MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent
Williamsport’s Deacon Brawn (27) scores behind Wyoming Valley West catcher on a single by Aaron Klosko in the fourth inning during a game this year. Brown was named Sun-Gazette Player of the Year in baseball

Six years ago, his older brother earned Sun-Gazette Player of the Year honors. Turns out winning this award has become a family thing.

Following in Quentin’s footsteps, Deacon Brown immediately showed he would become an elite player upon reaching high school in 2021. Brown opened his high school career with a 12-game hitting streak against an imposing schedule before an injury ended that excellent season.

The hits, along with excellent defense in center field, kept coming and Brown established himself as one of the area’s premier players the past four years. He earned a scholarship to Rhode Island as a junior and closed his high school career with a flourish.

Put it all together and Brown edged out South Williamsport’s Kaden Shay and earned the 2024 Sun-Gazette Player of the Year honor.

Despite a hamstring injury this season and pitchers doing their best to not give him pitches to hit, Brown still batted .450 with a .579 on-base percentage. He homered twice, added seven doubles and produced eight multi-hit games while making no errors.

Brown is a true five-tool player and was a constant source of positive energy. That intangible played a huge role in Williamsport remaining upbeat despite a slow start. The Millionaires were playing as well as any District 4 team in the regular season’s final weeks and reached a third straight district final, Brown’s production and leadership being big reasons why.

Named both the District 4 Big School and HAC-I Player of the Year, Brown finished his high school career with a .404 batting average and .502 on-base percentage. If not for injuries his freshman and senior seasons, Brown likely would have reached 100 career hits. Despite those obstacles, he still collected 87 with 63 RBIs and hit 377 or higher three times.

Brown made his mark at Williamsport and those who pushed him for the area’s top honor certainly have done so at their schools as well.

Second runners-up–Griffen Harrington, Warrior Run and Ethan Nagy, Loyalsock: Part of a strong sophomore class, Harrington helped lead Warrior Run to just the third District 4 final in program history and especially was a force down the stretch. The first baseman/pitcher hit .418 with a .526 on-base percentage, slamming five home runs, eight doubles and two triples. Harrington also drove in 22 runs from the lead-off spot, while adding 26 runs. He has 50 career hits in two years and totaled 10 multi-hit games, reaching base in all but one of the 22 games. Harrington also shined on the mound, going 2-2 with a save, a 2.28 ERA and allowing just 30 hits in 43 innings.

More on his pitching in a bit, but Nagy was equally dangerous with his bat. The senior infielder earned HAC-III Player of the Year honors and hit .406 with a .486 on-base percentage. The Lock Haven-bound pitcher closed his year with a 13-game hitting streak and hit safely in 18 of 20 games, reaching base in all but one. Nagy drove in 16 runs, smashed six doubles and provided strong defense.

First runner-up–Kaden Shay, South Williamsport: In the discussion for top District 4 lead-off hitter, Shay was a constant threat who ignited South all season and who put up big numbers all four years there. When the Lycoming-bound shortstop reached base, there was a strong chance he was scoring. Shay had some Ricky Henderson in him, stealing an area-high 32 bases, while hitting .446 with a .562 on-base percentage, helping South reach a third straight District 4 Class AA final and state tournament. Shay reached base 21 times in 23 games, scored 32 runs and was a catalyst the past four seasons. During that time, Shay hit .363, stole a whopping 83 bases and scored 103 times. Shay also delivered 83 career hits and South won at least 15 games every year he was there.

SUN-GAZETTE PITCHER OF THE YEAR

Second runners-up–Ethan Nagy, Loyalsock and Jerrin Loomis, Jersey Shore: Nagy completed a sweep of HAC-III awards, adding Pitcher of the Year to his Player of the Year. The hard-throwing right-hander went 4-1 with a 1.69 ERA and threw some of his best games against some of Loyalsock’s toughest opponents. Nagy struck out 73 batters in 45 2/3 innings and held opponents to a .200 batting average. He shined especially bright at the Backyard Brawl, throwing a five-hit shutout with eight strikeouts and no walks in a 1-0 win against South.

Loomis delivered time after time in key games and was at the heart of Jersey Shore’s turnaround as the Bulldogs reached districts for the first time since 2018. Like Nagy, Loomis will pitch at Lock Haven next season and went 5-2 with a save and 3.29 ERA. He allowed just 35 hits in 55 1/3 innings and joined Montgomery’s Briar Persing as the first pitchers since Tripp Breen in 2019 to top 100 strikeouts in a season. Loomis finished with 103 strikeouts, fanning at least eight batters seven times and earning first team HAC-I honors.

