Chris Masse on baseball: Montgomery players have been together for awhile
Trending
Most Montgomery baseball players are winning their first high school games together.
But they have sure won a lot of games together over the years before reaching this point. The Red Raiders are one of the district's youngest teams, starting mostly freshmen and sophomores, but also are bursting with potential and have started the season 3-0.
Three games does not make a season but a group which excelled at Little League, various youth and travel leagues has quickly started translating that success to the next level. And Montgomery produced its most impressive win this young campaign last Thursday when they downed Warrior Run, 5-2. The Defenders return all but one starter from last year's District 4 Class AAA semifinalist and many played on the community's Senior League team which captured the state title and nearly reached the World Series last summer, so that win could be a good indicator.
"I've played with them all my life and I've been a year behind them," freshman pitcher Briar Persing said after striking out 10 in five innings at Warrior Run. "Now we're finally together and I'm glad to be with these guys to start my high school career."
Persing is one of four freshmen starters and three more are sophomores. Those 10th graders helped Montgomery win 13 games last season and now every player on the roster is trying to help the program take the next step forward.
Numerous challenges await, but a good start and impressive win against a tough opponent sure builds both the confidence and excitement.
"That was a great win. We knew this was going to be a measuring stick to see where we're at, so I'm very proud of these guys," Montgomery coach Tim Persing said. "These guys are working really hard. Its' a different kind of culture this year. These guys are hungry. They're dedicated and putting the work in. It's awesome to see."
While going from junior high to high school is a big adjustment, it helps Montgomery that so many of its young players have excelled together in the past. It fosters trust and belief and those are powerful ingredients when trying to build something big.
Obviously, the team is talented and but what the coaches like even more is how those players utilize their talent. They are grinders who want to keep improving and putting all the qualities together has Montgomery looking like a team which could be a contender in a wide-open but always competitive Disrict 4 Class AA field.
"Most of the baseball players also played basketball. There's a lot of three-sport athletes on this team and that translates onto the field," Parker Benett said after striking out five in two innings to earn the save at Warrior Run. "There's a lot of chemistry because we've played with each other for so long."
The long term goal is to keep playing together this spring as long as possible. But this is a long season and the immediate goal is progressing each day and taking nothing for granted.
The encouraging news for Montgomery is that these players grasp that concept well. These Red Raiders may be young, but they have used a similar approach to win a lot of games at other levels over the years. Their hope now is that the fun is just beginning.
"We have a lot of room to improve, and there are a lot of good teams we're going to play," Tim Persing said. "I keep telling these guys anybody can beat you on any given day. Every day we have to bring it."
PEACE OF MIND: Williamsport center fielder Deacon Brown will play at Rhode Island next spring. Knowing his future is mapped out is allowing Brown to relax and completely focus on his senior year and that has paid impressive early dividends.
Brown went 4 for 7 with a triple and two doubles and three RBIs as Williamsport split two games against Shamokin and Jersey Shore.
"The recruiting process is not easy. It's a very stressful road. You're waiting to get this and waiting to get that," Brown said. "It's like all the weight is off your shoulders and you can just focus on baseball and the team aspect. I've always tried to do that anyway, but it's definitely a help."
Brown has given Williamsport a lot of help over the past four seasons. An outstanding outfielder who made no errors last season, the senior leader is a career .391 hitter who also has produced 53 RBIs.
Brown is a five-tool talent and maximizing his ability helped him land a Division I destination. As great as that opportunity is, Brown is only focused on the present and making his senior year as memorable as possible.
"I'm very excited. It's something you dream about. I'm so happy, but we'll cross that bridge when we get there," Brown said. "I'm just happy to come out here and get some wins. We're looking to get that district championship this year."
