Chris Masse on softball: Jersey Shore remains hungry and hard working
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Jersey Shore players cannot see the line, but they know one exists. Not much separates the varsity and JV players. Not much separates starters from reserves.
Because that line so often floats around, all the Bulldogs must remain hungry and hard-working. A program with a rich tradition features a deep roster this season and having so many quality players is making practices as competitive as games.
And that is making Jersey Shore quite a dangerous team. A year after capturing the District 4 Class AAAA championship and reaching the state quarterfinals, Jersey Shore is doing all it can to build on that success. Players are pushing each other in healthy ways and the result is nine wins in 10 games with the lone blemish, being a hard-fought, well-played 3-2 defeat against rival Central Mountain in 10 innings last Tuesday.
"Our coaches made it clear that we have a dotted line between varsity and JV. Any player could be on that field in the first inning no matter what," right fielder/pitcher Lynna Clark said after going 2 for 4 and making two highlight catches in an 8-0 win against Williamsport last Thursday. "All these JV girls and all these girls waiting in the wings for their spot are pushing the girls on varsity to be their best."
The old motto is, "practice makes perfect," but is misleading. Anyone can practice. It’s productive practices which make the big difference.
Jersey Shore continues delivering them each day and that has helped it move to the top of the Class AAAA standings, while forging a first-place tie with Central Mountain in the HAC-I. Starters and reserves have shined throughout the season and the belief players and coaches have in everyone has burst through in some of the team’s biggest wins.
Freshman Lexi Frey hit a pinch-hit, walk-off single in a dramatic 7-6 eight-inning win against perennial power Bald Eagle Area. Mya Lehman is another player who has provided pop off the bench, while the starting lineup has remained balanced and potent, producing nearly nine runs per game.
"We utilize things like flexes and DH hitters and pinch runners a lot," Clark said. "Every girl is getting their spot to step up."
"The Bald Eagle game was big for us, and we used almost every kid off our bench for something," Jersey Shore coach Frank Stetts said. "All the kids contribute to the team."
Stetts said one difference this year is that Jersey Shore has players capable of playing at every position. That means no player has a lock on spot. Everything must be earned. Competition among a team often makes that team stronger and that is proving true again at Jersey Shore.
"It makes the kids work. The gap is so close," Stetts said. "We have kids coming up to me all the time asking what they have to do. I tell them, ‘You’re not doing anything wrong.’ We just have a lot of depth and a lot of good players."
Jersey Shore also earned some added motivation in its season opener. Although the Bulldogs returned a strong core from last year’s championship team, they immediately learned that nothing is given as Mifflinburg roared back from a two-run deficit and defeated it, 9-2.
Nobody wants to and/or likes to lose. But in the big picture, it may have been good for Jersey Shore. The Bulldogs have thundered back since, twice overcoming multiple run, late-game deficits to defeat BEA and Williamsport on walk-off hits, while also defeating last year’s Class AAAA final opponent Montoursville and defending Class A state champion Tri-Valley.
"I feel the Mifflinburg game really set a tone for us. They thought we had that game when we were winning 2-0 and they let off that throttle and we lost," Stetts said. "We had a couple of bad errors and they went ahead. I think that’s changed and come full circle. It kicked them into gear."
Jersey Shore keeps going full gear at practice each day. The Bulldogs know they must do that because that lines remains there and because there are so many well-rounded players eager to contribute.
The season opener humbled Jersey Shore a bit, but this is a resilient team as well as a deep one. The work continues but the experienced gained the last three years and the trust which runs deep has Jersey Shore believing it can take the next step.
"Our coach always tells us the sky is the limit," Isabelle Engel said after throwing a four-hit shutout and going 3 for 4 with an RBI at Williamsport. "We always keep that in the back our minds when we’re playing that we know we’re capable of anything."
"It brings so much confidence to us knowing that our teammates will be there for us no matter what," Clark said. "It just shows how solid Jersey Shore is as a program."
WHAT A GAME: Pittston capped an undefeated season two years ago when it captured the 5A state championship. The Patriots are a title threat again this season and dominant pitcher Gianna Adams, the starter on that state champion, entered Thursday’s game against South Williamsport allowing two hits in five games, while throwing four no-hitters.
So, it speaks volumes about how South performed in a thrilling 4-3, eight-inning loss that Pittston coach Frank Parente told the Wilkes-Barre Times Leader that it was the best game he’s ever been a part of. If there is such thing as a good loss, this was it for South, the two-time defending District 4 Class AA champion.
"I told the girls that (Parente’s comment) is a compliment to you because she (Adams) is the real deal and because they are a great team which has played in a lot of big games," South coach Tom O’Malley said. "They battled and had good at-bats and played their hearts out. It’s one of those games nobody deserves to lose. It was a fun game to coach; a fun game to be part of."
South scheduled Pittston with the big picture in mind. After reaching last year’s state semifinals, the Mounties are doing all they can to make themselves as playoff-ready as possible. Going against one of the state’s top Big School teams and coming within a play and/or hit of winning sure helps.
It also opens the team’s eyes to how dangerous it can be, going pitch for pitch with a 5A title front-runner.
"Every play was big and it was a playoff atmosphere. It can only help us in the long run," O’Malley said. "It helps prepare you for down the road. I’m glad we played them."
