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Muncy opens season with a convincing win over Sullivan in baseball

MUNCY — The Muncy baseball team waited 681 days to compete again. Freshman Noah Confer waited four pitches to burst upon the area scene. Most of his teammates could say the same with 16 Indians playing high school baseball for the first time.

They played it quite well, too.

Confer slammed a three-run home run in his first high school at-bat, highlighting a six-run first inning which helped fuel Muncy as it blanked Sullivan County, 15-0, in three innings in its opening game Monday afternoon. Gio Persun went 3 for 3 with two doubles, Max Rymsza struck out seven, nine players delivered hits and every player coach Chris Persing used reached base. It was quite a start for a young team which displayed tremendous upside in its first baseball game since 2019.

“We were kind of ready to play last year,” Persun said. “We were all looking forward to it and this year has been really fun, getting to hang out with all the guys and playing again.”

“Teammates are always there for you no matter what is going on,” Confer said. “We’re all having fun and doing well, and it feels great all the way around.”

Confer (2 for 3, four RBIs) had his teammates feeling great when he made his first high school at-bat quite an unforgettable one. Muncy already was ahead 3-0 when the freshman first baseman came up. Confer fell behind in the count 1-2 before belting a long drive deep toward left field.

Confer sprinted out of the box and only when his teammates alerted him, did he know he had just started high school career the best way possible.

“I wasn’t expecting it. I was just trying to hit the ball with two strikes on me,” Confer said. “I hit it and it just went. I thought it was landing at the fence. I heard everyone cheering and that’s when I realized it went over.”

“Noah’s smile was huge. I was so happy for him coming around second,” Persing said. “That was awesome.”

So was Muncy’s offense.

The first six Indian batters reached base and Muncy scored eight more runs in the second inning. It batted around each time and had 11 hits through two innings. Persun, Confer, Chase Crawley (2 for 4, two RBIs) and Ross Eyer (2 for 3, two RBIs) all produced multi-hit games and Muncy sprayed the ball all over the field while hitting especially well with two strikes.

It was just one game, but considering the team’s youth, it was quite a performance. It also could signal good times coming as this group gains more experience playing together.

“We’re going to be really young, obviously, but we have some good athletes and it’s just going to be a matter of how quick we can get them consistently where we want them to be to keep moving forward,” Persing said. “It was great to see that kind of energy coming out right away and cheering for the teammates and being happy that everyone was doing well.”

Muncy’s excitement translated into an explosive start. Branson Eyer opened the bottom of the first with a walk before stealing second and scoring on Crawley’s RBI single. Ross Eyer followed with an RBI double, Rymsza hit an RBI grounder and Persun ripped a double before Confer’s home run made it 6-0.

Muncy sent 13 more batters to the plate in the second inning with Rymsza hitting a two-run single, Confer an RBI infield single and Branson Eyer a sacrifice fly.

Freshman Kaydn Berry helped Muncy end the game early, lacing a one-out double in his first high school at-bat. Following consecutive walks, Crawley ended the game with a walk-off single.

“When everyone in the lineup is hitting all the way through, I think that just makes swinging the bats a lot easier.” Persun said. It gives everyone confidence.”

“We were just trying to come out and play our game and see what we need to fix at the moment,” Confer said. “It feels great. It’s a great confidence booster and it shows how good we can be.”

Coming off an excellent basketball season, Rymsza had limited time to prepare but looked like a pitcher in midseason form yesterday. The senior is the team’s most experienced pitcher and allowed just two singles while striking out the side twice. Rymsza brilliantly mixed his pitches, consistently located them and had Sullivan County off-balance in all three innings.

In addition to going to just one three-ball count, Rymsza also struck out five of the last seven batters he faced. His efficient work also helped an already confident offense quickly get back to work.

“Max did amazing today. Some of those curveballs were hanging really well and dropping in the right spot.” Persun said. “He was placing the fastballs really well and putting them right where I wanted them. He did great.”

Sullivan 000–0 2 4

Muncy 681–15 13 1

Bryon Fitzgerald, Trace Neary (1), Landon Baldwin (3) and Evan Cummings. Max Rymsza and Gio Persun. W–Rymsza, (1-0). L–Fitzgerald, (0-1).

Top Sullivan hitters: Cummings 1-2, SB; Riley King 1-1. Top Muncy hitters: Gio Persun 3-3, 2 2Bs, 2 runs; Noah Confer 2-3, HR, 4 RBIs, 2 runs; Chase Crawley 2-4, 2 RBIs, 2 runs, SB; Ross Eyer 2-3, 2B, 2 RBIs, 3 runs, SB; Rymsza 1-2, 3 RBIs; Kaydn Berry 1-1, 2B, run; Branson Eyer 2 BB, RBI, run; Brady Ryder 1-3, run; Beau Steele 1-2, run.

Records: Muncy (1-0, 1-0 Mid-Penn), Sullivan (0-1, 0-1).

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