STATE COLLEGE– Well before Penn State’s Beard Field gates opened Friday, Blue-clad South Williamsport lined up outside. Patiently and happily they waited.

South had been waiting 21 years for a moment like this. And while the result did not turn out how the Mounties hoped, those same fans remained as enthusiastic and cheerful afterward. Ultimately, it was not about the final moment but all the memorable moments which defined who this South team was and what it represented. Those are the ones the fans remembered as they saluted their team as it received the runner-up trophy.

Addy Frye threw a three-hitter and slammed a go-ahead, third inning two-run home run which ignited a 10-run eruption over two at-bats as Neshannock defeated South Williamsport 12-2 in five innings and captured the Class AA State Championship. Sure, South wanted that state title bad, but it put up a fight, erasing a two-run deficit to tie the game in the third, made some great plays and created some more memories along the way.

And whether South had won or lost yesterday, no result could dent those memories. This team is linked forever now, one of only four in program history to reach a state final and one of the best to ever play at South.

“It’s definitely going to be something we never forget,” shortstop Gianna Goodman said after going 1 for 3 with an RBI. “This is a moment we’ll remember for a lifetime.”

Maddie Pinkerton of South Williamsport rounds third base and scores in the third inning against Neshannock during the PIAA 2A Championship game on the Penn State Campus Friday. Neshannock won 12-2. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

South (24-3) knocked down a 21-year-old wall and reached its first state final since 2003. The Mounties tied the program record for wins in a season while navigating one of the toughest schedules in Class AA. They relentlessly worked and competed, captured a third straight district championship and won 16 straight games en route to Penn State.

When the high school season started last March, 624 teams dreamed about reaching the state final. South was one of the 12 who did. What a mark it left; what a ride it took.

“I’m very grateful to be here with my teammates. We had been to two state championships together when we were younger, so it’s a lot,” left fielder Maddie Pinkerton said. “It’s amazing playing on this field with them.”

“Right now we’re all feeling low and we’re not thinking about how far we have come. But we were in the state championship and we got second place out of however many teams there are,” pitcher Alizabeth Schuler said after going 2 for 2 with an RBI double. “We did a good thing this season and we just need it to push us next season.”

Every player returns next season. This core group reached the state quarterfinals as freshmen, the Final 4 last year and the state final this year. Now, there is only one more river to cross.

South Williamsport players react in the dugout during the PIAA Class AA State Championship game against Neshannock. The Mounties fell, 12-2 and claimed runners-up honor. The loss caps a remarkable and historic season for South. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

A year ago, BEA ended South’s state title dreams in the semifinals. South regrouped, put together a dedicated offseason and defeated it in a rematch, 3-0 last Monday. Now, the Mounties are hoping history can repeat itself next season although they know how hard that challenge will be.

But before looking toward the future, South should take time and look at the past. Look at how many big games it won, how many different players delivered strong contributions and how so many coaches brought out the best in those players. When this group and/or anyone else looks at that whole package they can only be highly impressed.

“It’s obviously such a huge accomplishment, especially since we’re such a small school,” Goodman said. “Obviously, it’s not the outcome we wanted, but it’s a great achievement and we can’t hang our heads about it.”

“Right now, I just feel bad for the girls. As much as they accomplished, they have nothing to be ashamed of,” South coach Tom O’Malley said. “They had a tremendous season.”

Neshannock (25-0) won its second state championship in three years, going undefeated both times. The Lancers are 74-1 over the last three years and showed off their firepower by scoring 10 consecutive runs after South had tied the game in the top of the third.

Gianna Goodman of South Williamsport slides safely into second base on a steal in the third inning against Neshannock during the PIAA 2A Championship game on the Penn State Campus Friday. Neshannock won 12-2. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Frye drove a mammoth two-run home run over the left field fence in the bottom of the third before Gabby Quinn rocketed a three-run home run an inning later which highlighted a game-breaking, eight-run flurry.

Still, South kept fighting when victory hopes appeared dashed. Pinkerton made a spectacular diving catch for the inning’s first out and Goodman made a super play at shortstop for the third out.

Pinkerton hustled to beat out a grounder in the top of the fifth and Mikaiya Hills hit a drive to right-center field with two outs in the fifth. The ball, however, hung up some in the wind and was caught as Neshannock celebrated its third state championship since 2012.

Between the highlight plays and the tough at-bats, South proved that while Neshannock won the game, it could not be defeated.

“Some teams might put their heads down, but these girls, they fight to the last play, the last out,” O’Malley said. “They continued to do that today. They fight. They bring the energy.”

South proved that yet again when it tied the game in the third inning.

Neshannock took a quick 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first when Jaidon Nogay, Frye and Quinn all hit singles. Those three were big all day with Nogay going 3 for 3 with a three-run double in the fourth inning; Frye going 2 for 2 with three RBIs and Quinn 2 for 3 with four RBIs.

Frye, now 56-1 in her high school career, threw four consecutive one-hit shutouts and had allowed just nine runs all season entering the state final. Still, South faced tough pitchers all year and did not back down. Pinkerton produced one of the game’s best at-bats, opening the third by drawing a nine-pitch walk after falling behind 0-2. Emily Holtzapple bunted Pinkerton to second and Goodman scorched an RBI single into center field, pulling South within, 2-1.

“It felt great to get runs on the board and to come through that inning and put a little bit of pressure on them,” Goodman said. “It showed that we can score runs against them.”

South almost immediately did it again. Goodman displayed her speed two pitches later, stealing second and taking third when the ball went into center field. Schuler then belted a two-out RBI double into right-center field, tying the game 2-2.

South rallied from two runs down to beat Bristol in the quarterfinals and built momentum to make it look like it might happen again. Schuler made the most of her final at-bat this season in that inning, closing with a .505 average, 12 home runs and 43 RBIs.

“It was really cool. It was an amazing feeling knowing that I could help my team,” Schuler said. “Doing it in front of so many people was just amazing.”

Schuler opened the bottom of the third with a strikeout but Nogay followed with a single before Frye drove her home run well over the left-center field fence and put Neshannock up, 4-2. The Lancers sent nine straight batters to the plate before an out was recorded an inning later, Nogay and Quinn doing the most damage with their three-run double and three-run home run, respectively.

Again, though, South kept battling. Pinkerton charged in after a line drive and somehow caught what looked like a sure single, sliding and grabbing it about an inch before it hit the ground. Goodman made a similar excellent play on a sinking line drive and Pinkerton never gave up on a grounder that was briefly bobbled, sprinting to first to open the fifth inning.

It was plays like those and so many more made before this season which had so many fans camped outside the gate early Friday morning. It plays like those which will long keep this team special in the hearts of the community which watched it become one of the state’s two best teams.

“Everyone coming out, we appreciate that so much, Pinkerton said. “It definitely just made the loss easier looking and seeing everyone there.”

“The girls deserve all the accolades,” O’Malley said. “We were one game short, one hurdle short of our goal, but it’s been a great season. It’s been a heck of a journey.

South 002 00–2 3 3

Neshannock 202 8x–12 10 2

Alizabeth Schuler and Lily Reidy. Addy Frye and Gabby Perod. W:Frye. L:Schuler.

Top South hitters: Alizabeth Schuler 2-2, 2B, RBI; Gianna Goodman 1-3, RBI, R, SB; Maddie Pinkerton BB, R. Top Neshannock hitters: .Jaidon Nogay 3-3, 2B, 3 RBIs, 3R; Frye 2-2, HR, 3 RBIs; Gabby Quinn 2-3, HR, 4 RBIs, R.

Records: Neshannock 26-0. South 24-3.