Loyalsock produced 39 runs and 36 hits during its first two games last week. What the coaches like more about that explosive production, however, is how the Lancers generated it.

In a three-day span at Lewisburg and Williamsport, Loyalsock faced four pitchers all featuring different speeds and styles. That included a trio of pitchers Wednesday against Williamsport. Loyalsock hit all hard, winning both games via the mercy rule, highlighting the strong start with a 16-3 win against 6A Williamsport.

Nobody is celebrating at Loyalsock because it’s early and the work continues. Still, the adjustments hitters are making certainly is encouraging.

“The first inning against Lewisburg, we struggled to get the timing down and then the next inning we’re on it,” Loyalsock coach Mark Godfrey said following the Williamsport win. “Here, I thought they did a great job of adjusting to the speeds and the pitches and hitting to the umpire’s strike zone.”

As well as they do, most umpires are a bit different in how they call balls and strikes. Some give more leverage on the corners; others may call a slightly elevated pitch or lower pitch a strike. Against Williamsport, the high zone did not appear there.

So, instead of chasing higher pitchers, Loyalsock stayed disciplined at the plate and forced Williamsport’s pitchers to bring the ball down. The Lancers waited for the pitches they wanted and then seized on their opportunities with nearly every batter in the lineup producing a hit and all nine starters reaching base.

It was a promising start for a fairly young team. Sophomore pitchers Lydia Kresock and Sophia Miller earned victories in the first two wins but they are different pitchers than previous ace Marissa Helmrich who was among the area’s strikeout leaders in each of the past three years. Both are effective, but they also are not high volume strikeout throwers.

It certainly helps those two settle in, though, when the offense is performing so well.

“I told our girls we need to score seven runs a game,” Godfrey said. “We try and set goals of what we want to do and that’s one of the goals we have.”

A bonus for Loyalsock is that the players are pushing each other while pursuing those goals. This is a deep team, so playing time is not given, but always earned. Competitive practices often make all the players better and early indications are that is exactly what could be happening as Loyalsock moves forward.

“We work pretty well together. There’s always some competition between us, too,” right fielder Shyla Fulp said after going 3 for 4 with two doubles against Williamsport. “I think that’s good for us.”

KEEPING IT IN

PERSPECTIVE

Obviously, Williamsport was hoping its first game at the magnificent Millionaire Mountain complex went better. Still, it was only one game and the goal is to be playing one’s best as the year progresses.

The Millionaires have five starters back from last year but all nine starters against Loyalsock were in new positions. There also were four starters who had no varsity at-bats last season, so there is a learning curve. But there also is talent and Williamsport produced nine hits, with Abby Robertson and Emily McAnelly hitting home runs.

The schedule is challenging, but that has helped make Williamsport better over the years. That first game is over now and it’s about moving on to the next one now.

“The potential is there and they are working hard,” Williamsport coach Chase Smith said. “But it’s definitely going to take some time until they understand in what the difference between JV and varsity is.”

EXTRA BASES

Defending District 4 Class A champion Bucktail opened its season with three mercy rule wins as its offense produced 39 runs. Sophomore Eva Sockman has continued building on one of the longest area hitting streaks this decade. The catcher has upped it to 22 games going back to last year and has hit safely in all but one of her first 24 high school games … Dani Miller had a big week and helped Jersey Shore sweep games from Montoursville and Milton. The sophomore went 5 for 5 with two doubles in the district championship rematch at Montoursville before hitting a home run against Milton. Jaymison Stellfox added two hits in each game and Lynna Clark struck out a career-high 12 batters in five innings against Milton … Kayleigh Sheleman helped Montoursville bounce back from the Jersey Shore loss in a big way. The sophomore second baseman has come thundering back from a torn ACL suffered last season and went 3 for 3 with a home run, double and seven RBIs in a 15-4 win against Shikellamy. Avery Cozzi produced her third straight multi-hit game and Natalie Bennett also had two hits, while Jill Stone added a triple and three RBIs … Montgomery sophomore Ava Hartman opened her season in strong fashion, striking out eight and going 3 for 4 with two doubles and four RBIs in an 11-1 win against Sugar Valley. Summer Drick, Falin Reynolds and Mady Dieffenderfer also had two hits each … Sullivan County freshmen Miley Dickinson and Gabby Evans both delivered five hits and went a combined 10 for 11 with five RBIs in a 20-10 win at CMVT. Kayla Fowler was 4 for 5 with a home run, double and four RBIs. Mariah Halabuk added four hits and three runs. The previous day, sophomore pitcher Emilia Viveiros threw a three-inning perfect game with six strikeouts in a 21-0 win against Millville … Warrior Run pitcher Mackenzie Heyler threw her second shutout in three games, helping the Defenders blank Central Columbia, 7-0 Saturday. She also threw a five-inning perfect game in an 11-0 win against Milton. Maura Woland was 2 for 3 against Central and has two hits in three of her first four games … Kenna Thomas finished a single shy of hitting for the cycle last Friday, helping Williamson blank Sayre, 18-0 in three innings. Thomas was 3 for 3 with a home run, triple, double and seven RBIs. Makenna Buchanan added a triple, double and three RBIs, while Olivia Gee threw a three-hit shutout.