First runner-up–Logan Kirby, Montoursville: After bursting onto the scene last season, Kirby enhanced his reputation as both one of the area’s premier pitchers and big-game performers. The sophomore right-hander finished 5-1 with two saves, compiling a 1.55 ERA as the Warriors reached a sixth straight district final. Kirby has been absolutely dominant in two postseason starts and threw a two-hit shutout against Mifflinburg in the district semifinals. Kirby struck out five that day against Wake Forest-bound Troy Dressler, and shutdown a team which had beaten Montoursville, 9-1 in the regular season. In two playoff starts the past two years, Kirby is 2-0, allowing no runs and six hits. Kirby struck out 48 batters in 40 2/3 innings and also hit .478 with 11 RBIs.

And the winner is … Briar Persing, Montgomery: He was as good as advertised, folks. Persing generated headlines through his youth baseball career and started his high school tenure with a jolt. The freshman right-hander went 9-1 with a save and 2.02 ERA, not suffering his first loss until the district semifinals against state semifinalist Wyalusing. A hard thrower with good movement on his pitches, Persing allowed just 33 hits in 56 1/3 innings and struck out an area-best 121. The District 4 Small School Pitcher of the Year, Persing topped ten strikeouts in six of his starts, including ten in five innings against Warrior Run and 22 in two starts against rival Muncy. Persing also hit .338 with 30 RBIs, 27 runs and 14 stolen bases, helping Montgomery capture its first Mid-Penn championship since 2006.

SUNG-GAZETTE ALL-STARS

STARTING LINEUP

1, Kaden Shay, IF, South Williamsport; 2, Griffen Harrington, IF, Warrior Run; 3, Deacon Brown, OF, Williamsport; 4, Lucas Naughton, Williamsport, IF, (.478, .558 obp, 2 HR, 7 2B, 33 H, 12 RBIs, 16R, hit in 19 of 22 games, 10 multi-hit games, 11-game hit streak, 1st team HAC-I and D4); 5, Watt Probst, C, Central Mountain (.340, .433 obp, 8 2B, 24 RBIs, threw out 9 base runners); 6, Dylan Bower, Loyalsock (.410, .564 obp, 2 2B, 13 RBIs, 8R, reached base every game, 1st team HAC-III); 7, Briar Persing, P, Montgomery; 8, Holden Ward, IF, Canton (.435, .593 obp, HR, 4 3B, 8 2B, 21 RBIs, 35R, 21 SB, 74 career hits, 103 career runs, 55 career steals, NTL Player of Year); 9, Aiden Barlett, OF, Hughesville (.421, .539 obp, 3B, 4 2B, 13 RBIs, 19R, 9 SB, 8 multi-hit games, 1st team HAC-III, 55 hits last 2 years)

STARTING ROTATION

Briar Persing, Montgomery; Logan Kirby, Montoursville; Ethan Nagy, Loyalsock; Jerrin Loomis, Jersey Shore; Noah Turner, South Williamsport (7-2, 2.27 ERA, 58 IP, 49 Ks, 15 wins last 2 years, 4-0 in postseason)

BULLPEN

Ryan Schur, Williamsport (2-1, 0.27 ERA, 25 2/3 IP, 7H, 18 Ks, 1st team HAC-I, D4); Kaiser Kistner, South (5-2, 3 SV, 2.64 ERA, 2.69 ERA, 53 IP, 40 Ks); Wyatt Bair, Williamsport (3-1, 2.03 ERA, 38 IP, 30H, 27 Ks, 1-hit shutout in district semis); Cooper Shaw, North Penn-Mansfield (4-3, 3 SV, 2.54 ERA, 52 1/3 IP, 42H, 47 Ks); Landon Polcyn, Warrior Run (4-4, 2.88 ERA, 34 IP, 25H, 59 Ks)

