Abigail Lorson of South Williamsport hits a single in the 7th inning against Jersey Shore in Jersey Shore Friday afternoon. South won the game, 11-5. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Abby Lorson, Maddie Pinkerton and Emily Holtzapple all are hitting .400 or higher. They also have generated 35 RBIs.

And that is just the bottom of South Williamsport’s lineup. At South, the bottom is up or maybe it’s the other way around? Or maybe it’s the middle and then … Well, you get the idea.

It really does not matter where South is in its lineup. Everyone can hit and the Mounties continued showing it last Friday, pounding out 15 hits in an 11-5 win against two-time defending District 4 Class AAAA champion Jersey Shore.

“This is a tough lineup,” Pinkerton said after going 2 for 4 with a double and two RBIs at Jersey Shore. “We really can give it to them 1-9.”

Doing so has helped South start 11-2 despite tackling a difficult schedule. The Mounties totaled 35 runs and 41 hits in wins against three likely playoff-bound teams last week and every starter is batting .310 or higher.

Softball can be humbling and sometimes the hits do not fall as South learned in a 4-3 extra-inning loss against Warrior Run. Still, having threats at each spot in the lineup not only makes South dangerous each game, but also gives each player some added confidence.

Because if one Mountie is struggling that day, there is a good chance there is another one ready to pick her up. This core has been together a long time, the seven seniors since Little League and Pinkerton and center fielder Mikaiya Hills are three-year starters. They repeatedly have rallied around each other over the years and continue bring out the best in each other.

“With everyone before me in the lineup, it gives me no pressure because they’re all good hitters,” Pinkerton said. “We have confidence in everyone.”

Eight players delivered hits against Jersey Shore and six players had two. That included Lorson, Pinkerton and Holtzapple who combined for six hits and five RBIs. Holtzapple worked her way into the starting lineup around midseason last year and has become quite a weapon in the ninth spot, hitting .412 with 13 RBIs.

It’s not just that Holtzapple is effectively turning the lineup over, it’s that she consistently is producing clutch hits in key situations. Holtzapple has been especially potent in two-out situations, hitting a two-run, two-out single in the Williamsport Tournament championship against Montoursville before adding two more two-out hits against Jersey Shore which brought in two runs.

“Emily has been getting key hits. She’s been getting a lot of two-out hits. She’s done that quite a few games in a row,” South coach Tom O’Malley said. “She makes good contact and puts the ball in play. She’s really unselfish and she does whatever it takes. She’s just a good teammate who will do whatever you need.”

Her teammates take similar approaches and that has this lineup looking especially well-rounded. The schedule is loaded going down the stretch but South knowing it features so many quality hitters keeps it confident.

It also gives opponents a lot to think about. Not that South is satisfied. The goal now is to keep growing, keep improving and put all the pieces together at the perfect time when the playoffs arrive.

“We have to keep working and staying focused,” O’Malley said. “Every day is a another opportunity for us to try and keep getting a little bit better.”

SETTLING IN

Loyalsock faced some big obstacles coming into the season after a decorated group of seniors graduated last June following a run to the Class AAA state quarterfinals. This is a young team and Sofia Mileto is the only senior, but the Lancers are proving quick learners and are coming on strong.

Loyalsock (8-4) swept an exciting doubleheader from fellow Class AAA contender Hughesville last Thursday and entered the week tied for the first with rival Montoursville in the HAC-III. Loyalsock has won four straight games and kept coming back every time Hughesville seemed to have seized momentum in games which were tied in the sixth and seventh innings, respectively.

“I think we’re definitely more confident now,” freshman Kinsie Phillips said after striking out the heart of Hughesville’s lineup to secure the second Hughesville win. “I think we’ll go out into the games knowing we can do it. We put enough work in that we should always play like this.”

Loyalsock unloaded its arsenal in those two wins and it was imperative because Hughesville (9-4) also kept responding every time it seemed like the Lancers were in control. Phillips, Easton Waller, Lydia Kresock and Sophia Miller all pitched and delivered in key situations while players throughout the lineup delivered hits.

Shyla Fulp went 3 for 4 with two RBIs in the second game and sophomore Addi Barowy twice scorched two-out, sixth inning hits which generated three runs and gave her team vital insurance runs which loomed large.

It’s process and Loyalsock is growing. It also is gaining more experienced and believing more. That could provide a successful recipe.

“We’re growing. We’re getting there,” Loyalsock coach Mark Godfrey said. “We’re still making some mistakes on the bases and missing cut offs and things like that sometimes, but you have to play through mistakes and they’re doing that and they’re battling.”

100/100 CLUB

Less than a week after driving in her 100th career run, Muncy catcher Taylor Shannon reached another impressive milestone when she ripped her 100th career hit last Friday in a 20-4 win against CMVT. Shannon needed one hit entering the contest to reach 100 and went 3 for 5 with a home run, double and four RBIs. The Lock Haven-bound senior is Muncy’s all-time home run leader and is near the top of most other offensive categories as well, entering the week with 102 hits and 104 RBIs.

