RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Williamsport's Grant Vilello (3) starts out on the mound during the final game of the Backyard Brawl against Loyalsock at Millionaire Mountain on Saturday, May 11, 2024. Williamsport won 9-6.

We live in a world where ESPN and all sports talk TV and radio shows have brushed history aside. According to them, anything happening now instantly is the best ever.

So, listen, I am not saying Saturday’s Backyard Brawl championship was the best ever. I will say that it was the most exciting one that this reporter has covered since arriving here in 1999. That is a more measured response and the games provide ample evidence.

Williamsport captured its first Brawl championship since 2016 after making a remarkable semifinal comeback and erasing a 10-run deficit to edge Montoursville, 12-11, in eight innings before holding off Loyalsock, 9-6, in the championship. Both semifinals were one-run thrillers and Loyalsock cut a six-run championship deficit to one in the fourth inning before Trey Damschroder left the go-ahead runners in scoring position after entering in relief. The freshman then threw 3 1/3 scoreless innings and left the bases loaded, closing a thrilling championship by producing his fourth strikeout with the bases loaded.

What a fun ride it was. Williamsport won its first Backyard Brawl since 2016 and its victory means all four teams have won at least one championship in the last five Brawls, highlighting how competitive this tournament is, how strong the teams are and how good the baseball in Lycoming County is.

“We have some really good teams here,” Schneider said. “It’s good baseball. It always is.”

SETTING THE TONE: Williamsport sophomore Lucas Naughton shined at the plate and field at the Brawl, going 6 for 8 with four runs and two RBIs. He reached base in all 10 plate appearances, went 5 for 5 against Montoursville and hit the go-ahead, eighth inning RBI double in that dramatic semifinal victory.

Naughton also made a Brooks Robinson-like diving stop in that game, taking a lead-off hit and potential go-ahead runner off the books. Hitting lead-off this season, Naughton has blossomed while becoming a full-time starter and is hitting .467.

“I felt confident at the plate. I just tried to chip away with the team,” Naughton said. “After the first couple games I felt real confident. I felt comfortable in what I needed to do to help the team.”

“Lucas was on fire. He was putting together amazing bats, making amazing plays in the field and just all-around producing for us. It was unreal,” Schneider said. “He just puts up good at-bats. He forces pitchers to make mistakes and he capitalizes when they do. Even when they don’t, he puts good swings on some good pitches. You can’t ask much more from a lead-off hitter, especially a sophomore.”

FIGHTING BACK: Loyalsock features another exciting sophomore in Kayden Keefer. Following a wrestling injury, however, Keefer was unable to play during his team’s first 18 games. Instead of calling it a season and getting ready for football, Keefer worked hard through his rehab, was cleared Friday and coach Jimmy Webb immediately penciled him into the No. 2 spot and center field.

Keefer excelled in both areas, going 3 for 7 with two RBIs and two runs, while covering good ground in the outfield. Keefer scorched a lead-off double in the third inning against South, coming home to score the game’s lone run as Loyalsock edged the previous champion, 1-0.

BACKYARD BRAWL

ALL-STAR TEAM

C–Jacob Wilson, Loyalsock (2-3, 3 BB, .833 obp); IF–Cayden Robertson, Williamsport (4-7, 2B, 3 RBIs, 3R); IF–Quinn Ranck, Montoursville (2-4, RBI, R, SB, .600 obp); IF–Deryk Kulp (2-6, 2B, RBI, .429 obp); IF–Kellen Jackson, Williamsport (1-3, 2B, 2 BB, 4 RBIs, 5R, .750 obp); OF–Kayden Keefer, Loyalsock (3-7, 2B, 2 RBIs, 2R); OF–Cole Shuler, OF (3-7, 2 RBIs, R; .500 obp); OF–Zack Neill, Montoursville (2-5, RBI)

Backyard Brawl MVP–Lucas Naughton, Williamsport: (6-8, 2B, 2 RBIs, 4 runs, 1,000 obp)

