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MECHANICSBURG--Last March, Montoursville heard different teams would capture District 4 Class AAAA supremacy this season. There was one team, though, the Warriors never heard mentioned.
Themselves.
Montoursville stored away the slights, kept working, kept improving and silenced the critics, winning a third district title in four years in emphatic fashion. It then dethroned last year’s Eastern Region champion Wyoming Area in the opening round of states, winning the program’s first state tournament game at the 4A level.
Monsignor Bonner ended that run Friday at Cumberland Valley High School, shining in all facets and defeating Montoursville, 13-0 in five innings in the state quarterfinals. But that loss did not define Montoursville’s season.
Its journey to that game sure did.
"I don’t think anyone expected us to do any of this. That’s kind of the icing on the cake for me because we proved everybody wrong," Montoursville coach Jeremy Eck said after guiding a team to the state’s Elite 8 for a sixth time in 11 seasons. "We kind of did it quietly all year and started playing good ball when it mattered most. Everyone had Midd-West pegged to do it or Mifflinburg had a great team coming back or Danville, and I’m just glad we put it all together. We have a great group of kids."
Montoursville (17-6) showed it all year, growing into a strong unit and winning 15 of its last 18 games in a rugged HAC-I conference which featured two 5A district champions, including state semifinalist Selinsgrove. They did all that despite losing Pittsburgh-bound slugger Nolan Kutney for the season when he tore his ACL during the basketball campaign.
Montoursville surged at the perfect time, won the Backyard Brawl, defeated Danville, 15-0 in the district final and beat a loaded Wyoming Area team in its own backyard. And it was not like Montoursville went quietly against Bonner. The Warriors put runners on base each inning, but could not deliver the breakthrough hit, whether because of strong Friar pitching, good defense or some bad luck.
"We started out a little shaky but we battled hard and turned it around and had a great season. We have nothing to be sad about," Aiden Evans said after capping and excellent postseason by going 1 for 2 with a double. “I think we had a great group of guys who have a lot of heart. Nobody on this team will ever quit. There’s a lot of heart on this team. We never backed down."
Bonner (25-1) won its 13th straight game and will play Holy Ghost Prep in Monday’s state semifinals. The Friars were as good as advertised, scoring multiple runs in four of five innings, making no errors and collecting 11 hits. Michael Anderson went 2 for 3 with a home run and five RBIs. The clean-up hitter as one of four players among the first four in the lineup who produced at least two hits with Auburn-bound shortstop Kevin McGonigle going 3 for 3.
Montoursville knew going in there was little margin for error and it must play its best game. It did not happen, with three runners scoring on wild pitches and another on a balk. Still, the Warriors also seemed to be bit by lady luck firmly wearing Green and White.
When shortstop Maddix Dalena went to cover second on a two-out steal attempt in the second inning, a routine grounder turned into a single which paved the way for a third-run rally. A batter later McGonigle lofted what looked like a routine flyball but it was blown toward the left-field line and resulted in an RBI double as Bonner scored three two-out runs and went up, 5-0.
Montoursville loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of that inning but Nick Reeder’s smash was snared at second base and resulted in an inning-ending double play. An inning later, AJ Llorente ripped a laser which looked like a sure hit off the bat but winning pitcher Kevin Henrich snared it and doubled up the runner for another inning-ending double play.
"It just wasn’t our day. I personally feel that they’re a good, quality team. They would dominate back home in the HAC. I really feel that way," Eck said. "But I also feel like we didn’t play our best baseball. We had some bad breaks but we can compete with them; we just didn’t play our best game."
The one stat which really tells the game’s story is hitting with runners in scoring position. While Bonner went 6 for 11 in those situations, Montoursville was 1 for 9. The Warriors had two on with no outs in the first and the bases loaded with one out in the second but Henrich ended those threats and Bonner broke things open with a four-run fourth inning.
Montoursville kept fighting as Evans, Dalena, Cameron Weihermuller-Francis and Ethan Stahl also produced hits. Cole Remsnyder hit a long drive to the left field warning track to open the fourth inning and Evans scorched a double down the left field line two batters later.
It was the third straight playoff game in which Evans hit a double, finishing his breakout season strong.
"I felt great contributing to the team and helping us win. It’s a team game and everyone contributes and everyone helped us get to this point," Evans said. "It was a lot of fun. Everyone on this team has fun. Everyone in the dugout is up and guys in the field are up. It was a blast."
That’s the thing. Obviously, the loss hurts but as time goes by that pain will fade. The memories Montoursville created while adding another layer to this storied tradition never will.
"We weren’t sure where we would be at the start of the year. Without Nolan we knew we would have some holes to fill and it and they grew into a team when it mattered most and I’m more proud of that than anything," Eck said. "To win the Backyard Brawl and a district championship and win a game in states with a group we were unsure of is satisfying. At the beginning of the year, we’re sitting at 4-3 and we come back and achieved a lot. There’s no reason to hang their heads. They should be extremely proud of what they accomplished."
Montoursville says good-bye to an extra group of seniors who helped set the tone. The underclassmen made major strides and now they will become the new leaders. One journey is over, but a new one soon begins.
“I told the guys the seniors have definitely lit the torch for the younger guys and they’re passing it and we have a good core of guys coming back,” Eck said. “We have to figure out some pitching depth but we have some young athletes that are going to step up for us and hopefully we can keep it rolling.”
Bonner 230 44--13 11 0
Montoursville 000 00--0 4 1
Kevin Henrich, Jaxon Kehoe (5) and Joey DeMucci. AJ Llorente, Grayson Rinker (2), Cameron Weihermuller-Francis (5) and Cael Frame. W--Henrich, (8-0). L--Llorente, (7-2).
Top Bonner hitters: Michael Anderson 2-3, HR, 5 RBIs, 2R; Kevin McGonigle 3-3, 2B, RBI, 4R; DeMucci 2-2, 2B, 2 RBIs, 3R; Kehoe 2-3, 3R. Top Montoursville hitters: Ethan Stahl 1-1, BB; Maddix Dalena 1-2, BB; Weihermuller-Francis 1-2; Aiden Evans 1-2, 2B.
Records: Bonner 25-1. Montoursville 17-6.