×

Neumann looking like potential threat

Many years, St. John Neumann simply filling out a roster can pose a challenge.

District 4’s smallest school has entered seasons before wondering if it could complete a season, the numbers were so small. That in mind, what a luxury it is for Neumann having 14 players this season. Even better, these are quality players and the Knights are looking like a potential threat in the District 4 Class A championship race. Neumann went 3-0 last week, has won four straight and beat Canton for the first in the 2000s two days ago. The Knights (6-3) are off to the best start in program history and the good times might just be starting.

Captain Jaiden Cioffi is the team’s lone senior, so a good core should be returning in 2020. The junior high also features some quality prospects and coach Cory Burkholder said there might potentially be enough players next season to compete in a few JV games. At Neumann that is unheard of, but it speaks to the progress this program is making.

“It’s exciting. That’s the direction the program is going,” Burkholder said following a 20-6 win against Sugar Valley. “A lot of people are taking notice and the numbers are starting to increase and I’m proud of that and I’m proud of these guys. They’re representing us well wherever we go.”

Burkholder became coach late in the 2017 season and Neumann surged toward the season’s conclusion. The momentum carried into last year as Neumann won 10 games and reached districts for just the third time in program history. The Knights now have a shot at reaching the postseason in consecutive seasons, something that this program has never done.

And there is reason to believe that if Neumann does qualify it could be a tough out. The Knights have more pitching depth than in the past with Solomon Grant, Kyle Ferguson, Jaiden Cioffi and Keon Burkholder all having productive seasons. Grant is 4-0, Ferguson is having a breakout year and Cioffi struck out 13 in four innings of relief last week. Burkholder is a hard thrower and could be poised for big things moving forward.

Neumann has been hitting better as the season has progressed and four starters are hitting .333 or higher. The Knights scored 42 runs in last week’s victories, topping 10 runs each time. Josiah Reid drove in seven runs and sophomore catcher Naaman Amos added six RBIs. Jeffrey Hamilton went 2 for 4 with three RBIs in Saturday’s 11-9 win at Canton.

“When we hit our full stride I think we’re capable of beating anyone in our district,” Cioffi said after hitting two doubles against Sugar Valley. “Whenever we hit our full stride and play up to our potential I think we can definitely contend for a district title.”

Neumann played well down the stretch last season and held an early lead against Cowanesque Valley before losing an 8-4 quarterfinal. It was not the ending Neumann wanted but it added offseason motivation and provided a learning experience in the program’s first playoff appearance since 2014.

Several returnees played in that game and have a taste of postseason baseball. So Neumann wants more this time.

“Last year was kind of heartbreaking. That was a winnable game but I think this year we can definitely do damage too if we hit our full stride,” Cioffi said. “I have all the confidence in the world in these guys.”

So does Burkholder.

He has enjoyed success coaching at the youth level and now Burkholder is helping Neumann elevate its program. Neumann has long been identified with basketball but success, but this small school could be making way for more company. The numbers are up and so are the prospects.

Starting jobs are not a given anymore. Players are competing against each other at practice and Neumann is the big winner because that makes everyone better. Something good could be at work here.

“These guys are buying into the process. They enjoy working and that’s the key here,” Burkholder said. “We try and make the process fun. Part of the process can be a grind, but they enjoy it. They do enjoy watching themselves get better and pushing themselves. There is natural competition and they want to get better and that is what drives them.”

SURGING SULLIVAN: Sullivan County made a major statement last Thursday, defeating defending Mid-Penn champion Millville, 8-4, and handing the Quakers their first league loss in two years. The Griffins have won six of eight games and beating the current District 4 Class A top-seeded team shows how dangerous they can be if they reach the postseason for the first time since 2013. Sullivan also moved within a game of first place, behind Millville and Montgomery, in the league standings and plays at Montgomery Monday afternoon.

Sullivan features a strong offense that has produced 16 runs in consecutive wins and that has scored at least eight runs in five of its last eight games. Six starters are hitting .333 or higher and Nate Higley, Jake Doyle and Sam Carpenter all are above .400. Carpenter and Doyle each had two hits against Millville and Higley hit a two-run double.

TOURNAMENT TIME: Southern Lycoming County hosts its version of the Backyard Brawl Saturday at Bodine Park when Hughesville, Muncy, Warrior Run and Montgomery collide in the first Tri-Town Classic. The games start at 11 as Hughesville plays Warrior Run and Montgomery faces Muncy in the opening round. Those will count as the second game in HAC-III and Mid-Penn league cycles as well.

The Backyard Brawl will span two days and two locations May 10. At 4:30 p.m. that Friday, Montoursville and Loyalsock will open the Brawl in a 2018 championship rematch at Logue Field before Williamsport plays South Williamsport at 7. The scene switches to Bowman Field the next day. Loyalsock has prom that night, so whether it is in the championship or consolation, it will play in the 1 p.m. game with the other game scheduled to start at 3:30.

