Some players smiled, others ran and several jumped high. But after those initial excitement bursts, there really was no big celebration.

Maybe North Penn-Liberty is just getting used to this winning thing.

Still, if there was ever a time to put together a huge celebration, complete with a dog pile, this was it. Because as good as North Penn-Liberty has been this season, what it achieved Wednesday at Elm Park was unprecedented.

McKenzi Tice threw a six-hitter, Saige Lehman went 3 for 4 and Payton Chapel added two hits as North Penn-Liberty defeated Warrior Run and captured the program’s first District 4 championship.

The Mounties (21-0) knocked on the District 4 Class AAA door last year and kicked it down this time, leaving no doubt they are the district’s best 3A team.

“They battle,” North Penn-Liberty coach Jason Chapel said. “That’s all we can ask of them.”

North Penn-Liberty has battled its way to history, winning the program’s first NTL championship earlier this season and now adding that elusive district championship trophy. The Mounties earned the opportunity to try and make more history with their district playoff run and will play District 3 runner-up Susquenita in Monday’s state tournament opener at a District 4 site to be determined.

“We pick each other up all the time,” Tice said following a district semifinal win against Mifflinburg. “We all work together, and we don’t get mad at each other. That’s really what makes a difference.”

What a difference it’s made this season.

North Penn-Liberty has set a program record for wins and conquered a challenging NTL field before reigning supreme in a traditionally challenging district field. The Mounties joined the 2017 team as the program’s only state qualifiers and district final participants after defeating Mifflinburg in the semifinals before going where no other North Penn-Liberty softball had against Warrior Run.

Yet again, it was a strong collective effort which made it possible. The Mounties went ahead to stay in the third inning and scored runs in four straight at-bats from the second through fifth innings. Tice struck out 10 and the defense played flawless softball behind her.

“She knows she has a defense behind her,” third baseman Megan Spohn said. “She’s a star pitcher but she knows the defense is behind her and we can come back from any mistake.”

North Penn-Liberty proved that in its semifinal win against Mifflinburg. The Mounties rallied from an early two-run deficit and, despite making some uncharacteristic mistakes, pulled away for a hard-fought 8-3 victory. North Penn-Liberty scored all eight runs with two outs and proved it has the mettle to match the talent.

“We’ve been in tight games before, and they didn’t crumble,” Jason Chapel said. “They kept picking each other up in the dugout and pulled through.”

That momentum carried into the final and the Mounties took control with four runs in the third and fourth innings, building a 5-1 advantage. Spohn picked up where she left off and delivered her third two-out RBI hit in the third inning putting North Penn-Liberty up, 2-1 before scoring on a passed ball. After Warrior Run scored a run to tie it in the top of the third.

An inning later, Haley Litzelman roped a two-run single and the Mounties went up 5-1. Alexia Kshir hit a second-inning sacrifice fly to open the scoring and delivered again in the fifth, belting an RBI double as North Penn-Liberty extended its lead to 7-1.

Tice and the defense took it from there and broke down the gates to history. It has been quite a climb for a team which made an eight-win improvement last season, won a playoff game and gave Central Columbia a battle in the semifinals before losing, 2-0.

That set the tone for this season and the Mounties have made a seven-win improvement, receiving steady contributions up and down the roster. That was crucial again against the field’s Cinderella team Warrior Run.

The Defenders (12-11) also are state tournament bound and will play District 2 champion Mid Valley at a District 2 site. Warrior Run has won seven more games than last year, stunned Central Columbia in the quarterfinals and downed Towanda in the semifinals.

The Defenders start multiple freshmen and freshman Mackenzie Heyler produced seven strikeouts in the final. Megan Rovenolt and Madison Litchard both had two hits and Lakesha Hauck hit an RBI single which tied it, 1-1 in the third inning.

Warrior Run put up a good fight, but North Penn-Liberty responded and secured its place in program history. And maybe it’s because they are so focused on the present but that is an achievement worth celebrating.

Warrior Run 001 000 0–1 6 4

NP-Liberty 012 220 x–7 10 0

Mackenzie Heyler and Lakesha Hauck. Mackenzi Tice and Saige Lehman. W–Tice, (17-0). L–Heyler, (12-6).

Top Warrior Run hitters: Madison Litchard 2-3, R; Megan Rovenolt 2-3; Hauck 1-4, RBI. Top NP-Liberty hitters: Lehman 3-4, RBI, R; Payton Chapel 2-3, R; Tice 1-3, 2R; Haley Litzelman 1-4, 2 RBIs; Megan Spohn 1-4, RBI, R; Alexia Kshir 1-2, 2B, 2 RBIs.

Records: North Penn-Liberty 21-0. Warrior Run 12-11.