MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Montoursville’s Josh Burger scores as Lewisburg catcher Dakotah Snyder goes for the tag on a single by John McCarthy in the second inning at Giles Field in Montoursville on Wednesday afternoon.

The preseason Montoursville scouting report essentially read that this young team owned a bright future.

Turns out the present is pretty strong, too. And Montoursville already owns a championship.

Owen Kiess threw a complete-game four-hitter, Jaxon Dalena went 3 for 3 and Brandon Dyer hit two clutch RBI singles as Montoursville thumped Lewisburg, 10-1 Wednesday at Giles Field and captured at least a share of its first HAC-II championship. The Warriors (9-2, 8-1) started six underclassmen yesterday, including five freshmen and sophomores, but played one of their best overall games and won their first league title since 2011. They also gave first-year coach Jeremy Eck his 150th career win.

“To do that with a young team is pretty impressive,” Dalena said. “Since we’re doing well, every team we play wants to bring their best against us. That hypes us up a little bit and gets us excited.”

“Coming in I didn’t know what to expect. They lost a lot of key guys from the team last year, but I knew we had athletes and talent all over the place,” Eck said. “It’s getting these guys to conform and learn the game of baseball and not have mental breakdowns. I am so proud of the process that has taken place because you can see the change and the wheels turning in these guys’ heads. They are picking it up and starting to understand it.”

Montoursville won its fourth straight and can win the HAC-II championship outright if it beats Mifflinburg in its final league game May 14. A loss and a Loyalsock win in its last league contest against Danville would mean Montoursville and the Lancers share the title. Montoursville is the first time since 2014 other than Loyalsock to win a HAC-II championship.

“It’s awesome. It feels great,” Dyer said. “We knew what we were going up against and we played like we should have and we got the job done.”

Lewisburg (5-8, 2-7) led 1-0 before Montoursville batted after Andrew Ramirez (2 for 3) singled and scored on Dakotah Snyder’s RBI single. The Warriors dominated from tying the game in the second inning, going ahead n the third and breaking it open in the fourth. Kiess retired 21 of Lewisburg’s last 24 batters and the defense played an error-less game.

Freshman second baseman Peyton Mussina saved a potential run with a pretty first-inning play, sophomore second baseman Logan Ott made two pretty plays at first base and junior left fielder Dylan Bower made a face-first diving catch in the third inning, robbing Colt Kline of a lead-off single.

More work is ahead, but winning the HAC-II was the first one many goals Montoursville reached. It did so by playing one of its best games yet.

“I’m excited,” Eck said. “We’re finding ways to get it done.”

It appeared that would be tough early against sophomore pitcher Nick Shedleski who struck out nine in 4 2/3 innings. The right-hander has 23 strikeouts in his last 14 2/3 innings, but Dalena started his big day when he hit a lead-off, second-inning single. Pinch-runner Josh Burger (3 runs) stole second and John McCarthy went opposite way, tying the game with an RBI single to right field.

That sequence was a preview of things to come. The Warriors consistently moved runners and delivered timely hits, starting 5 for 9 with runners in scoring position. Dalena again was the catalyst when Montoursville scored twice in the fourth and took a 3-1 lead. The sophomore hit a lead-off double, Bower bunted Burger the pinch-runner scored on a throwing error. Dyer made it 3-1 when he worked back from an 0-2 count and ripped an RBI single.

Dalena provided a spark all game, reaching base in each of his four at-bats. Montoursville scored all its runs in those innings and his fourth-inning 1-out single was part of a five-run rally that it up, 8-1.

I was in a little bit of a slump before this so I was just trying to relax more. I was trying to have good at-bats and get on base and make something happen,” Dalena said after delivering his second 3-hit game this season. “When I was in my slump I was a little nervous batting first so they pushed me back a little bit (to clean-up) and that helped.”

Montoursville put together excellent at-bats and approaches over the last three innings, scoring seven times and putting up multiple runs in each of those innings. The Warriors were especially effective with two-strikes, producing six hits in those situations. They also kept battling in 0-2 situations and delivered four hits in those spots. Ryan Kessler was the last to do so when he fouled off three pitches, took two balls and then lined an RBI single into center field that capped the five-run, six-hit fifth inning.

The Warriors scored four two-out runs in the fifth inning, with Dylan Moll walking and then Cameron Wood, Dyer and Kessler all delivering hits. Dyer continued his strong season hitting out of the No. 9 hole when he roped another RBI single that made it 7-1. It was his second game in the last two weeks with multiple RBIs in a game.

“Once we start getting hits we start rolling and everyone starts getting hits,” Dyer said. “That (No. 9) is definitely my spot. It’s where I want to be. Going up and knowing you can get some RBIs is an awesome feeling.”

Backed by a strong defense, Kiess made that seven-run lead feel more like 17. The senior right-hander allowed just two hits after the first inning, struck out four and walked just one. Following Snyder’s RBI single, Kiess let just one runner advance past first base the rest of the game and won his fourth game.

Montoursville’s well-rounded performance gave Eck his 150th career win in just his eighth season. The 2003 Montoursville graduate won 141 games, two state championships and four district titles as Loyalsock coach from 2010-16 and the Warriors are hoping they can keep making that resume even stronger as the season progresses.

“I could not care less about (150), but it’s nice to be successful like that. It kind of speaks volumes about what we’re doing,” Eck said. “It speaks to that what we’re doing with our program is working and that the kids are buying into what we are teaching. That’s what we’re proud of.”

Lewisburg 100 000 0–1 4 2

Montoursville 010 252 x–10 11 0

Nick Shedleski, Josh Heath (5) and Dakotah Snyder, Peter Marrara (6). Owen Kiess and Jaxon Dalena. W: Kiess, (4-1). L: Shedleski, (2-2).

Top Lewisburg hitters: Andrew Ramirez 2-3, run; Snyder 2-3, RBI. Top Montoursville hitters: Dalena 3-3, 2B; Brandon Dyer 2-3, 2 RBIs; Ryan Kessler 1-4, RBI; Kiess 1-3; Logan Ott 1-3, 2 runs; Dylan Bower 1-3, 2B, RBI, 3 runs, SB; John McCarthy 1-3, RBI; Cameron Wood 1-4, run; Josh Burger 3 runs, SB.

Records: Montoursville (9-2, 8-1 HAC-II), Lewisburg (5-8, 2-7).