Chris Masse on softball: Montgomery’s Brynn McRae fought back after losing 2 years

The pandemic cost Brynn McRae her sophomore season. An injured right hand erased her junior postseason just two games in.

So McRae sure was not letting her senior campaign go without a fight. And that is what Mongomery's third baseman did. She fought her way back and now McRae is right where she wants to be, manning third base and playing with her twin sisters, as well as her teammates.

McRae tore two ligaments in her hand and fractured her middle knuckle during the first inning of last year's District 4 Class A championship against Northeast Bradford after a foul ball she had hit drilled her. She was not cleared to resume playing until January but has come back to start every game and help the Red Raiders (4-1) win four straight times.

"My sophomore season got taken away and then the end of my junior season got taken away, so I was like for my senior year I have to make the most of it," McRae said following an impressive 4-0 win against previously undefeated Muncy. "I missed the bus rides, I missed the dugout talks, I missed the team bonding that we had, so it's great being back."

Montgomery sure is happy McRae is back, too. The third baseman would be a four-year starter if not for the pandemic, and provides Montgomery hitting and fielding prowess, as well as senior leadership. McRae and her teammates were unsure as the months went by last winter whether she would make it back. Surgery was an option, but McRae received both a second opinion and worked her way back.

There still is some pain at times, but McRae fights through it. That included after taking a foul ball off the same knuckle in a scary sequence during the season opener at Jersey Shore. Fittingly, McRae came back to rip a seventh-inning single in that game, telling fear what she thought about that. Now McRae is settling in and she played a strong game against Muncy, leading off the fourth inning with a single, hustling from first to third on a bunt and scoring the game's second run after forcing an errant throw.

McRae is an excellent all-around player, but there might be a better way to describe her.

"Brynn is a fighter," Montgomery coach Chris Glenn said. "Her hand still wasn't healing and she couldn't play basketball, but she was still doing all the thing she could to get ready for the season. She did that so she could be out here playing and playing at a high level."

McRae has played at that level since reaching high school. Like her sisters Taylor and Shelby, McRae has started since her freshman year and helped make Montgomery a perennial district title contender. A year ago she hit .382 with a team-high six doubles, finishing second on the team in hits and average and third in runs (19). Not having McRae in the lineup was a big blow for Montgomery. Still, she tried doing whatever possible to aid the team as it captured the program's second district championship and reached the state quarterfinals for the first time since 2010 while finishing 22-2.

"Her attitude is second to none," Glenn said. "That's something I'm blessed with. Everyone on this whole team has great attitudes."

"I knew that I needed to be their biggest supporter; I needed to be the cheerleader of the team," McRae said. "I needed to keep everyone's confidence level up even though I couldn't be out there to help."

Now McRae is helping Montgomery on the field as the Raiders try to complete some unfinished business. Montgomery was two outs from reaching last year's state semifinals and is on a mission to try and complete that journey in 2022. Having McRae back sure helps. Whether it's hitting, defense, hustle or leadership, McRae checks all the boxes.

Oh yeah, don't forget toughness. McRae's hand was injured last year, but her heart hurt more. That was the case two years ago as well when her season was taken away before it started. This time, McRae is trying to write a happier ending.

Time will tell how this story plays out, but the opening chapter certainly has been uplifting.

"It's amazing. I'm a senior this year, so I really wanted to be on the field one last time with my sisters," McRae said. "I really needed to keep the ball moving with my hand to get back out there."

"I couldn't be prouder of her," Glenn said. "She worked hard to get back to where she is."

LIVE AND LEARN: Jersey Shore blanked Montgomery, 2-0, in the season opener, leaving the Raiders with two choices. They could sulk about the defeat or learn from it and grow better because of it.

Montgomery chose the second option.

