Williamsport produced seven fifth-inning runs Saturday against Central Dauphin. The Millionaires batted around, collected six hits and delivered four two-out hits that inning. Its pitching staff allowed one run over the last four innings as well.

There was just one big problem. Williamsport entered the fifth inning trailing 12-0. The Millionaires fought back but lost, 13-7. Williamsport has shown some brilliant flashes and is a few plays and/or hits from having a much different record.

The good news for Williamsport (3-9) is that all its goals remain intact since all five District 2 teams qualify for the 6A playoffs. The Backyard Brawl starts this weekend as well with local bragging rights always fiercely fought over. Turn those sparks into a flame and anything could still happen.

“By no means have I lost confidence in this team. I know what their ability is, I know how hard they work, I know the type of talent that is in each spot. It’s just putting it all together, and for some reason, this year it’s taken us a good deal longer together,” Williamsport coach Kyle Schneider said Saturday. “Some games it is all together, some games it’s half together like this one, and some games it’s not, so consistency is going to be the determining factor of what happens down the road.”

Saturday was the second time this season Williamsport came roaring back after it seemed hopelessly behind. It battered Punxsutawney for 18 hits early in the year, cutting into an 11-run deficit and losing, 17-14. The Millionaires also have lost two one-run games.

Saturday’s game seemed like a microcosm of the season. Williamsport had two bad innings and the third was especially harsh with three errors opening the door for Central Dauphin to score six runs and take a 12-0 lead. The Millionaires played well in all facets after that. They also were a hit from really shaking things up after scoring those seventh fifth inning runs, leaving the bases loaded.

Williamsport stranded 11 runners Saturday, including five in the first two innings. It’s a bad inning here or there, a missed opportunity here or there. That is how close this team is to breaking out.

“I’m very proud of our guys for being able to score seven runs and just play with one another and have fun, but that feeling is a feeling you have to have burning inside of you when the National Anthem is playing,” Schneider said. “They are a very talented team that needs to be aware that that switch can be turned on at the beginning of the game.”

Williamsport is hitting a collective .320. Three starters are batting above. 400. Kydreece Burks has won his last three decisions. Like the fictional version of the Cleveland Indians in ‘Major League,’ Williamsport just needs something to pull it all together.

Maybe it could be this history lesson: Bellefonte started its 2016 season 0-5, 1-7 and 6-11. It ended it as the Class AAAA state champion, winning its last 10 games. Reading Central Catholic followed a similar road when it reached the 2011 Class A state final.

Right now, Williamsport is focused on its next game today against Central Mountain. But those examples provide a look at what makes baseball unique. Many times, it’s not necessarily the best team which flourishes in the playoffs, but the hottest team,

This is not where Williamsport wanted to be after 12 games. Ultimately, though, it’s meaningless. It is how Williamsport attacks the rest of this journey which will define its season.

“I think guys are getting caught up in the record. They’re letting that hold them down. Whatever our record is, it is but we could win the Backyard Brawl, we could go and make a district run and go to states,” Schneider said. “That record doesn’t mean anything. I think for a high school kid that number-hypen-number can put pressure on them, but it matters what happens the last week of the season. Everything is still there for the taking. It might not be the path we expected to take but that’s part of the game. If these guys click and click the whole time, they will be tough to beat.”

WELL-BALANCED

Kaide Drick led off the Tri-Towne Classic semifinals by scorching a leadoff single. He finished with two hits. No. 3 batter Colby Springman produced four RBIs.

That same day Noah Gearhart went 0 for 4 from the No. 2 position in Montgomery’s 12-5 win against Muncy. A few days later Drick and Springman were hitless, but Gearhart was 3 for 4 and Austin Kuhn 4 for 4 in an 11-7 comeback victory against Millville. No. 9 hitter Coltin Hans hit a crucial triple and No. 6 hitter Hunter Jackson reached base three times.

Montgomery features one of its better offenses over the last few years, not because a few players hit well, but because they can all hit. Six starters are hitting above .300 and they are sprinkled throughout a lineup which has kept Montgomery (6-4) in the hunt for a Mid-Penn championship.

“In my opinion, they could be one of the best hitting teams in the area. I think their bats are that electric,” Montgomery coach Ross Drick said. “When normally someone who has been hot struggles, other people step up.”

Drick and clean-up hitter Thayden Miller started their seasons on tears but cooled off for a few recent games. It did not matter because other players who had not broken out yet started heating up.

Kuhn missed Montgomery’s first three games while in quarantine but has thrived in the middle of the order, hitting .476. Gearhart upped his average to .400, Hans has been reliable turning the lineup over and Keven Wetlauffer had three RBIs against Muncy.

“Everyone is there to pick up everybody else,” Kuhn said after hitting two go-ahead doubles against Millville. “If someone is having a bad game someone else steps up.”