AROUND THE AREA

Before entering the Backyard Brawl, Kaiser Kistner threw a one-hit masterpiece in a 4-1 win against Midd-WEst. Kistner went through a strong lineup in 78 pitches, striking out five, walking none and throwing 56 of 78 pitches for strikes … St. John Neumann’s Chase Wright hit his first high school home run, continuing a strong junior season in a 9-7 loss at Line Mountain. Wright was 2 for 3 with two runs, while Gino Brich threw four innings of strong relief, scattering two hits … Canton (14-4) ran its winning streak to seven games before dropping a 4-2 contest Saturday at Wyalusing. Hudson Ward shined in two victories, 5 for 7 with four RBIs … Jersey Shore (9-10) is playing for a playoff berth Tuesday when it heads to Midd-West. The Bulldogs are trying to reach districts for the first time since 2018 and have made a four-win improvement this season … Milton (9-10) also is playing for a Class AAAA playoff berth Tuesday when it heads to Montgomery. The Black Panthers went 3-0 last week, highlighting that stretch with a 7-6 win at Mount Carmel. Milton rallied from a three-run deficit in that game before erasing a one-run fourth inning deficit and downing Warrior Run, 6-2 …Speaking of the Defenders, they opened their week with a 6-1 win against Jersey Shore as Tyler Ulrich went 3 for 4 and Griffen Harrington a brilliant two-hitter with six strikeouts.

1. Hughesville (14-2): Obviously, Hughesville would rather build leads and not have to battle back, but it does not flinch when falling behind. The Spartans proved it again last Wednesday against Jersey Shore, rallying from a 4-1 deficit and scoring two, two-out runs in the seventh inning to win, 5-4. The Spartans have won three games in walk-off fashions and overcome multiple-run deficits in three of their last four games.

“You have to lock in and do what you know how to do,” JD Lunger said after going 1 for 1 with an RBI, reaching base four times and scoring the winning run against Jersey Shore. “You have to trust yourself and your boys. We’re always going hard until the end.”

2. Williamsport (12-7): Before capturing the Backyard Brawl championship, Williamsport thundered back from a six-run deficit and beat the previous No. 2 team Central Mountain, 9-6. The Millionaires have won nine of their last 11 games and closed the HAC-I season with seven straight wins, handing Selinsgrove its lone defeat. The bullpen was phenomenal in last week’s victories with Ryan Schur, Wyatt Bair and Trey Damschroder combined to throw 10 innings, allowing just one run. Bair went 2-0 and both Schur and Damschroder earned saved.

3. Central Mountain (12-4): Central Mountain is hoping to build momentum for the playoffs as it pursues a sixth straight District 6 Class 5A championship. The Wildcats play Lewisburg and Midd-West today and Wednesday and have secured a 14th straight season with double-digit wins. Blake Walker has surged down the stretch and has six RBIs in his last four games, collecting at least one each time.

4. Montgomery (16-1): South Williamsport’s Tripp Breen is the last area pitcher to top 100 strikeouts doing so during his remarkable 2019 senior campaign. Montgomery freshman Briar Persing now is four strikeouts from reaching that milestone during his debut season. He enters today’s game against Millville needing four more, going 7-0 with 96 strikeouts. The Raiders have all but clinched District 4 Class AA’s top seed but could make it official with victories today against District 4 Class A’s top seed and surging Milton tomorrow. Trace Furman is one of several freshmen having excellent seasons for Montgomery and went 2 for 3 with two RBIs in a 15-0 win against Bucktail as the Raiders remained undefeated in Mid-Penn play.

5. Montoursville (12-4): Although the Williamsport loss was a gut-wrencher, Montoursville has little time to lament it. The Warriors play three times in three days, starting today against current District 4 AA No. 2 seed Canton in a battle of teams with 26 combined wins. The Warriors produced quality wins against Holy Redeemer and Central Columbia last week, pounding out 15 hits at Redeemer before Brayden McCourt and Logan Kirby combined on a two-hitter against Central in a 2-1 victory. Third baseman Royce Bowes had six hits in those games and freshman Noah Kirby was 3 for 3 against Central.

Players of the Week

Logan Shrawder, Milton and Noah Confer, Muncy: Shrawder came up huge on the mound as Milton kept its playoff hopes alive, going 2-0 with a save. He threw 6 2/3 brilliant innings against Warrior Run, earned a save in a one-run win at Mount Carmel and produced two multi-hit games, going 5 for 8 against Central and Mount Carmel. Confer only played once last week, but made it a memorable day, reaching 100 career hits while going 2 for 2 with a double and four runs in a 17-5 win against Sugar Valley. Confer has reached the 100-hit milestone despite missing multiple games with injuries during the last four years and has surged down the stretch, also stealing three bases in last week’s win.

Game of the Week

Milton at Montgomery: Tuesday’s game basically is a playoff game for Milton which has stormed back from 3-8 to win seven of its last nine games. The Black Panthers have won three straight do-or-die games and are trying to cap one of the more impressive comebacks to reach the postseason in recent area history. With Montgomery being the team standing in its way and sitting at 16-1, this should be quite a battle.

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