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Lewisburg drastically started changing its culture three years ago when it made a big turnaround, won 16 games and reached the District 4 Class AAA semifinals.
That was the first time Lewisburg had reached districts since 1996 and the drought included several winless seasons. Maybe some are blinded by the past when looking at Lewisburg. The players sure feel that way.
So they keep on proving how wrong any remaining doubters are.
Lewisburg (12-4) is playoff-bound again, winning six straight games. It flashed its district championship credentials last Thursday, rallying from two runs down in the seventh inning and beating current top seed Loyalsock, 9-6, in eight innings. That victory highlighted a 4-0 week which included erasing a four-run, sixth-inning deficit in a 13-9 win against Warrior Run.
"I think people doubt us when they get on the field. They think, 'Oh we're playing Lewisburg,' and we just take it to them," shortstop Rylee Dyroff said after hitting a go-ahead two-run home run against Loyalsock. "I think we're really getting a name for ourselves again."
"We've been working hard to get on the map," Lewisburg coach Ken Wagner said.
The Dragons are getting there. In a loaded Class AAA field, Lewisburg has victories against the last two champions, Loyalsock and Bloomsburg. It also played Central (16-3) tough in two close losses and swept two games from Montoursville.
Lewisburg hits well throughout the lineup and is batting a collective .338. The Dragons collected 16 hits against Loyalsock and have a strong pitching tandem in junior Lexi Walter and freshman Kim Shannon. The defense has improved as well and, at the perfect time, Lewisburg is surging.
"It's a matter of putting it all together. We're getting the pitching and the defense is usually solid and someone is always hitting," Wagner said. "That's the good thing. Hitting is very contagious, especially on this team. Somebody gets a hit and it steamrolls."
Lewisburg started rolling three years ago when it put together a huge turnaround, made a nine-win improvement and captured the HAC-II championship. Senior Brynn Wagner is the only starter who played on that team and has watched Lewisburg build its program from the bottom up.
She also is one of six starters hitting at least .340 and went 3 for 5 with a home run against Loyalsock. This is a young team, and most Dragons play travel ball throughout the summer. In the past, Lewisburg had some terrific athletes playing softball a few months each spring. Now it is fielding some excellent softball players who love competing throughout the year.
"I think it's very important because in the past our team hasn't been the greatest," Brynn Wagner said. "These past few years we've been doing really well so it's nice to be a part of that."
Six teams have qualified for districts entering the regular season's final week. Wellsboro joins the five HAC-II rivals and is 14-4, highlighting the depth of the field. Still, Lewisburg is focused on itself, not on the other teams.
Others might look at the past when assessing Lewisburg, but that is foolish. These Dragons only care about the here and now. And right now, they look mighty dangerous.
"I knew girls who were coming up would continue to help us out so that was nice knowing we had people who could help us," Brynn Wagner said. "We know that we can beat anyone on any given day.
Now that we know we're in this we want to win."
MEMORABLE CURTAIN CALL
Hughesville held its senior day Saturday, and it was a special one with Sarah Wertz, Jenna Davis, Mackenzy Swisher and Chylee Stroup all having big games in a 15-0, 15-3 sweep of Sugar Valley and Millville.
Wertz missed two years with a torn ACL and because of COVID but has come back strong and earned the win in both games while collecting three hits. Davis missed the last 1 1/2 seasons for the same reasons and went 3 for 3 with a home run and three RBIs.
Swisher has hit over .400 this season and went 2 for 3 with an RBI against Millville. Stroup is a three-year starter and hit a triple in that win, making this a special day for the entire quartet.
Hughesville's young players also made a nice impact Saturday. Freshman Madeline Miller hit her first high school home run and sophomore Sara Stroup was 3 for 6 with four RBIs.
EXTRA BASES
Kerrah Clymer is now Wellsboro's career and single-season home run leader. Clymer drilled her record-breaking 13th career home run in Friday's 10-2 win at Canton. That also was her seventh homer this season, another record as Wellsboro (14-4) won its fifth straight game. Sophomore Maddi Bordas went 4 for 4 in the victory ... Bucktail (11-4) is playoff-bound for a fourth straight year after defeating St. John Neumann and Muncy last week. It has been a remarkable turnaround for the Bucks who had never made the playoffs prior to 2017 ... Jersey Shore freshman Jocelyn McCracken threw a four-hitter in a 4-2 win against previously undefeated Montgomery and a dazzling one-hitter against 18-1 Danville in a 2-1 loss. The Bulldogs (7-6) showed why they could be dangerous if they reach the District 4 Class AAAA playoffs with those performances and Maddie Herman went 4 for 5 with a home run in an 11-9 win against Selinsgrove ... Montoursville is heading to the District 4 Class AAA playoffs after downing Warrior Run, 22-5. Hannah Klotz went 4 for 5 with a triple, double and three RBIs and Natalie Bennett added three hits and four runs. Kristen George, Kaitlyn Klotz and Jocelyn Jean all added two hitsand MacKenzie Weaver threw a five-hitter.
