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Summer McNulty comes up just shy of cycle in Sock’s win at Williamsport Softball Tournament

By Chris Masse 5 min read

Summer McNulty played in the state basketball quarterfinals March 19. Eleven days later she played her first softball game after completing just four practices.

Just imagine if she had even more time to prepare. Practice or no practice, McNulty has been a hitting machine and she continued her blistering start Friday at Elm Park.

McNulty went 3 for 4, hit a long home run and finished a single shy of hitting for the cycle as Loyalsock cruised to a 14-0, five-inning win over Wyalusing. McNulty was one of 10 Lancers who produced hits as they earned a spot in this morning's semifinals against Williamsport. Marissa Helmrich and Hannah Winter combined on a one-hitter and Montoursville also reached the semifinals, defeating Lower Dauphin, 4-1. It will play Upper Dauphin in the other semifinal at 10 a.m.

"Constantly being able to play softball since I've been 8 years old, every single season normally sticks in my head and I don't necessarily feel like I have an offseason even though I do get a break because I don't do softball stuff during basketball season," McNulty said. "I don't call it an offseason, I just call it a little break. It's just a time to refocus my body, relax and have some fun. That's the most important thing right now. As a team we're having a lot of fun."

Opponents are not, especially when facing McNulty.

McNulty is hitting a ridiculous .769, going 20 for 26 and has produced multi-hit performance in all seven games. McNulty hit over .500 in each of her first two seasons and, despite last season being canceled, still is closing in on 100 career hits.

After grounding out in her first at-bat yesterday, McNulty slammed a double, triple and home run in her final three. Her fifth-inning home run was a laser which nearly put a hole in the Helmrich's Seafood sign rising above the center field wall. She scored three times, drove in two runs and played an error-less game as Loyalsock (6-1) continued its strong collective start.

McNulty once thought she would play college softball but will play basketball at Elizabethtown. That has her thinking clear, seeing everything and seemingly smashing everything.

"It's a lot less stressful because I can just go out there and play the game," McNulty said. "I'm going to be upset with myself if I'm not getting on because I'm not helping my teammates or if I make an error but at the end of the day it's just a high school sport and I'm having fun doing it. I'm having a blast."

So are her teammates.

Loyalsock has scored 33 runs in its last two games and there are no weak spots in the lineup. It also helps having reserves like Allyia Kennedy and Kamron Pryor who hit an RBI triple and RBI single, respectively. Jocelyn Cruz mashed the ball from the No. 8 spot in the order, slamming a triple and double deep into the gaps and Grace Shaible also had two hits.

The Lancers scored five runs in both the second and third innings to build a 10-0 lead and coach Mark Godfrey was able to give each player an at-bat or time in the field. Cruz highlighted the five-run second-inning rally with a double before scoring on Kathryn Schluter's RBI single. An inning later Mari Houseknecht and Rylie French hit consecutive RBI singles and McNulty belted an RBI triple. Cruz nearly hit home run with one out in the fifth inning, driving a triple deep to right-center field and McNulty followed two batters later with her home run which capped the scoring.

"I have 100% confidence in my teammates and we always know we can come through," McNulty said. "The most important thing is putting the ball in play. If you put the ball in play you always have a chance to make something happen. We've been really focusing on that and that shows."

Helmrich and Winter were brilliant, retiring the final 13 batters they faced. Helmrich struck out eight in her three innings and Winter set down all six Rams she faced while striking out two.

MONTOURSVILLE 4, LOWER DAUPHIN 1

MacKenzie Weaver threw a two-hit gem and Hannah Klotz and Kristen George each had two hits as Montoursville defeated Lower Dauphin, 4-1 and earned a spot in the semifinals against Upper Dauphin.

Weaver did not surrender an earned run for a second straight day and has allowed just five hits in those games. Montoursville (5-3) has won five of its last seven games and scored a run in the third and two in the fourth to build a 3-0 lead. Johannah Devore hit an RBI single, Klotz drove in a run and George scored a run. Montoursville added another run in the sixth inning and took a 4-0 lead into the seventh.

Loyalsock 055 13--14 13 0

Wyalusing 000 00--0 1 4

Jenelle Johns and Sydney Friedlander, Kenlie Mignon. Marissa Helmrich, Hannah Winter (4) and Rylie French, Grace Shaible (4). W--Helmrich, (4-1). L--Johns.

Top Loyalsock hitters: Summer McNulty 3-4, 3-4, HR, 3B, 2B, 2 RBIs, 3 runs; Jocelyn Cruz 2-3, 3B, 2B, 3 runs; Shaible 2-4, 2B; Winter 1-2, 2 runs; Mari Houseknecht 1-2, 2 RBIs, run; Kam Pryor 1-2, RBI, run; French 1-1, RBI; Allyia Kennedy 1-1, 3B, Kathryn Schluter 1-3, RBI, run.

Records: Loyalsock (6-1).

Montoursville 4, Lower Dauphin 1

Montoursville 001 201 0-4 9 2

Lower Dauphin 000 000 1-1 2 2

MacKenzie Weaver and Brianna Trueman. Albarano and Seymour. W-Weaver, (5-3). L-Albarano.

Top Montoursville hitters: Hannah Klotz 2-4, RBI; Johannah Devore 1-3, RBI; Kristen George 2-3, R; Brianna Trueman 1-4.

Records: Montoursville 5-3.

Starting at /week.