EXTRA BASES: Montgomery busted out offensively in a big way last week, scoring 70 runs and collecting 57 hits in four victories. The Red Raiders (8-3) received production from all parts of the lineup and off the bench. Madisyn Miller and Ava Hartman homered and Hartman earned the win in all four games ... Before running into undefeated Muncy, Bucktail (9-1) handed Northwest just its second loss, defeating it, 8-4. Eva Sockman and Makenzie Wagner both had three hits with Sockman and Alexis Lowery hitting home runs ... Hughesville and Warrior Run split one-run thrillers last week with Hughesville winning, 5-4 on McKenna Sones’s walk-off walk and Warrior Run exacting revenge three days later, 13-12. Jayla Koser was 3 for 3 in that game for Hughesville which collected 14 hits. Maura Woland went 4 for 5 for Warrior Run in its victory, while Lakesha Hauck and Mya Evans both delivered three hits as the Defenders delivered 15udin... Freshman Gabby Evans and sophomore Mariah Hallabuk both went 3 for 3 in Sullivan County’s 16-1 win against Millville as the Griffins (6-5) moved closer to a third straight playoff berth. Emilia Viveiros threw a three-inning no-hitter and Karlee Wettlaufer hit a two-run double.
Chris Masse may be reached at cmasse@sungazette.com. Follow him on Twitter at @docmasse
DR. MASSE’S TOP 5 RANKINGS
1. Loyalsock (11-0): Despite experiencing somewhat of a letdown following their Williamsport Tournament championship, the Lancers remained undefeated and rallied from seven runs down to beat Bloomsburg, 20-10 before Sophia Miller threw a five-hitter in a 6-1 win against Hughesville. Believe it or not, that game was the first time all season, Loyalsock did not score at least 10 runs. The Lancers can secure a share of a second straight HAC-III championship if they defeat Warrior Run today and second-place Midd-West Thursday. That game will be a big one since Midd-West entered Monday's game at South 7-1. Loyalsock again has built a demanding non-conference schedule and will head to perennial District 2 power Holy Redeemer Saturday.
2. North Penn-Liberty (13-0): The defending District 4 Class AAA champions had a big test against Troy Monday afternoon in a showdown between teams who entered with a 21-1 combined record. North Penn-Liberty ignited a three-win week last Tuesday when it edged New York state title contender Corning Painted Post, 6-5. Mackenzi Tice struck out 11 and Addie Smith had two hits. Haley Litzelman ran her streak of consecutive games with home runs to three against Wellsboro before Saige Lehman went 3 for 4 in a 9-1 win against Towanda. Smith, Payton Chapel and Nikki Kiscadden all had two hits in that win.
3. South Williamsport (9-2): It was not just that South produced twice as many hits against Adams as she allowed in her five previous games which stood out. It was that all four were triples which went to the fence on a 225-foot field. Gianna Goodman, Alizabeth Schuler, Abby Lorson and Kendall Cardone all hit triples and Schuler did not let a ball reach the outfield on the fly until the eighth inning, inducing 19 groundouts.
4. Central Mountain (9-2): Shikellamy stunned Central Mountain, 4-3 last Thursday but the Wildcats quickly bounced back as freshman Camdyn Weaver shined in the circle in a 5-1 win against DuBois. Fellow pitcher Addie McKeague dazzled against Jersey Shore, threw four hitless innings against Williamspot and struck out 13 against Shikellamy. The senior entered Monday's game at State College with 487 career strikeouts. Central Mountain won on consecutive days in its final at-bat against Williamsport and Jersey Shore.
t-5. Muncy (10-0): Muncy took control of the Mid-Penn Friday, blanking Bucktail, 4-0 in a battle of unbeatens. It was the kind of game the Indians needed after steamrolling their first nine opponents. Nolah Moyer did Nolah Moyer things, throwing a one-hit shutout with 16 strikeouts, catcher Taylor Shannon threw out another runner trying to steal and Jailyn Baker hit a clutch, two-run, sixth-inning triple which broke a scoreless game. Shannon hit her fourth home run earlier in the week in a 5-0 win at Warrior Run and Moyer threw a no-hitter with 18 strikeouts that day. The Indians will be tested down the stretch and like it that way with the playoffs approaching, closing with games against Bucktail, Mifflinburg and North Penn-Liberty.
t-5. Jersey Shore (8-2): Jersey Shore gets another shot at Central Mountain Saturday morning. Before that, though, the Bulldogs play Shikellamy and potential playoff opponent Danville. Engel is 6-1 in the circle and allowed just three runs in 16 1/3 innings last week.
Players of the Week
Madisyn Miller, Montgomery and Maddie Smith, Hughesville: Miller was at the heart of Montgomey's offensive onslaught last week, going 9 for 12 with a home run, double and 12 RBIs. The sophomore first baseman also scored 12 runs and produced multiple RBIs in all four wins, while drawing five walks. After helping Hughesville basketball have its best season ever, Smith is making an immediate and big impact in softball. The versatile freshman hit three home runs in five games last week, including a grand slam in the second Warrior Run game. Smith homered in that first contest as well and hit for the cycle during a doubleheader sweep of Sugar Valley last Saturday.
Game of the Week
Central Mountain at Jersey Shore: Saturday's game is an early 10 a.m., start but early risers should be in for a treat. This game could determine the HAC-I champion and Round 1 was spectacular. Jersey Shore erased a 2-0 sixth inning deficit to force extra innings before the Wildcats prevailed in 10 innings. That was the second straight year that a game in this series went at least nine innings and the third time in three years that a team won on a walk-off sequence. Expect another thriller Saturday.