EXTRA BASES: It was an interesting two-day stretch in the Mid-Penn last week as both that race and the District 4 Class A playoff picture became more clouded. Benton stunned Montgomery, erasing a six-run sixth-inning deficit and defeating it, 7-6 in nine innings. Sullivan, however, helped Montgomery a day later and the Raiders (8-3) moved back into a first-place Mid-Penn tie when they downed Bucktail, 14-3. Freshman Colby Springman is making a good impact and went 5 for 7 with three doubles and four RBIs in two victories. Hunter Budman, Trevor Miller and Brayden Strouse also produced multi-hit performances … Muncy senior Coleman Good continues raking since returning from an injury and was 2 for 5 with two doubles as the Indians split two games. Good has four doubles in his five games and is hitting above .500. Donovan Diehl went 2 for 3 with a triple in a 13-0 win against Sugar Valley as Max Rymsza produced his third straight quality start, throwing a one-hitter and striking out eight … Wellsboro rallied from three down in the sixth inning, scoring nine runs in its final two at-bats and defeating Wyalusing, 13-8. Cam Tennis and Silas Wagaman each had three hits and combined for three RBIs. Zack Rowland and Billy Lechler added two hits each … Hughesville’s Jacob Corson is heating up and went 3 for 6 with a double and two RBIs as the Spartans (8-3) split two games. Corson has hit safely in five straight games and has three extra-base hits during that time, including a home run.

Dr. Masse’s Top Five

1. Montoursville (9-1): Jaxon Dalena has been an excellent catcher the past two seasons, but showed how dangerous he can be on the mound Saturday at Central Columbia, throwing four shutout innings and striking out five as Montoursville won, 4-0. Gabe Phillips earned his second save, throwing three strong innings and striking out six. It was the kind of win Montoursville needed following a loss at Mifflinburg and a 3-3, 10-inning marathon against Lewisburg last Wednesday that was suspended due to darkness and will be resumed later this season. Cameron Ott helped the offense break out some at Central, going 3 for 4 with two RBIs. The defending District 4 Class AAA champions have a big week ahead, starting today against Mifflinburg and concluding Friday at Loyalsock.

2. Williamsport (7-3): They would have rather made things easier on themselves, but the Millionaires certainly shined under pressure in late-game situations last week, coming alive late and winning three straight games against St. Mary’s, Altoona and Huntingdon. Williamsport was tied in the fourth inning against St. Mary’s before winning, 13-3; trailed Altoona by three in the seventh inning and won, 8-7, then broke a sixth-inning tie and beat Huntingdon, 7-6. Brayton Rowello and Joe Fagnano homered in that victory while Dallas Griess hit a game-tying grand slam against Altoona. Drake Mankey continued his hot hitting as he, Rowello, Fagnano, Griess, Riley Hilner, Carter Sagan, Kyle Caringi and Braeden Mazzante all produced multi-hit performance in those three victories. Jon Zayas (4-0) struck out all six batters he faced against Huntingdon, earning the win in relief, and also struck out seven against St. Mary’s.

3. South Williamsport (9-2): Mount Carmel ended South’s nine-game winning streak, but the Mounties still control their HAC-III championship destiny. If South wins its final two league games against Southern Columbia and Warrior Run it would do no worse than share its first league title since 2012 with Hughesville or Mount Carmel. The defending District 4 Class AA champions flexed their offensive muscle in a 15-3 win at Warrior Run last Monday before Luke Winner hit a walk-off home run and Tripp Breen threw a 1-hit shutout against Bloomsburg.

“We’re having a lot of fun right now,” Winner said after going 4 for 6 with a home run and triple in the two wins. “We’re out here getting work done every practice and getting better every practice, but at the same time we’re having fun.”

4. Central Mountain (7-3): A young team experienced some early growing pains but has come a long way in a short time, winning five straight games and staying within a game of first in the HAC-I. After winning consecutive walk-off thrillers against Danville and Altoona, Central Mountain made things easier on itself, thumping Shamokin, 14-4. Zack Eck continued his hot hitting, going 3 for 4 and has five hits in his last two games, hitting three doubles and scoring five runs. Aidan Major has two hits in each of his last two games and Aaron Swartz is 4 for 5 during that time with three RBIs. Swartz also is anchoring the pitching staff, going 2-1 with a 2.67 ERA and 24 strikeouts in 18 1/3 innings.

5. Loyalsock (6-5): An 8-0 win against rival Hughesville last Saturday highlighted Loyalsock’s resurgence. The Lancers are above .500 for the first time this season, have won three straight and have scored 32 runs during that time. Anthony Pastore and Matt Worth combined on the shutout against Hughesville and Loyalsock also has recorded impressive wins at Lewisburg and Central during its streak. The offense is coming alive and Dane Armson, Alex Schluter, Connor Watkins, Joeb Shurer and Nick Barone all had two or more hits in a game last week. Armson threw five strong innings against Central and Connor and Rees Watkins combined for five RBIs in two wins. The Lancers start a challenging week against Bellefonte today, but are starting to look like a team that could again be a tough postseason out if they keep progressing.

Players of the Week

Solomon Grant, Neumann and Alex Schluter, Loyalsock: Grant is fast becoming a multi-faceted weapon and showed that throughout last week. Grant won two games on the mound and stymied both Sugar Valley and CMVT. He also made things on the bases and delivered six hits, drove in five runs and scored five times. Schulter is igniting Loyalsock’s offense from the lead-off position and went 4 for 7 with a triple and two RBIs in Loyalsock’s two wins. Schluter has delivered at least two hits in each of his last three games and is 7 for 13 over his last four.

Game of the Week

Mifflinburg at Montoursville: As fun as Montoursville-Loyalsock is, it is Monday’s game that earns this week’s honor because of the ramifications. Mifflinburg is the only team that has defeated Montoursville and both are tied for first in the HAC-II. The winner is not assured of capturing the league championship, but does gain the inside track. The Wildcats held off a late Montoursville rally and won 6-5 less than two weeks ago. Expect another close and exciting game today.

Chris Masse may be reached by email at cmasse@sungazette.com. Follow him on Twitter at @docmasse

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

COMMENTS

[vivafbcomment]

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today