Chris Masse on Warrior Run baseball: Tillson brings energy, intelligence to field, plate
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Before the shift was foolishly banned from Major League Baseball, hitters constantly could have beaten it had they simply laid down bunts toward cavernous empty territory.
While they were too proud to take advantage of opportunities presented, Warrior Run catcher Landon Tillson is not. No, defenses are not implementing the shift against him, but if Tillson sees them playing back he will not be afraid to drop a bunt.
He has done so repeatedly this season and it has played a large role in both Tillson leading Warrior Run in hitting and helping the Defenders (12-1) clinch an early playoff berth. Tillson displayed what makes him so well-rounded in last Wednesday’s 3-1 win at Hughesville, collecting two bunt singles before scorching a double. He also played excellent defense and dominated in a two-game sweep of Shamokin and Lewisburg Saturday, going 8 for 10, while collecting four hits in both games.
"If they’re not close, then I have the ability to lay one down and I’m going to take a hit," Tillson said after finishing 3 for 4 at Hughesville. "The heart of our lineup is the next three guys. They have the power, they have the contact, they have the eyes and they have what a great hitter has. I trust them fully."
In that sense, Tillson has become the ideal No. 2 hitter, a bridge between lead-off man Cohen Zechman and Griff Harrington, Stone Allison and Landon Polcyn, all who have started for three and four years. A selfless approach also has enabled Tillson to compile a .511 batting average to go along with a .574 on-base percentage.
Tillson has reached base in 11 straight games, hitting safely in nine of those. He also has scored 19 runs and stolen 13 bases, playing a key role in Warrior Run averaging nearly nine runs per game.
"Landon is just a smart player. He always knows what he’s doing. He brings that energy," Warrior Run coach Derrick Zechman said. "We get him and Cohen going and they set the table and create chaos on the base paths. Tillson can do it in all the ways. He’s just a tough, tough player."
Tillson was instrumental to Milton rallying to reach the District 4 Class AAAA semifinals last year before transferring from Meadowbrook Christian. Although he played football at Warrior Run last fall and was deemed eligible for the playoffs, in what feels like selective enforcement, Tillson cannot compete in the baseball postseason.
All he can right now is enjoy the time he has on the field. When the playoffs come, Tillson will remain a leader in whatever way he can. That is who he is and that is what has helped Tillson fit like a glove with the experienced Defenders this spring.
A calming influence behind the plate, Tillson not only often forms a wall but also has a good arm. Equally important, Tillson has a good rapport with the pitchers. Working together, Tillson and the staff have generated a 1.65 ERA. His presence was a critical factor against Hughesville when Landon Polcyn struck out seven batters in the first three innings when Hughesville had five players in scoring position with one or no outs.
The stats he has produced across the board have given Warrior Run a big boost. But all those intangibles Tillson provides his team stand out just as much.
"He’s a spark plug. Offensively he’s great; defensively he’s great, and he gets the energy going," Derrick Zechman said. "He puts a lot of pressure on defenses. He can play small ball and he’s dangerous on the bases. He’s just a rabbit.
"We’re very happy to have him for sure."
CASHING IN: Trey Damschroder did not open the season in Williamsport’s starting lineup, but the sophomore did not grow discouraged. He only grew more determined and shined at practices. His coaches noticed and inserted Damschroder into the starting lineup last week and he helped Williamsport win three straight games.
Damschroder totaled five RBIs in wins against Shikellamy and Mifflinburg, while earning the victory against Mifflinburg with three innings of one-hit relief.
"Seeing him and how he treats his batting practice and the improvements he’s been making has been impressive. We tell these guys who are sitting that your practice is the game," Williamsport coach Tyler Albert said after Damschroder went 2 for 4 with four RBIs in a 10-0 win against Shikellamy. "He’s taken advantage of practice and shown that he’s ready for this. There wasn’t a doubt coming into this week that Trey was going to get an opportunity."