The Raiders have progressed every game since and played an outstanding game in Thursday's victory against Muncy. Facing dominant left-hander Nolah Moyer, Montgomery hit well throughout the lineup, played error-less defense and received spectacular defense from Faith Persing. Both Moyer and Muncy also played good games. Muncy did not give Montgomery everything. The Raiders simply clicked in all facets and looked like a much different team than the one that opened the season.

"After that Jersey Shore game we all knew something had to spark. I do feel like it's starting to get there and come back and we are coming alive," shortstop Kaitlyn Raemsch said after going 2 for 4 with an RBI. "We've learned a lot. We've learned even people in the dugout know they need to be loud and keep it up. We have to keep ourselves up and hold each other accountable for each other's mistakes and make each other better."

Montgomery has done a good job of that, outscoring four straight opponents, 45-1. Now the mission is progressing each game so that the Raiders are where they want to be come playoff time.

"A loss doesn't hurt you here in there as long as you learn from it," Glenn said. "We learned from it and applied it and we're not going to stop. We're going to keep getting better."

EXTRA BASES: Losing to a strong team like Montgomery does not diminish from Muncy's 4-1 start. The Indians are doing a lot of good things and Moyer has been nasty, striking out 67 batters in 33 innings. That included fanning 20 in a 1-1 game against undefeated Bucktail, suspended by darkness after nine innings. A day later, Taylor Shannon went 2 for 4 with a double and two RBIs in a 10-0 win against Millville … Following the Muncy game Bucktail (5-0) mashed the ball and scored a program-record 28 runs in a victory against Benton before downing West Branch 10-7. Makenzie Wagner drove in eight runs in those games and Emma Poorman moved with an RBI of reaching 100 despite losing her sophomore year to the pandemic … Ella Breneisen highlighted a breakout performance from Hughesville Saturday as it swept a doubleheader from Sugar Valley, 16-0 and 21-1. Breneisen went 4 for 4 with two home runs, seven RBIs and four runs in the second game. Tori Barto was 4 for 5 in the two contests and Sara Stroup (home run), McKenna Sones, Alaina Hicks, Lauren Mook, Megan Bryant and Annaka Bruder also delivered multi-hit performances … Montoursville (4-1) has opened its season strong, winning four straight games, including three last week. The Warriors highlighted that week with a thrilling 5-4 victory at South Williamsport and 12-4 win at Bloomsburg. The Warriors are getting production throughout the lineup and collected 31 hits in three wins. Jocelyn Jean earned two wins in the circle, striking out 10 in 9 1/3 innings, while catcher Brianna Trueman was 5 for 9 with three doubles and five RBIs … South thundered back from that game and a six-run deficit Saturday against Warrior Run, winning, 11-8. Alizabeth Schuler, Claire Alexander and Abby Lorson all homered in the first three innings. Kendall Cardone and Sage Lorson added two-run triples and Aleigha Rieppel and Schuler quited the Warrior Run offense after the first inning. Jessica Bryson had a big day for Warrior Run, going 2 for 3 with two home runs and three RBIs.

Chris Masse covers high school softball and may be reached at cmasse@sungazette.com. Follow him on Twitter at @docmasse.

DR. MASSE’S TOP 5 RANKINGS

1. LOYALSOCK (3-0): The weather has done its best to keep Loyalsock off the field, but when on it the Lancers have been mighty impressive. Loyalsock stayed undefeated, blanking Hughesville 14-0 in five innings. The Lancers have scored 51 runs and smashed 43 hits in three wins and have been hitting well throughout the lineup. Kathryn Schluter, Hannah Winter, Marissa Helmrich, Allyia Kennedy, Grace Shaible and Mallory Rodarmel all produced multiple-hit performances against Hughesville with Schluter going 3 for 4. Schluter is 7 for 8 in her last two games and Kennedy is 8 for 12 with a home run and two triples. Helmrich has been outstanding in the circle as well. The junior right-hander is 3-0, allowing just two hits and striking out 17 in her last eight innings. The Lancers have a good test coming today against Lewisburg which split two exciting games with them last year.

