All are reasons the Red Raiders have started the season, 6-0. They also are just some of the reasons coach Chris Glenn is especially excited about what could be coming. Because as well as Montgomery has played these first six games, Glenn believes they can still become much better.

“I realize we’re 6-0, but our full potential has not been close to being touched,” Glenn said. I’m grateful for the good start but we want to be playing best ball at the end of May and into June. That’s what we build on. I’ve coached a lot of these kids since junior high and they have learned so much that we can work on some new things and it’s great when you can do that and they really respond to that well. I’m looking forward to seeing what the rest of the season holds.”

Time will tell, but early indications are it could turn out quite well. Montgomery already featured a strong core of returning starters entering the season but has received an added boost from some exciting freshmen and the return of five-tool threat Zoe Furman who missed last season with an injury and already has developed into a weapon in center field and on the bases, while hitting .533.

All those talented players are helping Montgomery build impressive depth. Not only have the starters performed well, but so have the reserves when called upon. What Glenn especially likes is how they only seemed focus on winning and not individual stats.

DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette Ava Hartman pitches against St. John Neumann last year. The Red Raiders are rallying around one another this season, practicing hard and staying determined and it’s why Montgomery is 6-0.

“The best part is how well they have bonded and played as a unit,” Glenn said. “It seems like if someone is not having the best day, someone else is. They pick each other up and you can’t ask for more than that as a coach.”

Furman, Madisyn Miller and Ava Hartman are having super seasons but equally important, they are setting the tone as leaders. They are talking the talk, walking the walk and setting a strong example.

That has produced impressive results with Montgomery hitting a collective .377 with Hartman, Jenna Houseknecht and Arianna Snyder also pitching well.

“The players look up to our leaders and they are being good examples and it’s a good balance with them being able to help bring out the best in the players,” Glenn said. “We’re very fortunate to have depth. I have as much confidence in our ninth batter getting a hit as I do our first one. That’s big. If someone is having an off day, you don’t have to go far in the lineup to have someone who is having an on day.”

Montgomery proved that its second game when it turned a late five-run deficit into a thrilling 10-9 win. On a cold, blustery day, the Raiders overcame some early mistakes, focused on the next play and produced 13 hits while earning a turning point victory.

Yes, many challenges remain, but knowing it can fight back and beat a quality opponent certainly provides a boost. And it lets Montgomery know going forward that when times grow difficult, they can still prevail.

“That Halifax game was a great game for us. You learn about yourself in games like that where you have to do everything right and you know that one play can make the difference,” Glenn said. “They kept chipping away and believing and it resulted in a big win.”

Montgomery also has good wins against Muncy and Bucktail, beating both Mid-Penn rivals for the first time since its 2022 state championship season. Another challenge comes Wednesday when the Raiders host Sullivan County. The Griffins handed Montgomery its last loss, defeating it in last year’s District 4 Class A semifinals.

And as much as Montgomery hopes to win that rematch, the bigger goal simply is improving every day. Achieving that goal is what could help Montgomery turn a strong start into a super season.

“We hadn’t beaten Muncy or Bucktail in two years and that itch to get a ‘W’ back in the column had them motivated and the Sullivan loss added fuel to the fire,” Glenn said “They don’t forget that. They practice hard and their intensity is good. It’s exciting.”

TOURNAMENT ALL-STARS

Although there are eight teams at the annual Williamsport Tournament, it certainly has a Backyard Brawl feel with Williamsport, South Williamsport, Loyalsock and Montoursville all there.

South blitzed its way to the championship, defeating Montoursville, 7-1 in Saturday’s final and capping a 3-0 run. Montoursville produced impressive wins against Delaware Valley which is 6-1 and Williamsport which entered 3-0. The Millionaires opened with an exciting 4-3 win against Union-Endicott and Loyalsock closed with a strong performance in a 17-2 consolation win against U-E.

This reporter picks a Backyard Brawl all-tournament team in baseball this season, and having all four Brawl teams in the same softball tournament is quite fun as well. Therefore, the following is a Williamsport Tournament all-star team featuring those four county teams.

Tournament All-Stars

IF–Abby Lorson, South (4-10, 2 HR, 2B, 6 RBIs, 3R); IF–Zaelana Minor, Williamsport (5-7, two multi-hit games); IF–Kayleigh Sheleman, Montoursville (4-9, 3 HR vs Williamsport, 7 RBIs); IF–Easton Waller, Loyalsock (4-8, 2 HR, 2 2B, 3 BB, 7 RBIs, 16 Ks in 10 2/3 IP); IF–Kendall Cardone, South (4-8, HR, 2 BB, 4 RBIs, 4R, 3-hit complete game pitching); OF–Mikaiya Hills, South (6-11, RBI, 2R, two three-hit games); OF–Ashlyn Robinson, Williamsport (4-7, 2B, 2 RBIs, 1-0 pitching); OF–Sage Lorson, South (4-9, 2B, 4 RBIs); C–Lily Reidy, South; DH–Emily Holtzapple, South (5-7, 2B, 3 RBIs, 2R, hit in all 3 games); P–Alizabeth Schuler, South (2-0, 3-inning perfect game, 1 run, 6 hits allowed in 10 innings, 13 Ks, 5-10, 2 HR, 5 RBIs, 5R); P–Julie Friel, Montoursville (2-1, 0 earned runs, 7 hits allowed in 2 wins with 15 Ks)

Tournament MVP

Lily Reidy, South

In addition to supplying super defense and helping both Schuler and Cardone throw gems, Reidy hit safely in all three wins. She opened the tournament with two three-hit games and went 7 for 10 with a home run, double, four RBIs and five runs.