EXTRA BASES

Hughesville thundered back following the doubleheader and routed Bloomsburg, 19-1 the following day. Every starter produced a hit and five delivered two each. Sophomore center fielder Ashlynn Barlett went 7 for 12 over the two-day, three-game span and Avery Earnest made a big impact in her first starts, going 5 for 10. Ella Breneisen went 3 for 4 with a home run, double and two RBIs in an 8-2 win against Warrior Run which started the week … Leah Vest went 4 for 5 with two doubles, three RBIs and four runs in Muncy’s win against CMVT. Chevelle Bauman was 3 for 5 with three RBIs and three runs while dominating in relief, striking out nine in 4 2/3 innings of one-hit pitching … Montgomery (9-0) recorded its most impressive win this season, thumping Line Mountain, 10-1. Ava Hartman threw a three-hitter against a team with a potent offense and Addi Muhl, Zoe Furman and Arianna Snyder all had two hits. Hartman and Madisyn Miller both had two hits as Montgomery followed that up with a 19-3 win against Millville … Sullivan County has overcome late-game multiple run deficits twice this season, the latest coming last week when it surged past Bucktail, 8-7 in 10 innings. Kayla Fowler and Mariah Hallabuk each had three hits and Miley Dickinson drove in three runs. Fowler also had two triples as the Griffins improved to 8-3 … Makenna Stone is having a strong season for Bucktail and went 6 for 9 with three doubles and three RBIs as the Bucks split games against CMVT and Sullivan. Eva Sockman had a huge day against CMVT, finishing 3 for 4 with a home run and seven RBIs … Wellsboro freshman Ady Frantz is having a strong debut season and made history Friday, tying Brooke Kohler’s single-game Wellsboro record of 16 strikeouts in an 11-0 win against Cowanesque Valley. She also added two hits, including a double.

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

DR. MASSE’S TOP 5 RANKINGS

1. South Williamsport (11-2): All but one of South’s remaining regular season games are against perennial district and/or state title contenders. That is exactly the way the Mounties like it, too, as they keep the big picture in mind. Wednesday will be a fun one in particular with Bald Eagle and the Mounties colliding at South. This is a rematch of the last two Class AA Eastern Region champions with the teams splitting those contests and reaching the state finals. BEA has moved up to 3A this season, so this will be the last time these teams, which feature most of the same players from the previous two seasons, play.

2. North Penn-Liberty (9-1): North Penn-Liberty made quick work of Wellsboro and Sayre, winning mercy rule games, 11-0 and 17-3. The Mounties built momentum for a challenging week which includes three games against likely playoff qualifiers Towanda, Troy and Hughesville. Haley Litzelman, Elyna Booth, Elaina Shaw, Clarie Dominick and Maddie McNamara all produced multi-hit games against Sayre and all are underclassmen, highlighting how both the present and future look strong at North Penn-Liberty. Booth went over 100 strikeouts in her first season pitching at the varsity level and has an area-high 116 strikeouts in 57 2/3 innings.

3. Montoursville (10-4): It feels like a long time ago that Montoursville was 1-3. The Warriors knew they were a better team than the record showed, losing all three games in walk-off fashion and have come storming back to already secure a District 4 Class AAA playoff berth. That resilience shined through in an exciting 8-6 win at Warrior Run Thursday when Montoursville rallied from a five-run deficit. Lia Bozochovic had two hits in that win and both she and Jill Stone hit doubles, while Jordan Chamberlain tripled. Julie Friel had three hits and Avery Cozzi two in a 12-4 win to open the week at Southern Columbia. The Warriors have surged into third in the playoff standings and the top four finishers will host quarterfinals.

4. Central Mountain (7-1): Three times Central Mountain has been scheduled to play Jersey Shore and three times Mother Nature intervened. That finally changed yesterday as one part of the log jam atop the HAC-I was broken up. Those two and Williamsport all entered the week tied for first. Central Mountain entered having won five straight games, scoring 60 runs in those games. Camdyn Weaver threw a three-hitter in a 15-4 win at Bloomsburg, striking out 14, while Aubrey Eiler homered.

5. Williamsport (7-4): Williamsport handed Jersey Shore its first league loss and now has wins against both of last year’s co-champions. The Millionaires are hitting their stride and have big wins against BEA and Jersey Shore in their last three contests, sandwiched between, an 11-0 win against Danville. Bailey Livermore and Ashlyn Robinson stifled potent offenses last week and the Millionaires collected 22 hits in those games. Kate Solomon hit a pinch-hit, walk-off home run against Danville as Williamsport continues seeing production throughout its roster. Brenna Beck was 5 for 8 with a triple, two doubles and three RBIs in the wins. Williamsport has moved to the top of the District 2-4 Class 6A champions and also has a shot at winning at least a share of its first HAC-I championship since joining the league in 2023.

Players of the Week

Kayleigh Sheleman, Montoursville and Addi Barowy, Loyalsock

Sheleman put on a show at Warrior Run, igniting the comeback and going 3 for 3 with two home runs, including a grand slam, and six RBIs. Sheleman also homered against Southern Columbia and has an area-best eight home runs this season. She finished the week 5 for 7, driving in eight runs and scoring five. Barowy is building off her strong 2024 postseason and settling into the middle of Loyalsock’s lineup. The sophomore delivered a series of clutch hits in both Hughesville wins and finished her week 5 for 9 with three doubles and seven RBIs. She produced two two-out sixth inning hits which generated three runs late in each Hughesville game and those hits, ultimately, helped make the difference in the outcome.

Game of the Week

Montoursville at Loyalsock

Depending on what happens in the two prior Loyalsock-Warrior Run games, Thursday’s contest at Short Park could potentially be for the HAC-III title. Both entered the week tied for first. If Loyalsock wins the two Warrior Run games, it would then have a shot to capture the outright crown against Montoursville. Conversely, the Warriors can earn a share of the championship if they win Thursday, with a game against Bloomsburg the following week. Montoursville won the first game, 6-4, and this would could potentially be even more exciting than that one which was tied in the sixth inning.