2. WILLIAMSPORT (5-0): Speaking of teams clicking in all facets, Williamsport continued doing so last week, going 3-0 and picking up impressive wins against previously undefeated Central Columbia and DuBois squads. Layla Waldman threw a three-hitter in a 2-1 win against Central before the offense erupted for 25 runs and 29 hits in mercy-rule wins against Mifflin County and DuBois. Myla Kelley went 4 for 4 in the 13-3 DuBois victory and it was a true team effort with every starter reaching base and scoring a run.

"Everybody has their own job and everybody is doing something to contribute to the team, whether or not you're on the field," shortstop Aubri Blair said following a two home run performance. "Girls are coming off the bench ready to play, ready to do their job which is an important thing because everybody is part of the team."

3. JERSEY SHORE (5-0): After using stellar pitching to start 3-0, Jersey Shore has flexed its offensive might in its last two wins. That was especially true in Thursday's 15-12 comeback win at Selinsgrove as the Bulldogs pounded out 14 hits and erased a two-run third-inning deficit. Jocelyn McCracken went 3 for 4 with a home run and three RBIs, while Jaymison Stellfox, Katilyn Herman and Isabelle Engel all belted two hits each. Jersey Shore has scored 26 runs in its last two games and is finding different ways to win games. This is a deep team which has hit well throughout the lineup and eight players have produced at least two hits in a game. Jersey Shore is perched atop the District 4 Class AAAA and HAC-I standings and has a big league game today against Shikellamy.

4. MONTGOMERY (4-1): In case anyone forgot, pitcher Faith Persing remains pretty darn good. Last year's Class A Player of the Year has not allowed an earned run this season and threw a three-hitter with 16 strikeouts against Muncy. Persing was absolutely dialed in that day, throwing 77 of her 94 pitches for strikes and fanning every batter at least once.

5. CENTRAL MOUNTAIN (6-1): State College snapped Central Mountain's six-game winning streak, but there were still positives in defeat. Harley Kunes homered twice, giving her three home runs in her last four games. And pitcher Adalyn McKeague continued shining in the circle, scattering five hits while striking out 11. The sophomore has elevated higher following a strong freshman season, reaching double figure strikeout totals in all five starts. McKeague has 65 strikeouts in 37 innings and threw a brilliant three-hit shutout with 14 strikeouts in a 2-0 win against Selinsgrove.

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: Mahlon Yonkin, Montoursville and Aubri Blair, Williamsport

Yonkin has made an immediate impact while starting for the first time and excelled with her arm and bat during Montoursville's three-win week. The junior pitcher threw a gutsy complete game against South and struck out six before fanning four more in three innings against Bloomsburg. Yonkin also produced two hits in each game, going 6 for 10 with a home run, double and five RBIs. Blair is a dynamic two-year starter and showed off her hitting and fielding strengths against DuBois. Blair, who was 2 for 2 with two runs against Mifflin County, walloped two home runs, drove in four runs, scored three times and stole two bases. She also made two hit-saving plays, leapt high to snare a line drive and made two double plays which squashed DuBois rallies.

"That girl is the best player around, there's no doubt about it. You saw it offensively and defensively (Saturday)," Williamsport coach Chase Smith said. "She's so humble. You don't ever see her brag about it, but she's spectacular. She puts on a show when she's out there."

GAME OF THE WEEK: Williamsport Tournament

OK, this is cheating but this weekend's tournament Elm Park looks like a great one. It starts Friday with Loyalsock and South Williamsport playing at 3 p.m. in an intriguing Backyard Brawl-style quarterfinal. Williamsport then plays Upper Dauphin at 5 p.m., guaranteeing at least one more rivalry game Saturday in either the winners' or consolation bracket.

Montoursville also plays at 5 p.m. and faces perennial District 6 power Bellefonte, so there will be plenty of exciting softball going on those two days.