams in one night.”

Along with their great offensive performance, Montoursville also played a good defensive game.

Cameron Wood picked up the win for Montoursville, despite letting up an early two-run homer to Upper Dauphin’s Sam Kerwin, which was the only blemish on his performance.

“We expected to get a few runs tonight so if they got some hits that was fine,” Coach Wood said. “As long as we aren’t walking and giving them too many free rides, that’s all we ask of our pitchers.”

With the win, Montoursville moves on to the state tournament being held in Mansfield, and will play their first game on Friday at 4.

“I’m really excited,” Sechrist said on winning the sectional tournament. “I get to play more games and have more fun.”

Upper Dauphin 200 0 – 2 3 3

Montoursville (12)35 x – 20 12 0

Mason Grow (L), Macklin Ayers (1), Bo Raho (2) and Kate Motter; Cameron Wood (W), Jaxon Dalena (3) and Logan Ott

Upper Dauphin top hitters: Mason Grow 1B, Stolen base; Sam Kerwin HR, 1B, 2RBI, R. Montoursville top hitters: Jaxon Dalena 1B, W, RBI; Logan Ott 1B, (2)W, 2 RBI; Cameron Wood 2-4, HBP, 3 RBI, 2RBI; Mason Sechrist 2-3, (2) GS, 8 RBI, 2R; Brandon Good 2-3, (3) SB, R; Jake Sims 2-3; Cole Ranck HR, 2RBI, R; Gage Weaver 1-1.

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