What a day it was, too. Friday’s rain turned into a glorious sunny day at Millionaire Mountain as one of the area’s most fun events was filled with excitement again. Williamsport repeated as Brawl champions, becoming the first to achieve that since Loyalsock in 2014 and the following is a look back at all four games.

Montoursville 11, South Williamsport 1

(5 INNINGS)

(GAME ONE)

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Cole Deitrick throws for Williamsport during the Backyard Brawl at Millionaire Mountain on Saturday, May 10, 2025.

MONTOURSVILLE PLAYER OF THE GAME–Logan Kirby: The junior right-hander dominated, throwing a two-hitter and striking out 10. Kirby improved to 5-0 and took a no-hitter into the fourth inning. Kirby pumped strikes and threw first-pitch strikes to 15 of 18 batters, including each of the final 12 batters he faced. Through three innings, Kirby faced the minimum amount of batters and he struck out multiple hitters, four times, including the side in the last inning.

SOUTH PLAYER OF THE GAME–Cade Lusk: The freshman pitcher put out what was a raging first inning fire and then dominated from there, throwing 3 1/3 hitless innings in relief.

KEY INNING–Montoursville first: Montoursville immediately jumped on South and made a statement, erupting for 11 runs and taking an 11-0 lead. The Warriors generated nine hits, scored seven two-out runs and hit 6 for 8 with runners in scoring position. Montoursville also played excellent small ball with Brody Aldenderfer and Brayden McCourt dropping perfect bunt singles. Noah Kirby and Jimmy Mussina both went 2 for 2 in the inning, combining for six RBIs. Kirby had a double and two RBIs and Mussina also belted a double, adding four RBIs.

BEST PLAY– Royce Bowes nifty stop at shortstop: There was not a whole lot to choose from, but Bowes made a good play on a third inning Marc Molina grounder hit in no-man’s land between the the mound and shortstop. Bowes fielded the two-hopper on the run and made a nice throw across the body, preserving a no-hitter.

Williamsport 12, Loyalsock 1

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montoursville's Royce Bowes celebrates making a tag at second on Williamsport's Gio White during the Backyard Brawl at Millionaire Mountain on Saturday, May 10, 2025.

(5 INNINGS)

(GAME TWO)

WILLIAMSPORT PLAYER OF THE GAME–Deshaun White: Wyatt Bair gets an honorable mention after throwing a three-hitter and striking out 10, but White finishing just a single shy of hitting for the cycle makes him a slam dunk pick. White continued his strong sophomore season, going 3 for 3 and belting a walk-off two-run home run to end the game early. He tripled in his first at-bat and doubled in his next one. Williamsport scored all its runs in the innings White batted and he finished with three RBIs and three runs.

LOYALSOCK PLAYER OF THE GAME–Chase Wright: The versatile senior played three positions and went 1 for 2 with a run and stolen base. His lead-off single in the fourth inning helped spark a rally as the Lancers pulled within, 3-1. He also made a terrific catch at the fence in left field, robbing Jaxson March of a two-run double.

KEY INNING–Williamsport fifth: After Montoursville started strong in the first game, Williamsport closed just as strong in the next one. The Millionaires broke open a close game, exploding for nine runs and banging out six hits. The first six batters reached base and Williamsport consistently came through with runners in scoring position. After entering the inning going 1 for 6 with runners in scoring position, the Millionaires went 5 for 6 in this inning, earning their second straight championship berth.

BEST PLAYS–Two for the price of one: Loyalsock third baseman Deryk Kulp did his best Brooks Robinson impersonation in the second inning. Kulp dove into the hole near shortstop and stopped what looked like a sure Jaxson March single. Kulp then made a one-hop throw from his knees and first baseman Dolan Harman a good scoop as they denied Williamsport having two runners on with no outs. Williamsport center fielder Giovanni White showed off his speed and glove work in the top of the fifth, robbing Nolan Rall of a one-out single. White covered a lot of ground, charging after the ball hit into shallow center field, diving face first and making the grab about a few inches from the ground. It was a pivotal play because Preston Gross singled a pitch later.

Loyalsock 11, South Williamsport 1

(5 INNINGS)

(CONSOLATION)

LOYALSOCK PLAYER OF THE GAME–Deryk Kulp: The senior has been dominant in four straight starts and came up big again, throwing 4 1/3 hitless innings. The right-hander struck out two, kept balls on the ground and also went 1 for 2 with a sacrifice fly and two RBIs. In his last four starts, Kulp is 4-0, allowing just three runs and eight hits in 23 1/3 innings.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montoursville's Royce Bowes makes the tag at second on Williamsport's Gio White during the Backyard Brawl at Millionaire Mountain on Saturday, May 10, 2025.

SOUTH PLAYER OF THE GAME–Cade Lusk: The freshman takes Player of the Game honors for a second straight contest. After pitching well in the first game, Lusk hit well in the second one, going 1 for 2 and scoring his team’s lone run. Lusk hit the ball hard in both at-bats and broke up the no-hitter with two outs in the fifth inning.

