RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent St. John Neumann starting pitcher JerVal Weeks-Shuler throws during a high school baseball game last week at Muncy.

St. John Neumann faced a two-run deficit and was three outs from defeat last Wednesday at Muncy.

Listening to the players and coaches in the dugout before that seventh inning, one could hardly tell. The Knights were confident and had little doubt they could come back and win the game.

Then they proved it.

Neumann scored five runs, four after it was twice down to its final strike and defeated Muncy, 6-3. The Knights capped their week with a 24-10 win at Sugar Valley and are perched atop the District 4 Class A standings at 3-0.

The Muncy win was a big win not just because it came against a good team, but because it was the kind of game Neumann so often lost in the past. This program has only three playoff appearances on its resume, but it won a program-record 15 games two years ago. Now, a dramatic culture change combined with some exciting talent has Neumann believing all things are possible.

“Our motto is, ‘Powered by Faith,’ and we just try to have the faith that we’re going to work hard, we’re going to believe in ourselves, we’re going to believe in our coaches, we’re going to believe in the whole process,” Neumann coach Cory Burkholder said. “The school really helps us with that. We work well and we just try to have the faith that we’re going to do the right thing and be in a position all the time to be very best people we can be. The baseball comes easy after that.”

Neumann easily defeated CMVT in its opener, but the first true test of its motto came against Muncy. The Indians scored three fourth-inning runs and took a 3-1 lead which was intact until the seventh inning. Unfazed, Neumann produced four hits, three coming with two outs. Keon Burkholder then worked a perfect seventh inning, closing out a dominant four-inning relief outing.

Muncy still led 3-2 and Jeff Hamilton was behind in the count 0-2 before he fought back and hit a game-tying RBI single. Ryan Thompson followed with a single, Kane Wright drew an RBI walk, and Naz Smith followed with a two-run double.

Naseer Dymeck ignited the game-winning rally with a walk before stealing second and third. JerVal Weeks-Shuler threw three strong innings and struck out six. This was not a one or two-man show but a whole team coming together and generating a tone-setting win.

“That’s a huge win for us,” Hamilton said after going 3 for 3 with two RBIs. “When we get closer to districts and in playoff time games like this are going to show up big. It helps us prepare and helps us with how we carry ourselves.”

Neumann started carrying itself quite well in 2019, winning 12 of its 15 games and pushing eventual Class A state quarterfinalist Montgomery hard in the district semifinals. A strong group returned last spring, but Neumann never received the opportunity to build on that breakthrough season. Rather than focus on losing what could have been a special campaign, the returning players started working toward 2021.

Burkholder and Hamilton started on the 2019 team and each had strong seasons. Weeks-Shuler likely would have had a big 2020 season and gives Neumann a big bat, along with blazing speed on the bases, a valuable left-hander on the mound and a player who seemingly can play every position well. Caleb Reddy started as a freshman at Neumann and is back for his senior year and Smith is a breakout candidate, producing four RBIs in his first two games.

Neumann used to worry about just fielding enough players to have a team each spring. Now this team is deep, versatile and dangerous.

“Missing last year really hurt and everyone worked 10 times harder, and we just want to win every game we can now,” Hamilton said. “We can do damage one through nine and our bench is pretty solid. I believe in all our guys.”

Obviously, it’s early and many challenges remain. But that belief is powerful and something Neumann often lacked in the past. Neumann has never won a league or district championship. This team believes it change that.

Time will tell if the Knights do. Whatever happens, it could be quite an entertaining journey.

“They’re learning. They’re learning each other, learning how to play together,” Cory Burkholder said. “They’re learning how to have fun playing this game again. It’s been two years and these sophomores were all eighth graders the last times we played so they don’t even know what it’s like to play varsity baseball, so it’s exciting. It’s exciting to watch them grow.”

SUDDEN IMPACT

Like Neumann, Muncy features some excellent young players and Kaydn Berry has wasted no time showcasing his skills. The freshman second baseman opened his high school career with three consecutive multi-hit games, going 6 for 8 with a double, three RBIs and five runs scored. He capped his strong start with three more hits, including a double in Saturday’s 18-1 win against Sugar Valley. A slick fielder, Berry also has been a defensive rock and retired the lone batter he faced against Neumann.

The stats are eye-popping, but the way Berry plays the game is just as impressive. He does all the little things right, can beat an opponent several ways and consistently is in the right place at the right time.

“He does everything very well. He’s earned that spot with his effort all throughout the preseason,” Muncy coach Chris Persing said. “He’s aggressive when he needs to be and for a young kid, he understands the game really well. He does a lot of good things for us.”

