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Last April 6, Chris Persing addressed his players following a blowout loss at Sayre. That game would not define them he said.
He was right. Tuesday’s rematch in the District 4 Class AA semifinals defined Muncy.
And this team is defined by its toughness as well as its talent. This latest Redemption Tour continues.
Muncy sent shockwaves through District 4 Tuesday at Mansfield University’s Shaute Field, playing one of its most complete games this season and dethroning defending champion Sayre, 5-2. Ross and Branson Eyer combined on a five-hitter; Loudon Boring hit a key single during a three-run fifth inning and Muncy did all the little things right to produce a gigantic win.
The football team coined the phrase Redemption Tour during a three-year stretch when it vanquished Canton in the district final after having lost the regular season contest. Muncy is doing it in baseball now, avenging that 14-1 loss three days after paying back Southern Columbia for last year’s district quarterfinal loss with a thrilling walk-off victory.
"We really have a redemption tour going because every game we have a chip on our shoulder; we have something to prove," Ross Eyer said after going 2 for 4 with a double and earning the win. "We’re going to fight. Everyone has that extra little bit of drive to do our best and play as hard as we can, and everyone has that desire to win."
"They had a great mindset. They knew it was going to be a challenge and we have all the respect in the world for Sayre and what they have done the last few years, but they were excited about the opportunity," Muncy coach Chris Persing said. "We scheduled them because we knew that if you want to win a district title you have to go through Sayre. Our guys battled and made the plays and gave themselves a chance."
Muncy wasted little time showing this game would be different. Sayre (19-3), a team which pounded nearly every opponent in its 19 victories, erupted early in the first contest but led just 1-0 after three innings this time. Muncy tied the game in the fourth, then went ahead to stay with three runs in the fourth before extending the lead to 5-1 on Eyer’s double in the seventh.
Sayre was one of the district’s highest-scoring teams but could not crack either Eyer as the two shut down another explosive team after doing the same against Southern. This time the roles were reversed with Ross starting and Branson closing.
This one was extra special for Ross Eyer after he took the loss in April. This time he dominated, striking out eight in 4 1/3 innings and surrendering just one hit. Sayre might have knocked Eyer down that first time, but never out and he came back throwing haymakers to help Muncy land a knockout blow.
"I was messaging Coach Persing after the Southern game and when he told me I was starting I had so much adrenaline because I knew it was time for redemption," Eyer said. "I think I’m better than they thought I was. They thought it was going to be like last game and I think we surprised them a little with our bats. As soon as Persing handed game balls to me I was shaking with adrenaline because I was ready to go.
"I told him I had so much adrenaline and he said, ‘that’s good because you’re going to need it.’"
Eyer than passed that on to his cousin Branson who allowed just a seventh inning run and who kept an offense which produced 15 home runs and which was hitting .352, at bay. Together, Eyer and Eyer, also starters on district finalist football and basketball teams this year, have surrendered just four runs in two playoff wins.
"We love those big moments. We play for those moments. Those are moments we’ll remember forever," Ross said. "When we get into those moments, we know we can trust each other to get job done. I knew Branson would come in and do the job and throw strikes. He always does a great job."
Branson and Boring each produced timely singles in the three-run fifth inning as Muncy went up 4-1. The Indians also played small ball to move a runner in scoring position and made Sayre back for an error. Now it was Muncy taking it to Sayre and the Indians would not let it off the canvas.
A team whose confidence already was soaring went up an even higher notch after taking the lead. As impressive as Sayre is and has been, the Indians just focused on themselves and doing their jobs. By doing so they showed why they also are an excellent team, one that already has won a league title and now has a shot at the district’s biggest prize.
"You tie it up in the fourth, take the lead in the fifth and the energy really went up. Not that the energy wasn’t already high, but after we got the lead it went to another level," Persing said. It’s different guys coming through. They’re putting the bat on the ball and making teams make plays in big spots and it’s working for us."
The Indians are headed to their first district final since 2011 and will try winning their first championship since that season. And it’s another shot to keep the Redemption Tour going after South defeated Muncy two weeks ago in a game which was riveting most of the way.
Whatever happens, Muncy made quite a statement Tuesday. A team which lost leading hitter and reliable first baseman Noah Confer to a late season-ending injury keeps letting the district know that it as complete a team as it is a good one.
"They’re pretty relaxed and excited for the opportunities they’ve been getting because the Double A bracket is loaded. Everyone is a a tough out and every game you have to be prepared to play really well," Persing said. "We’ve played some great teams and I think the guys are just embracing these moments because they know they have to play really good baseball."
Playing really good baseball is what has come to define this team.
Muncy 000 130 1--5 7 2
Sayre 001 000 1--2 5 1
Ross Eyer, Branson Eyer (5) and Braydon Kamerer. David Northrup, Kannon VanDuzer (5) and Braydon Horton. W--R. Eyer, (6-2). L--Northrup. SV--B. Eyer.
Top Muncy hitters: Branson Eyer 1-2, 3R; Ross Eyer 2-4, 2B, Alex Maiorana 1-2. Top Sayre hitters: Jackson Hubbard 2-2 2 BB; Northrup 1-2.
Records: Muncy 19-3. Sayre 19-3.