He certainly pounced on it. After smashing a walk-off double against Shikellamy, Damschroder came up big on the mound against Mifflinburg, entering in a tie game and keeping the Wildcat offense. As a freshman, Damschroder worked out of a bases loaded jam to help Williamsport defeat Loyalsock for the Backyard Brawl championship and he has 22 strikeouts in 12 1/3 innings this season.
Damschroder has shown that his future is bright but the present is looking good, too. He complements his pitching and hitting with good base running, taking an extra base from first on a single against Shikellamy and swiping a bag as well.
"As a base runner Trey is extremely smart. He’s just a smart baseball player," Albert said. "You can be athletic and make plays happen but if you pair the athleticism that’s dangerous and that’s what Trey is. He’s an intelligent athlete."
GAME OF THE ½ YEAR: The second half has just started for most teams, so while we cannot say Saturday’s Loyalsock-Hughesville thriller is the area’s Game of the Year yet, we can say it’s the best so far. In a series defined by exciting, last-inning wins, these rivals may have produced their most riveting yet. Loyalsock turned a two-run sixth inning deficit into a seven-run seventh inning lead before Hughesville thundered back and scored seven in the bottom of the seventh to tie it.
Blake Babb’s walk-off single then capped the remarkable comeback as Hughesville won, 14-13 in eight innings. The teams combined for 27 runs; 23 hits and the lead swung like a pendulum late. Dylan McConnell produced three hits, a double and two RBIs for the Spartans (7-5), while Chase Fowler, Connor Andstadt and Brenden Fisher all added two hits with Fowler tripling and driving in three runs.
Dolan Harman doubled twice for Loyalsock and Chase Wright belted a triple and double. Those two, as well as Deryk Kulp, Kayden Keefer and Jahvon La Rosa totaled two hits. The Lancers do not have to wait long for a shot at redemption with the rematch coming today at Loyalsock.
EXTRA BASES: St. John Neumann made a statement last Thursday, defeating defending District 4 Class A champion Millville, 6-5. The Knights (9-2) have won five straight games and Andrew Walter and Kane Meixel combined on a one-hitter with Walter striking out eight in five innings. Nolan Fagnano went 3 for 4 with two RBIs. Two days earlier, Neumann erupted for 27 runs in a 27-11 win at Sullivan County. Walter was 4 for 5 with seven RBIs, Angelo Birch had three hits and Avery Taddeo four RBIs ... Muncy (5-4) moved back above .500, smashing 15 hits in a 15-5 win at CMVT. Kynton Fish and Nick Delany each produced three hits with three RBIs, while Liam Adams, winning pitcher Kase Snyder, Brody Goss and Vinny Finochairo all added two hits each. Adams drove in a team-best four runs ... A day after dropping a walk-off heartbreaker at Towanda, South Williamsport came back strong and defeated Shikellamy, 8-5. Levi Butler went 3 for 3 with a double and two RBIs. Tadd Lusk was 2 for 4 with a double and two RBIs and Chance Quimby threw six innings of four-hit baseball, striking out six ... Wellsboro (5-7) stormed back into the playoff picture with an eye-opening 10-0 win against North Penn-Mansfield and 18-3 battering of Coudersport. North Penn-Mansfield entered that game 9-1 but Max Mascho threw a two-hit shutout and struck out six. Five players totaled multiple hits in that win and four did against Coudersport with Marek Mascho slamming his third home run and driving in three runs ... Cowanesque Valley (9-1) is enjoying one of the best starts in program history and defeated both Wellsboro and Canton. The Indians have won five straight games and Levi Stahli threw a complete game against Canton, while going 2 for 3 with two RBIs.
1. Central Mountain (10-0): Central Mountain can claim a share of the HAC-I championship if it defeats Shikellamy. Wins in two of their last three games gives the Wildcats the outright crown a year after graduating a stellar senior class. Central Mountain has scored at least six runs in six straight games and pounded out 12 hits in its lone game last week, a 10-4 victory against Selinsgrove. Blake Walker, Brady Lavelle and Watt Probst all had two-hit games and Walker homered. The Wildcats are hitting a collective .351 and four players have 11 or more RBIs.