EXTRA BASES
St. John Neumann opened its season with an exciting 6-5 win against Bucktail, holding off a late rally. Angelo Birch threw a complete game in his first varsity start and Chase Wright hit a key three-run double which put the Knights ahead, 5-1 ... Canton (3-0) has started its season strong and rallied past Cowanesque Valley before defeating defending District 4 Class AA champion Northeast Bradford, 10-2. Going back to last year, the Warriors have won 17 of 22 games. Holden Ward has earned the win in each game and has 21 strikeouts in 11 1/3 innings ... Jerrin Loomis struck out seven in four strong innings to earn the win and also went 2 for 3 with two RBIs, helping Jersey Shore defeat Williamsport, 4-2 and improve to 2-0 in the HAC-I ... Peyton Rearick went 4 for 4 with a double, six RBIs and three runs, helping Milton defeat Millville, 13-2 Saturday and win its second game in as many days ... Parker Persing has started his sophomore year strong for Montgomery, going 5 for 9 with six RBIs, while striking out six in a three-inning win against Sugar Valley ... Muncy rallied past Bloomsburg, 6-5 last Thursday with Braydon Kamerer (2 for 3) hitting a go-ahead, two-out, two-run single in the fifth inning. Kadyn Berry also had a two-run hit and Cameron Kamerer and Liam Adams hit doubles ... Cooper Shaw won his first two starts last week, allowing just five hits in 10 1/3 innings as North Penn-Mansfield defeated Wellsboro and defending District 4 Class AA champion Wyalusing ... Sullivan County scored five seventh inning runs with two outs and rallied from three down to defeat Millville, 8-5 in its opener. Tucker Blasi was 3 for 4 with two doubles and Kruz McCusker 3 for 4 with an RBI.
Chris Masse may be reached at cmasse@sungazette.com. Follow him on Twitter at @docmasse
DR. MASSE’S TOP 5 RANKINGS
1. South Williamsport (3-0): If the weather cooperates, South has a big game today, heading to Canton for a showdown between potential District 4 Class AA title contenders. The Mounties received contributions throughout the lineup in their 15-5 win against Lewisburg last Tuesday. Catcher Kayne Jones continued his strong start and has reached base in five of his last seven plate appearances. Kaiser Kistner earned the win against Lewisburg and was 2 for 3 with an RBI, while Josh Lynn hit an RBI double and Caleb Neidig drove in three runs.
2. Hughesville (3-0): Tyler Wetzel made his first varsity pitching start Thursday against Lake-Lehman, throwing four strong innings in a 9-3 win against the defending District 4 Class AA champion. He had a familiar face behind the plate with younger brother Trent doing the catching. Two days later the roles reversed and Trent shined in the seventh inning, retiring three straight batters with the bases loaded and preserving a 4-1 win against Southern Columbia. The final out came when Trent induced a grounder and flipped to Tyler for the clinching force at home.
"It's been something I've really wanted to do for a while," Trent said. "He knows my mindset. He knows who I am, so he can calm me down and help me do what needs to be done."
3. Montoursville (2-0): The Warriors are thin on experience, but high on talent and desire and those attributes shined through in wins against Holy Cross and Jersey Shore. Montoursville rallied from an early deficit against Holy Cross before busting open a close game late against Jersey Shore, scoring 15 sixth-inning runs. Logan Kirby earned a save and win, striking out nine in 3 2/3 innings, while the offense was balanced. Brody Aldenderfer has reached base in seven of eight plate appearances and sophomore Jonah Heddings is 3 for 4 with four RBIs.
4. Central Mountain (1-1): Like many area teams, Central Mountain is replacing the majority of last year's starters. Pitching remains a strength, however, and Brady Myers dominated in a 5-1 win against Milton, allowing no earned runs and striking out nine in five innings. Kevin Grenninger threw well in a 4-2 loss against Selinsgrove three days later, striking out eight in four innings.
5. Williamsport (1-1): Continuing the theme, Williamsport is replacing most of its pitching from last year but saw some quality returns in its first two games. Indigo Koch, Grant Viello and Ryan Schur combined on a two-hitter in a 12-3 victory against Shamokin at the team's new scenic turf field at Millionaire Mountain. Two days later, Wyatt Bair threw three hitless innings in relief in a 4-2 loss at Jersey Shore. Cole Shuler and Kellen Jackson each produced two hits in both games.
Players of the Week
Alex Davis, North Penn-Mansfield and Braylon Fantaski, Bucktail–Davis hit safely in all three games last week, going 7 for 12 with a home run, four doubles and four RBIs. One of the area's top hitters the past two seasons, Davis also provides pitching depth and threw 1 2/3 scoreless innings with two strikeouts in the Wyalusing win. After scoring 1,000 career points in basketball, Fantaski is proving equally dangerous with a bat in his hands. The senior was raking last week, going 7 for 9 with seven RBIs. Fantaski also hit two triples, a double and scored four runs.
Game of the Week
Loyalsock at Hughesville: These long-time rivals have captured two of the last three District 4 Class AAA championships and it feels like every game has been close between them over the last 11 years. That certainly was the case a year ago when Hughesville twice defeated Loyalsock in its final at-bat, the second time, winning in eight innings. Expect another battle this time.