Hadzinikolov makes his final football game a great one

June 25, 2022

DANVILLE—Muncy graduate Bailey Hadzinikolov played his final high school football game Friday night. He will attend Lock Haven in the fall, but not play football. He leaves the game on his terms. Considering where Hadzinikolov was nearly two years ago, what a blessing that is. Two weeks into his junior season the hard-hitting linebacker broke his back, his third lumbar bone snapping. In addition to missing the rest of that season, Hadzinikolov and doctors feared he might never play football again. But a player who attacks challenges the way he does ball-carriers never gave up hope ...

Walk-off grand slam brings end to fantastic South baseball season

June 9, 2022

By CHRIS MASSE cmasse@sungazette.com CAMP HILL—South Williamsport experienced nearly every negative emotion there is as Everett began its latest comeback. Disappointment, frustration, rage … put check marks next to all. When Karson Reffner hit a walk-off grand slam sadness was the final emotion, but time heals most wounds and eventually South likely will feel one emotion above all else when looking back up on its 2022 season—pride. The Mounties came so far this year and made the second deepest postseason run in program history. Considering how steeped in tradition this ...

Muncy softball wins a thriller and reaches state tournament

June 1, 2022

Muncy is state tournament bound for just the second time since 2009 and for the first time as a Class AA team. The Indians reached that destination in thrilling fashion as well. Muncy scored two seventh inning runs Wednesday at DuBois and defeated Seneca, 10-8 in a play-in game after each team finished as the district runner-up in its respective district. Muncy never trailed but Seneca tied the game twice after the Indians had opened multiple run leads three times. The Indians never wavered, fighting back and earning a spot in Monday's opening round of states against District 9 ...

Central Columbia captures district championship, ending strong Hughesville season

May 31, 2022

As jubilant Central Columbia players raised the district championship plaque, teary-eyed Hughesville players consoled each other near Bowman Field's third-place dugout. It was a crushing scene Central had witnessed the past two seasons after losing one-run, extra-inning championship thrillers. The Blue Jays reversed it Tuesday night and now Hughesville hopes a similar scenario plays out for it next season. Central exorcized those demons in impressive fashion and blanked Hughesville, 8-0, capturing the District 4 Class AAA championship. Trystan Crawford and Cade Davis combined on a ...

Montoursville pounds Danville in three innings to capture District 4 championship

May 30, 2022

Seconds after smashing a walk-off single, Matthew Conklin rounded first base and quickly found himself buried beneath a mass of happy teammates. The pain never felt so good. Pain goes away, but glory never fades. And that is what Montoursville attained Monday night at Bowman Field. That and another championship. Maddix Dalena threw a one-hitter, Marco Pulizzi crushed a two-run home run and all nine starters produced RBIs as Montoursville walloped Danville, 15-0 in three innings while capturing the District 4 Class AAAA championship. In a year where everything seemingly came the hard ...

Reeder and Rinker help throw Montoursville past Lewisburg and into district final

May 26, 2022

ALMEDIA--Nick Reeder owned the mound at Central Columbia a year ago, throwing 5 2/3 one-hit innings and helping Montoursville defeat Athens in the District 4 Class AAAA semifinals. In Wednesday's semifinals, back at Central, Reeder was farther away and patrolling center field. But he still was dominant when throwing the ball home. Reeder made two perfect throws to the plate against Lewisburg, cutting runners down each time. In a game decided by a razor-thin margin Reeder's throws ultimately sent Montoursville back to the district final. Reeder twice ended innings with his lasers; ...