DR. MASSE’S TOP 5 SOFTBALL RANKINGS
(Records through Saturday's games)
1. Loyalsock (14-2): Bouncing back strong from the Lewisburg defeat, Loyalsock played well in all facets Saturday, blanking Warrior Run, 12-0. Allyia Kennedy has come on strong late this year and was outstanding, homering, hitting a double and driving in a career-high five runs. Loyalsock is tied for first in the HAC-II with Central and has league games remaining Tuesday and Saturday at Hughesville and Bloomsburg. The Lancers have won at least a share of two straight league titles and also are battling for the top seed in Class AAA. Loyalsock avenged its only other previous defeat last week, defeating Central Columbia as Marissa Helmrich and Hannah Winter combined on a four-hitter.
2. Williamsport (15-1): It has hit the ball well all season, but Williamsport's pitching is coming on strong as well at the right time. Kendall McAnelly and Avery Eiswerth each went 2-0 last week and never allowed more than an earned run as Williamsport outscore Hollidaysburg (twice), DuBois and Altoona, 33-5. McAnelly threw three and two-hitters and Eiswerth five and two-hitters while striking out 16. Senior Emma Dickey catches both pitchers and showcased her offensive prowess in Saturday's 13-3 win at Altoona, smashing two home runs. Eiswerth, Isabelle Griswold, Myla Kelley and Jackie Snyder all had two hits in that win. The Millionaires have won seven straight games and secured homefield advantage for the District 2-4 Class 6A playoffs.
3. Montgomery (16-1): Playing well in all facets, Montgomery revealed how dangerous it can be at the state level Saturday, defeating defending Class AAA state champion Williams Valley, 3-2. Taylor McRae and Faith Persing homered, Persing threw a two-hitter and the defense played flawless with catcher Shelby McRae throwing out a runner at second base to clinch the win. Montgomery is receiving contributions throughout its roster and its late-season schedule could provide quite an asset with playoffs starting next week. Montgomery hosted Central Columbia yesterday and concludes its season Wednesday against Wyalusing, making it four strong non-conference opponents it will have played entering the postseason.
4. Central Mountain (13-3): Freshman Madison Hardy was a force in the first game of a Saturday doubleheader at Shamokin, going 3 for 3 with a home run, double, seven RBIs and four runs in the 18-2 win. Central Mountain won the next game 13-5 against the District 4 Class AAAA title contender and has produced 40 runs and 45 hits during a three-game winning streak.
5. Lewisburg (12-4): The Green Dragons won five times last week and opened the week with an impressive 4-2 victory against Bloomsburg. Walter is having an outstanding junior season and won three games while also homering in the first Warrior Run victory. Shannon closed out the second Warrior Run win and the freshman left-hander is one of the area's most promising young players, throwing a gutsy six-hitter against Loyalsock.
Players of the Week
Allison Lininger, Central Mountain and Chelsie English, Wellsboro
Lininger is locked in offensively and went 10 for 14 with four doubles, 10 RBIs and six runs in four games last week. The sophomore is hitting .500 and also is pitching well, earning both wins against Shamokin and striking out eight in seven innings while scattering three hits. English is pushing Clymer for that single-season home run record and is up to five after hitting two more last week. The senior infielder also belted three doubles, drove in 11 runs and scored five times. She highlighted her week with a grand slam and six RBIs in a 11-8 win over Towanda.
Game of the Week
Loyalsock at Bloomsburg
Saturday's game could determine at the HAC-II championship as well as having an impact on how the first four seeds land in the Class AAA district field. These also are proud programs which have won the last two district titles and they could cross paths again in the postseason. It's like a playoff game before a playoff game.
Chris Masse may be reached at cmasse@sungazette.com. Follow him on Twitter at @docmasse.