BLOOMSBURG―The hitter burst out when Gage Thomas slammed a deep drive toward the gaping center field void. The scientist came through as he sprinted toward third base.

Thomas flung off his helmet a few feet before reaching third and his hair flapped in the breeze as he came all the always home, finishing off a game-changing, fourth inning, three-run inside-the-park home run.

That mighty blast came with two outs and broke a tie as Hughesville came storming back from a one-run, deficit and defeated Warrior Run, 8-1 in Tuesday’s District 4 Class AAA semifinals. Austin Gray threw 5 1/3 dominant innings, Jed Webb closed it out and eight different players produced hits as Hughesville (18-3) earned a second straight finals appearance.

The Spartans also get a second chance against defending champion Central Columbia after the Blue Jays defeated Mount Carmel, 6-3 in the day’s first game, when the rivals play Friday at Bowman Field.

“I was sick of that helmet holding me back. I decided to get more aerodynamic,” Thomas said as he smiled. “I was a little gassed, but all that adrenaline kind of pumped through and kept me on my feet.”

Thomas brought his teammates and all the Hughesville fans to their feet when he drilled a 2-0 pitch deep into center field. Thomas smashed the high line drive into straight away center field where there is no fence. That part of the field is the only part at Bloomsburg where there is no fence.

So, when Thomas’s laser went over the center fielder’s head it kept bouncing on the turf and went all the way to the club house well beyond center field. The two runners in front of Thomas easily scored and the second baseman who had just turned a crucial double play in the top of the fourth slid home, finishing off a clutch hit and dramatically altering the game’s complexion.

Equally important, Thomas did not watch the ball after hitting it. He neither admired the shot nor waited to see if it would be caught.

Like Forrest Gump, he just ran. And he ran all the way home.

“Before the game, you definitely imagine hitting a ball like that,” Thomas said. “To have it happen is something great. There’s no better feeling for me.”

“He barreled that ball up and he hit a missile. He hit an absolute missile and once the ball gets over your head here at Bloomsburg, you have a shot to take it and he did,” Hughesville coach Chris Kish said. “He busted out of the box which was huge for us.”

So was Gray.

Kish challenged Gray two weeks ago and the senior responded with both sound and pitching fury. Gray overpowered Northwest the day after that talk before dominating in relief against Muncy. Tuesday, he allowed only a controversial fourth inning run and struck out seven in his 5 1/3 innings.

Gray provided a tremendous shutdown inning in the top of the fifth, striking out the side one 10 pitches. He fanned another batter on three pitches to open the fifth before Kish brought in Webb to keep Gray and all Hughesville pitchers eligible to throw Friday. The player they call Cowboy sure has corralled some quality offenses in his last three appearances while improving to 5-1.

“I challenged him to be a big dog and bring the cowboy back,” Kish said. “Since then he let me know he wasn’t happy about that. I poked the bear and the bear is coming out of him.”

Hughesville really started roaring after Mason Sheesley (2 for 3) hit a one-out RBI single and gave Warrior Run a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth. Stone Allison (1 for 1) had singled a batter earlier but appeared to be tagged out by shortstop Coen Riegner before reaching second base. The umpire, however, said Riegner missed the tag and Warrior Run pounced before Thomas squashed the rally by making a terrific play up the middle, tagging second and making a perfect, off-balance throw to Hoppes for the double play.

A team which has responded well to adversity all season did so again. Allowing a run hurt short-term, but it also seemed to immensely help Hughesville as the game progressed.

“It boosted us up,” Thomas said. “It got the energy up.”

Warrior Run (12-10) brought a 1.21-gigawatt bolt to its program, making one of the more remarkable turnarounds in recent area history. After winning three games combined the previous three seasons, Warrior Run won its most games since 2016, its first playoff game since 2016 and did this all with just one senior.

The Defenders started five freshmen throughout the season and avenged two regular season playoff losses when they defeated Bloomsburg in the quarterfinals. Yes, Warrior Run wanted to keep going but they already had come light years before a pitch was even thrown Tuesday.

“I couldn’t be prouder of these kids to do what they did with where the program was. I told them they’re going to be known for turning this thing around,” first-year Warrior Run coach Derrick Zechman said. “I hope they realize what they did in bringing people out to the games. The buzz is out there, and they did a great job and we’re looking forward to next season already. We’re chomping.”

Warrior Run chomped its way back from a big hole, rallying from 4-8 to reach the postseason. Essentially, every game the Defenders played the past three weeks was a playoff game, so they felt right at home when the postseason started. They had won eight of nine games entering the semifinals, and if players continue working, this may just be the start.

“We’re young but we grew up fast. It started with Southern Columbia (and win No. 5). That was the break we needed,” Zechman said. “I told the kids it’s one game at a time and they responded and I’m ecstatic with how far they came.”

Warrior Run showed how dangerous it can down the stretch and Hughesville did not grow complacent. The Spartans went for the knockout and started landing it in the fifth inning, scoring four more times. Batters adjusted from what they saw the first few innings and turned advice into action with six out of seven batters producing hits in the fifth.

Carter Cowburn belted a two-run double and Eli Olshefskie a two-run single to make it 8-1 and Hughesville hit 5 for 8 with runners in scoring position. Catcher Tyler Wetzel, who threw out a runner at second in a scoreless game, Aiden Barlett and Mason Hoppes all delivered two hits.

After Webb induced a grounder for the game’s final out, Hughesville did not celebrate. They know another big challenge awaits. The work continues.

“It’s Hughesville vs. Everybody,” Kish said. “That’s the way we look at it and that’s in our mind. We have a great opponent on Friday and we look forward to the game.”

Warrior Run 000 100 0―1 5 0

Hughesville 000 440 x―8 11 0

Landon Polcyn, Isaiah Betz (5), Owen Reese (5) and Aden Lewis. Austin Gray and Tyler Wetzel. W―Gray, (5-1) L―Polcyn.

Top Warrior Run hitters: Mason Sheesley 2-3, RBI; Gabe Engel 1-2, BB; Polcyn 1-1, BB; Stone Allison 1-1, 2 BB, R. Top Hughesville hitters: Aiden Barlett 2-4, 2R; Wetzel 2-4; Mason Hoppes 2-3, 3B; Carter Cowburn 1-1, 2B, BB, 3 RBIs, R; Eli Olshefskie 1-2, 2 RBIs, R; Gage Thomas 1-3, HR, 3 RBIs; Jackson Bower 1-3, 2R; Coen Riegner 1-2, BB.

Records: Hughesville 18-3. Warrior Run 12-10.