FIRST-TEAM RESERVES

Stone Allison, OF, Warrior Run (.382, .506 obp, 3 HR, 2B, 19 RBIs, 16R, 9 SB, 1st team HAC-III); Parker Bennett, IF, Montgomery (.446, . 538 obp, 2 HR, 3 3B, 7 2B, 20 RBIs, 22R, 1st team Mid-Penn); Tucker Blasi, OF, Sullivan County (.468, .597 obp, 3 3B, 6 2B, 10 RBIs, 19R, 22 SB, 8 multi-hit games), 1st team Mid-Penn); Royce Bowes, IF, Montoursville (.410, .544 obp, 3B, 3 2B, 12 RBIs, 20R, 8 multi-hit games); Alex Davis, C, North Penn-Mansfield (.393, .506 obp, 3 HR, 8 2B, 11 RBIs, 25R, 18 SB, 82 career hits, 73 career runs 25 career doubles); Keller Friese, OF, Bucktail (area batting champion at .655, .698 obp, 2 HR, 3 3B, 14 2B, 26 RBIs, 36 H, 25R; 19 SB, 12 multi-hit games); Kellen Jackson, IF, Williamsport (.373, .493 obp, area-high 6 HR, 5 2B, 24 RBIs, 21R, 1st team HAC-I); Kayne Jones, C, South (.362, .492 obp, 3 2B, 11 RBIs); Logan Kiess, OF, Hughesville (.340, .522 obp, 2 3B, 2 2B, 13 RBIs, 14R); Gage Martzall, IF, Jersey Shore (.383, .532 obp, HR, 10 2B, 17 RBIs, 11R, reached base in all 21 games, 1st team HAC-I); Quinn Ranck, IF, Montoursville (.353, .547 obp, 2 HR, 3B, 6 2B, 17 RBIs, 20R; 1st team HAC-II)

SECOND TEAM

Brody Aldenderfer, OF, Montoursville (.347, .460 obp, 3B, 4 2B, 17 RBIs, 15R); Coen Britton, OF, Williamsport (.339, .494 obp, 2 3B, 3 2B, 11 RBIs, 18R, 0E); Tanner Clayton, IF, Hughesville; Noah Confer, IF, Muncy (.339, .444 obp, HR, 6 2B, 19 RBIs, 22R, 17 SB, 103 career hits, 77 RBIs, 90R, 39 SB); Braydon Kamerer, C, Muncy (.351, .507 obp, HR, 2 2B, 25 RBIs, 17R, 79 career RBIs); Tadd Lusk, OF, South (.373, .440 obp, 4 2B, 2 3B, 11 RBIs, 18R); Parker Persing, IF, Montgomery (..355, .455 obp, 3B, 3 2B, 28 RBIs, 23R); Caden Smith, IF, Wellsboro (.391, .462 obp, 4 2B, 9 RBIs, 18R, 88 career hits, 78 runs); Hudson Ward, OF, Canton (.356, .467 obp, HR, 5 2B, 23 RBIs, 32R, 19 SB); Chase Wright, C, St. John Neumann (.379, .493 obp, HR, 2 3B, 5 2B, 12 RBIs, 25R, 9 SB)

SUN-GAZETTE BREAKTHROUGH PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Second runner-up–Cohen Zechman, Warrior Run: A first team HAC-III all-star, Zechman excelled offensively and defensively while helping Warrior Run reach the district final. One of many heralded Warrior Run sophomores, Zechman hit .338 with a .438 on-base percentage and heated up during the team’s strong push down the stretch. He added a home run, triple, eight doubles, 20 RBIs and 14 runs.

First runner-up–Tanner Clayton, Hughesville: Another first team HAC-III all-star, Clayton excelled in his first season starting. The slick-fielding shortstop helped Hughesville repeat as league champions and was outstanding in the No. 9 spot, turning the lineup over and igniting rallies. Clayton put together the area’s longest hitting streak, lasting 17 games, and compiled a .393 average. He added 10 RBIs and 14 runs.

And the winner is … Nick Delany, Muncy: An injury prematurely ended his football season last fall and threatened to derail his baseball campaign. But Delany fought through and the sophomore enjoyed an outstanding season in his first full starting gig. Delany provided pop in the middle of Muncy’s lineup and earned first team Mid-Penn honors after hitting .393 with a .469 on-base percentage. Delany will be a player Muncy builds around next season and was among team leaders in RBIs and runs with 21 and 24, respectively.

SUN-GAZETTE NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR

Second runner-up–Blake Walker, Central Mountain: One of many first-time starters last spring, Walker helped Central Mountain build on its strong tradition and was especially effective late in the year. The sophomore infielder hit .393 and produced a .493 on-base percentage, helping the Wildcats go 13-6 and finish tied for second in the HAC-I. Walker scored 21 times, drove in 13 runs and hit seven doubles and is one of many talented Wildcats returning next year.