EXTRA BASES

Bucktail freshman threw an especially perfect, three-inning perfect game in a 15-0 win against Benton last Wednesday. Ditty struck out all nine batters she faced, giving her 20 strikeouts in her last two starts. Junior Eva Sockman went 3 for 3 with a home run, triple and double, collecting her 80th career hit in the process. Lola English doubled twice and scored twice … Leah Vest had a big day for Muncy, going 2 for 3 with a triple, four RBIs and three runs in a 23-2 win against Millville. Taylor Shannon also drove in three runs and pitcher Chevelle Bauman struck out three in two innings for the win … Sullivan County catcher Kayla Fowler is enjoying a fabulous senior year and is among the state’s leaders in batting average, hitting .846 through six games. After going 3 for 3 in a 26-2 win against Sugar Valley, Fowler is 13 for 15 with three home runs, three doubles and 17 RBIs.

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

DR. MASSE’S TOP 5 RANKINGS

1. North Penn-Liberty (6-0): Inclement weather kept North Penn-Liberty off the field last week and it returns to it today against Canton. The Mounties graduated most of last year’s starters, but a new set of talented players was waiting in the wings and has helped them earn quality wins against Wyalusing, Hughesville, Towanda and Troy.

2. South Williamsport (8-2): Literally everyone contributed as South captured its second Williamsport Tournament championship in three seasons, outscoring Upper Dauphin, Mifflinburg and Montoursville, 32-1. Coming off a surprising defeat the previous Friday, South played well in all facets and pitchers Alizabeth Schuler and Kendall Cardone allowed just eight hits in three games. Every starter produced multiple hits and South reached double-digit hit totals in each contest.

“Everyone was hyped and ready to go,” Cardone said. “I think we came back wanting to win and wanting to prove ourselves and showing what we’re capable of.”

“You never want to lose, but it’s about how do you respond? That’s the bottom line and these girls responded in the right way, that’s or sure,” South coach Tom O’Malley said. “They definitely had a little chip on their shoulder and played to their potential.”

3. Hughesville (5-1): Hughesville played for the first time in nine days Monday when it hosted Bucktail. The Spartans are off to their best start of the 2000s and entered riding a five-game winning streak. Senior pitcher Ella Breneisen has been locked in, winning her last four starts and allowing just two runs in her previous two. In those four starts, Breneisen allowed more than one earned run just one time. The Spartans started a three-game week Monday and have a rematch at Montoursville Thursday after rallying to edge the Warriors, 8-7 in eight innings the first time around.

4. Montoursville (6-4): Speaking of Montoursville, it came storming back following that heartbreaker in Hughesville, winning five straight before the Williamsport Tournament final. Julie Friel pitched two super games at the tournament, allowing no earned runs in those wins and striking out a season-best 11 against Delaware Valley which went on to score 10 runs in its next two games. Emily George totaled five RBIs in the two victories and Montoursville started its week with victories against Warrior Run and Bloomsburg, scoring 24 runs in those contests. Avery Cozzi and Raigan Fredericks each homered in the 17-6 win at Bloomsburg.

5. Jersey Shore (2-1): If the inept meteorologists who repeatedly have provided wrong forecasts this spring are right for once, Jersey Shore may get to play for the first time in two weeks today against Danville. The Bulldogs have endured a run of postponements since battering Selinsgrove, 27-6 on April 1 while collecting 23 hits. If the weather cooperates (a big if), Jersey Shore could catch up some and play on each of the next four days. The first three are league games as the Bulldogs try repeating as HAC-I champions after sharing the crown with rival Central Mountain last season.

Players of the Week

Kayleigh Sheleman, Montoursville and Madisyn Miller, Montgomery: Even before her three home run barrage against Williamsport, Sheleman had put together a strong week. Playing five times, Sheleman hit .583, delivering two three-hit performances and three multi-hit games. She came up big in a 7-4 win against Warrior Run, finishing 3 for 3 with an RBI as Montoursville erased a three-run deficit. Miller also is having a super junior season and has been wearing out opposing pitchers. The three-year starting first baseman was 5 for 5 with a triple, two walks, six RBIs and seven runs in wins against Benton and CMVT. Miller also collected her 70th career hit and is hitting .733 with 16 RBIs this season.

Game of the Week

Sullivan County at Montgomery: Wednesday’s game is the renewal of a Mid-Penn rivalry which became quite interesting last year. Montgomery won two hard-fought regular season games before Sullivan upset it in the district semifinals, winning, 8-4 after Montgomery swept the regular season series. These teams also are ranked Nos. 1-2 in the district standings. Both teams feature exciting offenses and they combined for 56 runs in last year’s three contests.