EXTRA BASES

Williamsport (0-4) is heating up offensively and could quickly turn things around if the pitching catches up to the hitting. The Millionaires nearly erased an 11-run first-inning deficit Saturday against Punxsutawney, pounding out 18 hits in a 17-14 loss. Carter Sagan drove in five home runs, belting a home run and triple; Xavier Taylor went 3 for 3 and Owen Berry doubled twice … Canton (4-1) has scored at least seven runs in each of its last four games and closed its week with a 13-3 win against Muncy. Sophomore Hayden Ward has wasted no time asserting himself in a dangerous lineup, hitting safely in all five games and is 7 for 11 over his last four games … Montgomery (2-1) opened its season with consecutive wins and catcher Thayden Miller is hitting .444 with five RBIs. Noah Gearhart threw 1 2/3 innings of shutout baseball in a 9-6 win against Benton and has scored seven runs in three games … Muncy catcher Gio Persun has three hits and four RBIs over his last two games.

Dr. Masse’s Top 5

1. Montoursville (3-0)

Many faces have changed but the results thus far have not. Montoursville started its season strong, highlighting it with an 8-1 win against Jersey Shore. Connecticut-bound pitcher Maddix Dalena was a known commodity entering the season and is throwing well, but so too are first-time varsity pitchers like Nick Reeder, A.J. Llorente and Grayson Rinker, all who earned wins or saves last week. Nolan Kutney went 4 for 4 in a 10-5 win against Danville, Josh Burger had three hits in that game, and Llorente, who grew up in Florida, has five RBIs in his first three games. Heath Jones opened his season 3 for 3. C.J. Signor homered against Jersey Shore.

2. Hughesville (3-1)

Dylon Pequignot has picked up where he left off following a super sophomore season and did not allow an earned run in five innings against Milton last Tuesday. Pequignot struck out 12 in that 10-5 win and has surrendered two hits in six innings this season, striking out 14. Southern Columbia handed Hughesville its first loss following a 3-0 start and the Spartans made seven errors in the loss. Following three convincing wins, the loss could have provided Hughesville a wake-up call as it enters a difficult part of its schedule. Clayton Poust has hit safely in all four games and Jed Webb hit a home run against Milton.

3. Jersey Shore (3-1)

The Bulldogs already have matched their 2019 win total and immediately bounced back from the Montoursville loss, blanking Towanda, 12-0. Brandon Laubach has been among the area’s top players early this season and threw 4 1/3 innings of one-hit baseball against Montoursville after homering in a dramatic 12-11 comeback win against Shikellamy. Conner Davis went 2 for 2 with a home run and four RBIs against Towanda and both Owen Anderson and Karter Peacock have produced two multiple-hit performances. Jersey Shore displayed its resiliency against Shikellamy rallying from six down in the sixth inning to win it in eight innings.

4. Loyalsock (1-1)

Chase Cavanaugh has been outstanding in two pitching performances and threw six shutout innings in Friday’s 3-1 win against Bloomsburg. Cavanaugh, Nick Laubach and Joeb Schurer have surrendered seven hits in two games, and Virginia Tech-bound first baseman Nick Barone went 2 for 4 with a double against Bloomsburg. Central Columbia defeated Loyalsock, 4-0, in its opener, a game which was scoreless until the fifth inning could serve as a playoff preview.

5. South Williamsport (1-1)

The Mounties started their season later than any other area team but bounced back from a loss at Sayre by defeating Montgomery, 6-2, last Saturday. Grant Bachman and Makai Day could be breakout pitchers this season and combined for 10 strikeouts. South produced four extra-base hits against Sayre in a rematch of the 2019 District 4 Class AA final and Ryan Rischoff tripled again just like he had in that final.

Players of the Week

Deacon Brown, Williamsport

Brandon Laubach, Jersey Shore

Brown has started his freshman season about as well as any player can, hitting .714 through four games. Also a defensive weapon in the outfield, Brown went 8 for 11 last week, hitting a home run and driving in four runs. Brown homered against Punxsutanwey and has seven hits in his last two games. Laubach surrendered two hits, one run and struck out 13 in 7 1/3 innings. He also produced six hits, homered and drove in seven runs.

Game of the Week

Hughesville at Loyalsock

Only one time since 2008 has one of these teams not made the playoffs, and along the way, they have played a lot of big and exciting games. Both look like District 4 Class AAA title contenders and today’s game could be a good measuring stick for both teams. This also is a rematch of last summer’s Hughesville Town League championship. This one could have a playoff feel surrounding it.

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