First runner-up–Trace Furman, Montgomery: Speaking of teams bringing back strong groups, Montgomery will return nearly every player. And Furman is yet another reason the future looks so bright there. The versatile outfielder was one of five freshmen starters and hit .316 while being a Money Ball type of player and generating a .472 on-base percentage. Furman showed a knack for delivering key hits in big moments and was fourth on the team with 17 RBIs. He hit a go-ahead single in a win against District 4 Class AAA runner-up Warrior Run and added an RBI single in a district quarterfinal win against Northwest.

And the winner is … Graden Dohl, Hughesville: A player who often was around the field a year ago when Hughesville captured the District 4 Class AAA championship, Dohl absorbed information from three staff aces like a sponge and quickly emerged as one himself as a freshman this past spring. Dohl went 4-1 with a save and a 2.92 ERA while navigating a demanding league and non-conference schedule. The right-hander struck out 42 batters in 38 1/3 innings and was undefeated until Hughesville’s second-to-last regular season game. A quick learner with quality poise, Dohl gives Hughesville quite a pitching building block going forward.

SUN-GAZETTE COACH OF THE YEAR

Second runners-up–Kyle Schneider, Williamsport and Casey Waller, South Williamsport: Williamsport basically featured an entire new pitching staff and was replacing multiple starters in the field and in the lineup. Not surprisingly, Williamsport started 3-5, but Schneider kept saying this team could be dangerous and the Millionaires proved him right. Williamsport won 11 of its next 13 games, captured the Backyard Brawl for the first time since 2016 and reached a second straight District 2-4 Class 6A championship. Williamsport also formed the foundation for more success next season. Waller again helped his team get everything it could from its season. The Mounties reached a third straight District 4 Class AA final and state tournament. They also were two outs from defeating state finalist Tri-Valley in the opening round. South has encountered one of the district’s toughest small school schedules the past three and Waller has helped it win at least 15 games every time.

First runner-up–Chris Kish, Hughesville: Many thought Hughesville was looking at a rebuilding season after graduating its top three pitchers and most of the starters from the 2023 District 4 Class AAA champion. But this season was a reminder that Kish and his staff have built a strong program, not just a good team. Hughesville repeated as HAC-III champions, earned the top seed for districts again, finished 15-4 and swept two games from district champion/state quarterfinalist Mount Carmel. Over the past two seasons, Hughesville is 16-4 in one of the district’s most balanced leagues.

And the winner is … Jeremy Eck, Montoursville: If Hughesville was facing a rebuilding project, Montoursville encountered a massive overhaul. Only two full-time starters returned from the 2023 state quarterfinalist and one, Jaden Wilson, was injured at different times this season. Instead of taking a step back, Montoursville kept surging forward with its young core and reached a sixth straight District 4 Class AAAA final, coming within a run of defeating eventual state semifinalist Danville. The Warriors finished 14-5, handed Danville one of its two HAC-II losses, defeated Mifflinburg in the district semifinals and opened the season 8-1. Eck’s teams have reached the district final in all six seasons he has coached at his alma mater and most of this year’s group will be back in 2025.

Honorable Mention: Joe Dunn, Jersey Shore; Derrick Zechman, Warrior Run; Tim Persing, Montgomery; Shawn Finn, Muncy

GAME OF THE YEAR

Second runner-up–Muncy 10, St. John Neumann 4: This one was a whole lot closer than the score shows, going nine innings at Logue Field. The Knights erased a sixth inning deficit but Muncy did the same in the seventh and forced extras, where it broke things open in the ninth. Pitchers Kadyn Berry and Stiles Eyer repeatedly pitched out of jams, helping Muncy rally.

First runner-up–Hughesville 8, Trinity 4: Hughesville snapped a two-game losing streak and fueled an eight-game winning streak with this gutsy win against the Class AAA state semifinalist. The Spartans produced 11 hits and Trent Wetzel threw 4 2/3 innings of scoreless baseball, allowing just one hit, as they erased a two-run, fourth inning deficit and won a season-changing game.

And the winner is … Williamsport 12, Montoursville 11: I thought I had seen just about everything in 25 years of high school baseball reporting, but this was a new one and it was thrilling to watch. Montoursville erupted for 11 runs in the bottom of the second inning, taking a 10-run lead against Williamsport in the Backyard Brawl semifinals. It felt like only a matter of whether this one would go all seven innings at that point. But Williamsport tied the game … the next half inning. The Millionaires scored 10 runs, seven with two outs, and immediately tied it 11-11 before pitcher’s duel broke out. The game stayed that way until Lucas Naughton hit a walk-off single as Williamsport reached the championship which it would win later that day.