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The crown fits: Jersey Shore softball wins second consecutive District 4 Class AAAA title

By Chris Masse 6 min read

Kaitlyn Herman grabbed the trophy and raised it high into the night sky as jubilant teammates jumped and happy fans snapped off photos.

The first championship was great. The one earned Thursday was twice as nice. There were some ups and downs throughout the season, but the crown still fits.

Freshman Lexi Frey threw a brilliant seven-hitter, Kaitlyn Herman hit a game-changing, go-ahead two-run home run and every Bulldog did her part as Jersey Shore defeated Montoursville, 8-2 and captured its second straight District 4 Class AAAA championship.

"It's awesome. We were so excited for this all week and we worked so hard," first basmean Jaymison Stellfox said after going 2 for 4 with three RBIs. "To experience this again is just so fun."

"It's great because I feel like the last two years a lot of people have doubted us coming into the district championship, so it's really good to prove ourselves again," Herman said after going 2 for 3 with two RBIs and a walk. "It felt really special. We were playing together and cheering for each other."

And if there were any remaining doubters, Jersey Shore (14-6) silenced them in emphatic fashion while earning a spot in the state tournament June 3. The Bulldogs will play the District 2 champion at a District 2 site.

Obviously, Jersey Shore wants to keep going, but Thursday was a moment to savor. That goes double with coach Chris Lorson making a fantastic recovery from cancer and the team fighting on after outstanding pitcher and hitter Isabelle Engel suffered a late-season injury.

This team might get knocked down sometimes, but these Bulldogs have bite and they keep rising up and winning. They have added to the program's rich tradition as well, securing the 10th district championship of the 2000s.

"We always come back together," second baseman Grace Russell said after going 2 for 3 with two runs and anchoring a flawless defense. "It's awesome. I'm so excited about it."

"I told these girls last year we had a great team last year and I was partial because I had a daughter on the team, but this team is even more special than what we had last year," Lorson said. "As long as they play as a team that's all I can ask and that's what they do."

Montoursville (11-10) did that as well and reached a second straight district final after taking a big graduation hit. The Warriors return a strong core next season and avenged two regular season losses against Shamokin when they won the semifinal, 6-2.

The Warriors went down fighting, too, with Jill Stone hitting a two-run, seventh inning double after Kayleigh Sheleman and Avery Cozzi hit lead-off singles. Montoursville had not reached a district final since 2002 before last season and playing in consecutive championships should only help it moving forward.

Natalie Bennett and Emily George both made spectacular hit saving plays for Montoursville and the Warriors made no errors. It was not about what they did wrong, but what Jersey Shore did right.

And Herman changed everything with one big swing.

The game was scoreless into the bottom of the fourth and it was starting to feel like one run might make the difference. So, when Herman followed a one-out Frey single by blasting her two-run home run over the center field fence it represented a seismic shift in the game's complexion as Jersey Shore went up, 2-0.

"I don't think anyone has screamed that loud. I don't think I'm going to have a voice after that," Stellfox said. "I was so excited for her."

"It was pretty awesome. It's pretty cool to do that in a game like this," Herman said. "I think it just fueled our fire and every single girl after that hit."

Herman was not exaggerating. Eight different players combined for hits and Herman's home run broke the ice as the Bulldogs started hitting the ball hard all over the field.

Jersey Shore opened the fifth inning with four consecutive hits. Russell and Lynna Clark (2 for 4) hit singles and Stellfox made it 4-0, belting a two-run double to deep center field. Jocelyn McCracken (3 for 4) followed with an RBI single and the momentum kept building.

An inning later, Jersey Shore scored three more times, building an 8-0 advantage. Stellfox and McCracken again delivered after Russell and Clark opened the inning by reaching base, ripping RBI singles.

"A lot of times when someone hits like that, we all follow," Russell said. "We always pick each other up."

Frey continued her outstanding freshman season and hardly looked like a pitcher playing her first playoff game. Like she did against Central Mountain to help Jersey Shore win a share of the HAC-I crown, Frey was efficient, spotted her pitches well and let a superb defense work.

Frey took a shutout into the seventh inning and struck out four while throwing just 78 pitches. The Elm Park lights were turned on midway through the game and Frey found a way to shine even brighter.

"Lexi Frey pitched a heck of a game. She has pitched solid in all her outings," Lorson said. "She's having a great freshman year."

Nevaeh Montoya went 2 for 3 for Montoursville, but Frey always was able to collect herself and make big pitches whenever it felt like the Warriors might build momentum. It stayed that way in the seventh as she retired the side in order following Stone's two-run double.

A slow grounder to Stellfox ended it. Seconds later, happy teammates embraced inside the pitcher's circle and Jersey Shore created another moment to remember.

"It's great," Stellfox said. "We were all so hyped in there. We were all so excited."

Montoursville 000 000 2--2 7 0

Jersey Shore 000 233 x--8 15 0

Julie Friel, Avery Stahl (6) and Nevaeh Montoya. Lexi Frey and Kaitlyn Herman. W--Frey. L--Friel.

Top Montoursville hitters: Montoya 2-3; Jill Stone 1-3, 2B, 2 RBIs; Natalie Bennett 1-3; Kayleigh Sheleman 1-3; Avery Cozzi 1-3' Alexa Stahl 1-3. Top Jersey Shore hitters: Jocelyn McCracken 3-4, 2 RBIs; Herman 2-3, HR, 2 RBIs; Grace Russell 2-3, 2R; Kylie Schall 2-3, 3B; Jaymison Stellfox 2-4, 2B, 3 RBIs, R; Lynna Clark 2-4, 2R; Frey 1-3, RBI; Katelyn Stover 1-2.

Records: Jersey Shore 14-6. Montoursville 11-10.

Starting at /week.