Monday night at Short Park was so much different. This time, Loyalsock was down to its final out, trailing rival Williamsport by two runs under the bright lights. And all eyes from the fans who surrounded Short Park were fixed on Helmrich.

The moment she grew up thinking about had arrived and Helmrich owned it. This was the dream of young softball players everywhere becoming reality.

Helmrich smashed a walk-off, three-run home run off the top of the center field fence and on top of the batting cage beyond it as Loyalsock fought off the canvas yet again and won an absolutely riveting 6-5 thriller. Helmrich also earned the win in relief and Loyalsock (13-3) rallied from two-run deficits (twice) and a one-run deficit in each of the final three innings, taking its first lead on the home run.

“It felt really good. This was a great game, and everyone contributed,” Helmrich said. “It was very emotional and going into extra innings and winning, it’s a pretty special game for me.”

Taryn Reed of Williamsport throws a pitch to Loyalsock during the first inning in Loyalsock Monday May 8, 2023. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Loyalsock tied the game in both the sixth and seventh innings, but Williamsport answered and retook the lead both times. After the first out was recorded to open the bottom of the eighth, Anna Luxenberger (3 for 4) and Natayah Abdul-Hakim hit consecutive singles before center fielder Ashlyn Robinson made a super, shoestring catch and robbed Maddie Luxenberger of a single.

Helrmich was the last person standing between Williamsport and victory. After playing smallball in her previous at-bat and dropping a bunt single, Helmrich went long ball and the senior delivered, arguably, the biggest hit of her softball career. Helmrich drove the first pitch she saw on a wicked straight line to the deepest part of the field, drilling the top of the fence before watching the ball soar high into the night sky and land on the cage. Ecstatic teammates sprinted from the dugout and engulfed Helmrich as she crossed home and ended one of the area’s most exciting games played this season.

“Those are the hits that you dream about,” Loyalsock coach Mark Godfrey said. “Marissa has been coming and coming as the season has progressed hitting and pitching, and she has so much pop in her at-bat. That was a laser beam.”

“It’s crazy. Williamsport is our biggest rival, so to go extra innings and pull out a win in front of them, it means a lot,” said left fielder Bella Mileto who sparked Loyalsock’s comeback with a sixth-inning home run. “It shows deep down how much we love the game and get into it.”

Passion from both teams defined this game as two excellent squads put together a fabulous collective performance. This contest featured five home runs, pitchers working out of pressure situations, remarkable plays and enough heroes to make the Marvel Universe envious. Neither team made an error, there were just three walks, one intentional, and both teams stage delivered enough haymakers for a Rocky movie.

Anna Luxenburger of Loyalsock pitches to Williamsport in Loyalsock Monday May 8, 2023. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Even better, neither team ever flinched. Every time it felt like Loyalsock was seizing the momentum, Williamsport thundered back. Every time it felt like Williamsport was closing in on victory, Loyalsock kept coming back.

“They battled and we battled. Taryn (Reed) pitched outstanding. She’s a quality pitcher and that’s a quality-coached team,” Godfrey said. “I just thank the good Lord that we can play in games like that.”

Abby Robertson (2 for 3) hit a fourth inning home run and added a two-out RBI single an inning later, putting Williamsport, up 2-0. Reed conducted a pitching clinic throughout those first five innings and had retired 15 straight between the first and sixth. She entered the sixth inning having thrown just 49 pitches, including 40 for strikes.

That made the 2-0 lead feel even bigger, but Mileto changed everything with one mighty swing. The team’s lead-off hitter continued her breakthrough season at a crucial time, powering a two-out home run over the left-center field fence and making it a one-run game.

“I went into that at-bat just trying to find a hole. That was my plan and it just happened,” Mileto said. “I feel like that was the turning point and ever since then we just took off. The energy was great.”

Abby Robertson of Williamsport is surrounded by team mates as they celebrate Robertson’s fourth inning home run against Loyalsock in Loyalsock Monday May 8, 2023. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Five pitches later that energy reached 1.21 gigawatts levels.

After Mileto showed off her power, Katie Ryder displayed her blazing speed and tied the game. A state qualifier in the 200 meters last year, Ryder returned to softball this season and has been a difference-maker. That certainly was true when she laced a 2-2 pitch down the left-field line. The fielder tried making a diving catch but when the ball went by, there was no stopping Ryder who easily scored.

Momentum seemingly working against it, Williamsport instantly went back to work. Constance Harding (2 for 3) enjoyed one of her best scholastic games and belted a one-out home run over the right-center field fence, putting Williamsport ahead again, 3-2. Harding, the team’s No. 9 hitter, doubled in her previous at-bat and placed her hands to her face in disbelief as she rounded second.

Again, Williamsport looked like it might have Loyalsock down for the count. Again, Loyalsock came battling back.

Maddie Luxenberger drew a lead-off walk to start the bottom of the seventh before Helmrich dropped her bunt single, and both moved up on Ava Damiano’s bunt. Freshman Shyla Fulp followed and looked like she would be the hero when she ripped a pitch into the hole between first and second base. Instead, first baseman Ally Chilson made an incredible game-saving diving stop. The tying run scored but Reed induced a pop out a batter later, forcing extra innings.

There, Williamsport went ahead again. Chilson followed up her defensive gem by drawing a lead-off walk before freshman Brenna Beck slammed a clutch two-out RBI triple into the right-center field gap. Fellow freshman Emma Vollman (2 for 4) followed with an RBI single, and Williamsport went ahead, 5-3.

Loyalsock again faced an uphill climb, but its hikers refused to let the heights faze them as Luxenberger and Abdul-Hakim set the table before Helmrich cleared it and ended this fantastic game in Hollywood-like fashion.

“I was keeping my mind open. I was confident going into that at-bat,” Helmrich said. “It shows that the game is seven innings, and we play until the end. We don’t give up. That’s one of the most important things about our team.”

So much happened late in the game that it was easy to forget Anna Luxenberger throwing three strong innings before Helmrich relieved her in the fourth. Luxenberger kept Williamsport off-balance with her off-speed pitches before Robertson homered and Chilson singled. Sensing Williamsport was dialing in, Loyalsock went to Helmrich whose faster pitching was a big contrast and tied the team’s pitching strategy nicely together.

And together, Loyalsock and Williamsport played a game which both likely will remember for a long time. Loyalsock ultimately won the game, but both teams made impressive statements and shined a bright light upon the softball being played in Lycoming County.

“It’s a really cool experience. We only had one hit until the sixth inning, so we picked it up,” Mileto said. “Whenever we play Williamsport it’s a big rivalry game. Everyone puts their hearts out and, on the line … It was just a great game.”

Williamsport 000 110 12–5 10 0

Loyalsock 000 002 13–6 8 0

Taryn Reed and Abby Mahon. Anna Luxenberger, Marissa Helmrich (4) and Maddie Luxenberger. W–Helmrich, (10-1). L–Reed.

Top Williamsport hitters: Abby Robertson 2-2, HR, 2 RBIs, R; Constance Harding 2-3, HR, 2B, RBI, 2R; Emma Vollman 2-4, 2B, RBI; Brenna Beck 1-4, 3B, RBI, R; Ashlyn Robinson 1-4; Ally Chilson 1-3; Kendall McAnelly 1-4. Top Loyalsock hitters: A. Luxenberger 3-4, R, 2 SB; Helmrich 2-4, HR, 3 RBIs; Bella Mileto 1-4, HR, RBI; Katie Ryder 1-4, HR, RBI; Natayah Abdul-Hakim 1-4, R; Shyla Fulp RBI.

Records: Loyalsock 13-3. Williamsport 9-4.