2. Montoursville (8-1): Montoursville temporarily missed a golden opportunity Wednesday when a five-run lead with one out in the seventh inning turned into a two-run deficit against HAC-II leading Mount Carmel. The Warriors scored twice in the seventh, however, before the game was suspended tied at 13-13. So, while losing the lead was disappointing, Montoursville showed impressive resilience to tie it and has a shot at victory when it resumes that game before playing the regularly scheduled game at Mount Carmel Thursday. The offense is coming alive and, counting the suspended game, generated 30 runs in three games last week. Zack Neill went 3 for 4 with two RBIs in a 9-3 win at Midd-West and Noah Kirby was 2 for 4 with three RBIs in an 8-1 win at Lewisburg. The Warriors have moved to to the top of the District 4 Class AAAA standings and are in a close race with Athens and Danville.
3. Warrior Run (12-1): An offense that had gone quiet for a few weeks came storming back Saturday, combining for 24 runs and 34 hits in the wins against Shamokin and Lewisburg. Griff Harrington dominated, homering in both games, while finishing 5 for 7 with two doubles and seven RBIs. Isaiah Betz and Stone Allison also collected two multi-hit games and Logan Stevenson and Cohen Zechman both had two hits against Lewisburg. The Defenders have a big non-league game today, heading to Montgomery.
4. Williamsport (8-4): Williamsport has moved to No. 2 in the District 2-4 Class AAAAAA standings after winning eight of its last 10 games and still has a shot at the top spot if it can keep building momentum the next few weeks. The Millionaires went 3-0 last week and scored 18 runs in their last eight at-bats. Grant Vilello earned the win in a 13-3 win against Shamokin, striking out five in two innings, while going 3 for 4 with a double and two RBIs. Ryan Schur, Camron Spangler and Cole Deitrick also had two hits and Christian Franzen three RBIs. Williamsport has a good test today, playing at State College.
5. Montgomery (9-2): Montgomery put some football like offensive numbers, scoring 33 runs in wins against Millville and Benton. While the Benton victory was a blowout, the Millville game was a whole different animal. The Red Raiders led by nine in the fifth inning before Millville took a two-run lead in the sixth inning. Instead of folding, Montgomery stormed back, scored four in the bottom of the sixth and Sam Springman closed out a wild 16-14 victory which kept the defending Mid-Penn champions undefeated in league play. Victor Ottmann went 4 for 5 in that win, setting the table for Trace Furman who was 3 for 5 with seven RBIs. Blake Fry drove in five runs in the two wins and Parker Persing and Ethan Hugar both were 2 for 2 with five combined RBIs against Benton. Montgomery received great news last week as well with Briar Persing possibly returning to the field this week.
Players of the Week
Landon Tillson, Warrior Run and Brody Aldenderfer, Montoursville: Not mentioned in the introduction was Tillson also going 2 for 3 against Loyalsock to start the week. So that's four straight multi-hit games in a five-day span. Tillson went a ridiculous 13 for 17 and scored eight runs. Aldenderfer was nearly impossible to get out, reaching base seven times in eight plate appearances. The center fielder/pitcher went 5 for 6 with a double, five RBIs and five runs. He also closed out the Lewisburg win, throwing three scoreless innings and striking out six.
Game of the Week
Muncy at St. John Neumann: There are a bunch of headliners today, but let's focus a light on two teams playing Tuesday who are doing some impressive work. Neumann and Muncy have combined to win nine of their last 10 games. Neumann remains in the Mid-Penn title hunt and took the first game between these rivals earlier this season but Muncy swept last season's series, winning a thriller in eight innings at Logue Field. This is a good battle between teams who have made some major strides since the season's start.
–Masse may be reached at cmasse@sungazette.com. Follow him on Twitter at @docmasse