Chris Masse may be reached at cmasse@sungazette.com. Follow him on Twitter at @docmasse

DR. MASSE’S TOP 5 RANKINGS

1. South Williamsport (2-0): Talk about being catalysts. South’s first two hitters, Gianna Goodman and Mikaiya Hills, went 6 for 6 with three triples, three doubles, six runs and three RBIs in Saturday’s 14-1 win at Wyalusing. Not that they were alone. In fact, everyone literally keeps hitting for South which had at least nine different players produce hits for a second straight game. Sage Lorson was 3 for 3 as well, while Abby Lorson hit a three-run home ru and Emma McLaughlin and Alizabeth Schuler both collected two hits. Schuler struck out nine in four innings and South has scored 40 runs while delivering 35 hits in its first two games.

2. North Penn-Liberty (2-0): Mackenzi Tice has picked up where she left off last season in the circle and at the plate. She threw a three-hitter with seven strikeouts in a 4-0 win at Towanda, topping 400 career strikeouts while also going 3 for 6 with four runs in her first two games. Megan Spohn and Saige Lehman had two-hit games in Wellsboro and Towanda victories, respectively and North Penn-Liberty has won 24 straight regular season games, going back to 2022.

3. Central Mountain (0-0): It has been a long wait for the two-time defending District 6 Class AAAAA and HAC-I champions. Central Mountain is hoping the rain stops long enough, so that it can open its season today on Williamsport’s new turf field.

4. Loyalsock (2-0): Before striking out seven in a complete game against Williamsport, Sophia Miller went 4 for 4 with three RBIs in the opener at Lewisburg. Katie Ryder hit two home runs in that game and Bella Mileto added another against Williamsport, finishing 3 for 4 with a double. Shyla Fulp is 5 for 7 in her first two games and catcher Maddie Luxenberger 5 for 6 with two doubles and four RBIs.

5. Muncy (2-0): Muncy collected 17 hits as it opened its season with convincing wins against Southern Columbia and St. John Neumann. Chevelle Bauman and Kaylyn Rice fueled the offense against Southern, both going 2 for 2, with Rice adding two RBIs. Leah Vest and Addi Gresh both had hits and two RBIs against Neumann, while Taylor Shannon hit an RBI triple. Muncy has won its last 14 Mid-Penn games and hosts rival Montgomery Wednesday. Montgomery gave Muncy one of its toughest league games last year with the Indians winning 3-2 on their home field.

Players of the Week

Nolah Moyer, Muncy and Makenzie Wagner, Bucktail: Moyer could not have started her season much better. The St. Bonaventure-bound pitcher allowed just three hits and struck out 29 in 10 innings, while going 4 for 7 with three doubles, four RBIs and four runs. Moyer struck out the first 15 batters she faced against Southern and finished with 20 strikeouts before throwing a one-hitter against Neumann. Wagner also was a dual force, excelling in the circle and at the plate. The senior pitcher went 3-0 last week, allowing four hits in eight innings and fanning 15. Bucktail’s all-time hits leader also went 8 for 12 with a home run, four doubles and 12 RBIs. That included a seven-RBI performance in a 10-0 win at Moshannon Valley.

Game of the Week

Central Mountain at Williamsport: These HAC-I rivals played two thrillers last year, splitting those contests with the road team winning each time. Williamsport rallied from a four-run sixth-inning deficit to win in extra innings in Mill Hall before Central Mountain held off a Williamsport rally and pulled away in the seventh inning of the rematch. That win ultimately helped Central Mountain win the outright league title.