Breaking News
Local Sports

Loyalsock and South softball put together dominant performances while setting up semifinal showdown

By Chris Masse 6 min read

As Loyalsock left fielder Bella Mileto opened one Williamsport Tournament quarterfinal, smashing a home run, South Williamsport pitcher Alizabeth Schuler started mowing through a dangerous Mifflinburg offense in the other at Elm Park.

Mileto’s home run ignited a seven run first-inning eruption and Loyalsock routed Upper Dauphin, 16-1 in five innings. Schuler threw a brilliant three-hit shutout and Mikaiya Hills blasted a game-breaking, three-run home run in the sixth as South blanked Mifflinburg, 7-0.

Now the rivals will face each other in the semifinals at 10 a.m., Saturday. This tournament has turned into the Backyard Brawl with Williamsport and Montoursville, meeting in the other semifinal. The championship is scheduled for 2 p.m.

"It was a good start," Mileto said after going 2 for 3 with a home run and two RBIs. "It really set the tone for the whole game."

"I felt locked in today," Schuler said. "Having everyone here and supporting me really helped me feel locked in out there."

Loyalsock (7-0) and South (6-0) maintained their undefeated records in impressive fashion. Sophia Miller threw a four-hit complete game, and every Lancer starter produced a hit and/or RBI. Schuler was supported by an outstanding defense and Gianna Goodman went 3 for 4 with two doubles, while Emma McLaughlin added two hits.

Now, the long-time rivals meet again. Two years ago, Loyalsock defeated South in the tournament quarterfinals before South won last year’s semifinal showdown. The rubber match could be the most entertaining one yet.

"Some of the teams we have in our area aren’t in our league, so you don’t get to see them unless you’re at the tournament," Loyalsock center fielder Katie Ryder said after going 3 for 4 with three RBIs and three runs. "It’s nice to see how you measure up around this area."

"It’s going to be really fun," Schuler said. "I love playing undefeated teams and I love seeing who comes out on top."

Mileto put Loyalsock on top to stay when she drove the game’s fourth pitch well over the center field fence. Ryder followed with a triple and Loyalsock never slowed down, collecting six hits during the seven-run flurry.

Mileto lit the fuse, and her teammates fanned the flames with Sofia Mileto (2 for 2), Shyla Fulp and Lydia Kresock all producing two hits. The Lancers scored six more times in the third inning, Mileto and Ryder hitting consecutive RBI singles and two-run doubles, respectively.

Mileto and Ryder have been an imposing duo at the top of the lineup the past two seasons and it continued Friday. They combined for five hits, six RBIs and five runs. Ryder produced her sixth multi-hit game as well.

"I like batting behind Bella. I feel confident behind her, whether she gets on or not," Ryder said. "I feel like I can get her in or, whatever I have to do, it feels comfortable. It’s the same as last year."

Ryder finished a home run shy of hitting for the cycle, closing her performance with an RBI single. The senior is 14 for 18 over her last five games, a stretch which included 10 straight hits at one point.

"It just feels right. I’m not getting worried about where I’m hitting it or anything," Ryder said. "I’m just doing what I’m supposed to do and what the coaches want me to do."

That approach is working for her teammates as well and Loyalsock topped 10 runs for a seventh consecutive game. Maddie Luxenberger kept the first inning momentum going with a two-run single before Ava Damiano roped a two-run single two batters later and Fulp capped the rally with a two-run double.

Loyalsock put together another scoring binge in the third inning. Sofia Mileto sparked this rally with a lead-off single and Fulp added her third RBI three batters later after Damiano walked and Kresock singled. Kathryn Ray added two RBIs and Anna Luxneberger hit a RBI single.

As quickly as Loyalsock piled up hits, Miller powered through Upper Dauphin’s lineup. The sophomore improved to 4-0 and threw just 57 pitches, including 34 over the final four innings. Miller also retired nine of the last 10 batters she faced while being backed by an outstanding defense which included Maddie Luxenberger picking a runner off first and Damiano and Ryder making hit-saving plays.

"She’s throwing well on the mound. She’s not trying to overdo it," Bella Mileto said. "She’s just throwing strikes and letting the defense work. It’s good what she’s doing."

South feels the same way about how Schuler is pitcher. The junior right-hander won her sixth straight start and did so in tremendous fashion against a District 4 Class AAA title contender.

Schuler pounded the zone, moved and mixed pitches and struck out five. Goodman’s lead-off double keyed a two-run first inning and Schuler never let that lead be threatened while being backed by a reliable defense.

"It helps me relax because we got out to an early lead," Schuler said. "The defense is making the best plays, so it helped me settle in out there and just throw my game."

South added runs in the third and fourth innings before Hills sent a jolt throughout the Blue-clad fans who filled up their side of Elm Park and walloped her second home run this season. The sophomore fell behind 0-2 but learned from the previous pitch and slammed a long home run which made it 7-0. It also was the sixth straight game in which South hit at least one homer.

The Mounties, however, are just focused on hitting line drives and/or doing whatever it takes to win. That was evident when McLaughlin helped ignite that rally with a bunt single. South finished with nine hits against Mifflinburg’s outstanding pitcher Taylor Stewart and seven different players had hits.

A year after winning the tournament championship, South is back in the semifinals. And with the Backyard Brawl coming to Elm Park, this tournament has become especially exciting.

"It’s really fun," Schuler said. "I love tournaments and I love how I get to play in high school tournaments because all these teams are amazing."

Loyalsock 16, Upper Dauphin 1, 5 innings

Loyalsock 706 03―16 14 0

Upper Dauphin 100 00―1 4 1

Sophia Miller and Maddie Luxenberger. Jana Strait and Lydia Engle. W―Miller, (4-0). L―Strait.

Top Loyalsock hitters: Katie Ryder 3-4, 3B, 2B, 3 RBIs, 3R; Bella Mileto 2-3, HR, 2 RBIs, 2R; Sofia Mileto 2-2, 2B, 2R; Shyla Fulp 2-3, 2B, 3 RBIs, 2R; Anna Luxenberger 1-3, RBI; Maddie Luxenberger 1-4, 2 RBIs, R; Ava Damiano 1-2, 2 RBIs, 2R; Lydia Kresock 2-2, 2R; Kathryn Ray 2 RBIs. Top Upper Dauphin hitters: Strait

Records: Loyalsock 7-0.

South Williamsport 7, Mifflinburg 0

South 210 103 0―7 9 1

Mifflinburg 000 000 0―0 3 2

Alizabeth Schuler and Lily Reidy. Taylor Stewart and Osborn. W―Schuler . L―Stewart.

Top South hitters: Gianna Goodman 3-4, 2 2B, R; Mikaiya Hills 1-4, HR, 3 RBIs, 2R; Emma McLaughlin 2-3, R; Schuler 1-4, Reidy 1-4; Kendall Cardone 1-3, 2R; Maddie Pinketon 1-3, R.

Records: South 6-0. Mifflinburg 6-3.

Starting at /week.