EXTRA BASES

Entering 2018, St. John Neumann had made two playoff appearances in program history. Now the Knights are playoff-bound for a third straight year after defeating Sullivan County and Milton, 20-8, and, 16-6, respectively. Neumann (10-1) is off to its best start ever, has won five games in a row and getting production spread throughout its lineup. Nos. 8-9 hitters Kane Wright and Naseer Dymeck were a combined 4 for 6 against Milton with two RBIs and six runs. Keon Burkholder went 4 for 7 with a home run and six RBIs and Ryan Thompson and Caleb Reddy each had three hits against Sullivan County … Hughesville (7-4) is streaking as well, winning four straight. The Spartans avenged a previous defeat against Southern Columbia, winning 4-1 as Dylon Pequignot struck out seven in five innings and Devin Swank four in two to earn the save. Senior Clayton Poust returned from injury in a 4-2 win against Milton and made an immediate impact with a home run … Karter Peacock and Tyler Bauder each hit grand slams and Jersey Shore busted out in a 55-minute, three-inning win Saturday, defeating Shamokin, 16-1 … Muncy (8-5) went 3-0 last week and is closing in on a AA playoff berth. Ross Eyer and Max Rymsza allowed just six hits in 11 innings and struck out 19. Eyer and Rymza also homered and Rymsza had seven RBIs in three games.

Dr. Masse’s Top 5

1. Central Mountain (8-3)

Catcher Cy Probst is one part standout player, one part coach. The Maine-bound senior is hitting a team-best .552 with 14 RBIs. Equally important, he is one of central Pennsylvania’s elite defenders. Probst calls pitches, frames them well and is a team leader critical to Central Mountain reeling off seven straight wins.

“Cy is the field general. Hes’ calling the games unless I need a pitch here or there but that’s very rare,” Central Mountain coach Mike Kramer said after Probst helped Aidan Major throw 6 2/3 innings of no-hit baseball at Montoursville Saturday. “It’s an excellent battery. It’s definitely a battery I’d like to have out there every time. It’s nice to be able to hand the ball off and just enjoy the game.”

2. Montoursville (8-4)

Despite Saturday’s 8-1 loss against Central Mountain, Montoursville put together a good week and won three games in five days. Nick Reeder and Grayson Rinker combined on a gutsy pitching effort in a 3-1 victory at Danville and Montoursville scored 24 runs in victories against Lewisburg and Jersey Shore. Versatile senior Dylan Moll had a strong week, going 6 for 11 with a home run, double and four RBIs.

3. Loyalsock (8-4)

Central Columbia completed a regular season sweep when it defeated Loyalsock last Monday, but the Lancers could get another shot at the Blue Jays in the District 4 Class AAA tournament. Loyalsock highlighted its week with a 5-1 win over 4A title contender Midd-West. Senior Chase Cavanaugh has won four straight starts and is among the area wins leaders. He showed his offensive punch in an 8-7 win over Bloomsburg, going 3 for 3.

4. South Williamsport (9-3)

Defending 4A state champion Selinsgrove ended South’s five-game winning streak last Wednesday, but the Mounties quickly bounced back, and every player saw time in a 15-4 win against Millville. The Mounties topped 10 runs in both victories last week, producing 12 against Troy. Landon Lorson has nine RBIs in his last three games and Grant Bachman went 3 for 3 against Troy. South has a quality crop of young players and sophomore Alex Neidig earned the win against Millville while also going 2 for 3 with three RBIs and two runs.

5. Canton (11-2)

Sparking a six-game winning streak is an offense piling up runs. Canton has scored at least nine runs in each of its last five games and is averaging nearly 12 per game during the streak. Its offensive prowess keeps Canton in just about any game it is in, a fact proven through its five comeback wins, including four from multiple run deficits. Weston Bellows highlighted a comeback win against Troy, going 3 for 4 with three RBIs.

Players of the Week

JerVal Weeks-Shuler, Neumann and Carter Cowburn, Hughesville

Weeks-Shuler excels at three different potions and provides a weapon from his No. 2 spot in the order. The junior catcher/shortstop went 4 for 6 with a double, triple, three RBIs and seven runs. He also struck out eight in 4 1/3 innings pitched and earned the win against Milton. Cowburn has been at the heart of Hughesville’s resurgence and went 3 for 5 with a home run, double and three RBIs last week. The sophomore overpowered Milton as well, striking out 12 and allowing no earned runs in 6 1/3 innings of a 4-2 win.

Game of the Week

Backyard Brawl

One of this reporter’s favorite events returns to Bowman Field Friday and Saturday with two games each day. South Williamsport faces Loyalsock Friday at 4:30 before Williamsport and Montoursville battle under the lights. Three different teams have captured the title in the past three tournaments with it going, Williamsport, Montoursville, Loyalsock. The Lancers defeated South in the 2019 final and the Mounties have the longest championship drought with its last crown coming in 2003. This tournament is always unpredictable and between each team’s relative youth and the pitch-count situation that goes double this year. That also is what should make it so fascinating.

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