KEY INNING–Loyalsock fifth: Loyalsock broke things opened and paved the way to victory, scoring six times and building a 10-0 advantage. The first six batters reached base, five producing hits. Dolan Harman (2 for 3) ignited the rally with a lead-off ground rule double to the deepest part of center field. Preston Gross followed with an RBI single and Chase Wright an RBI double. Kulp and Jahvon La Rosa (2 for 3) added RBI singles as Loyalsock built a 10-0 lead.

BEST PLAY–Kulp’s quick timing: Kulp used some super self-preservation to seal a perfect first inning. Trace Wertz scorched a line drive which looked like it would go up the middle. Instead, Kulp was able to get his glove out in time. He wheeled around to knock it down, then chased after the ball as it rolled away before throwing to Harman and capping the hitless inning.

Williamsport 5, Montoursville 3

(CHAMPIONSHIP)

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Williamsport's Deshaun White steps to the plate during the Backyard Brawl at Millionaire Mountain on Saturday, May 10, 2025.

WILLIAMSPORT PLAYER OF THE GAME–Deshaun White: Give Trey Damschroder a big honorable mention after earning the win, throwing 2 1/3 scoreless innings and retiring the last seven batters he faced. Still, White has to be the pick here. The sophomore continued raking, going 2 for 3 with a triple, three RBIs and a run. Both his hits came with two outs, including a sixth inning RBI triple which made it, 5-3.

MONTOURSVILLE PLAYER OF THE GAME–Jimmy Mussina: Continuing his strong senior season, Mussina both pitched and hit well. He allowed just one earned run in five innings, striking out eight and growing stronger as the game progressed. Mussina also went 2 for 3 with two RBIs, tying the game 3-3 in fifth inning with a two-out, two-run single.

KEY INNING–Williamsport sixth: After Montoursville scored three two-out runs in the fifth and tied it, Williamsport came fighting back. Grant Vilello sparked the rally with a one-out single before Jaxson March hit a clutch go-ahead single. White followed two batters later, driving his triple to deep right-center.

BEST PLAY–Hit and run: We go with two big moments here. First, Williamsport right fielder Zane Rodgers made a sensational play, running toward the warning track and robbing Zack Neill of a go-ahead fifth inning double. March then delivered the hit of his young varsity career, going the opposite way with a 2-2 pitch and flaring it into right field.

BACKYARD BRAWL ALL-STAR TEAM

IF–Deshaun White, Williamsport; IF–Royce Bowes, Montoursville (3-4, 2 BB, 3 runs): IF–John Kiehl, Loyalsock (3-5, run); IF–Chase Wright, Loyalsock (4-6, 2B, 2 RBIs, 2 runs, 2 SB); OF–Jimmy Mussina, Montoursville (4-6, 2B, 6 RBIs, two multi-hit games); OF–Zane Rodgers, Williamsport (3-6, 3 RBIs); OF–Grant Vilello, Williamsport (3-5, RBI, 4 runs); C–Noah Kirby, Montoursville (3-7, 2B, 3 RBIs); Utility–Preston Gross, Loyalsock (3-3, 2B, RBI, 2 runs); P–Wyatt Bair, Williamsport (1-0, 5 IP, 3H, 10 Ks); P–Logan Kirby, Montoursville (1-0, 5 IP, 2 H, 10 Ks); P–Deryk Kulp, Loyalsock (1-0, 4 1/3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 Ks)

Backyard Brawl MVP–Deshaun White, Williamsport: The sophomore second baseman put together one of the more dominant Brawl performances in recent memory. White hit for the cycle over two games, going 5 for 6 with a home run, two triples, a double, six RBIs and four runs, while playing error-less defense.

SUGGESTION

Last week was a near-disaster in terms of playing games since the weather so often made things difficult. This week’s forecast does not look any better.

With that in mind, schools might want to start letting teams out earlier in the day, so they can start the contests no later than 3 p.m. I don’t pretend to be an educator but with the school year winding down, and storms so often flaring up at or just past the normal 4:30 p.m start times, moving games up 90 minutes might make all the difference in getting them completed.

That is doubly imperative this week with so many teams on the playoff bubble. Wednesday is the cut-off date to qualify, so schools should have all options on the table. Maybe this one could help.

AROUND THE AREA

Hughesville clinched a sixth straight playoff berth, as well as its 16th spot in 17 seasons Saturday, defeating Tunkhannock, 6-1. Nate Bieber and Jace Gray combined on a three-hitter and Wynter Fogelman went 3 for 3 with two RBIs. Trent Wetzel added two hits and an RBI … Cowanesque Valley (13-2) took another step toward securing District 4 Class A’s top seed, winning the completion of a suspended game against North Penn-Mansfield, 12-11 in 13 innings. The game was suspended last month with it tied 11-11 after seven and turned into a pitcher’s duel with Ayren Morgan and Levi Stahli throwing six scoreless innings. Lucas Hamilton went off offensively, going 6 for 7 with a double and three RBIs. Ditto for Easton Cleveland-Pequignot who homered twice and was 3 for 4 with five RBIs for North Penn-Mansfield (12-5) which bounced back and thumped Addison, NY, 19-9 later in the day … Tanner Baker produced six hits in two games as Muncy split against Bucktail and Montgomery. He was 4 for 5 with four runs and three steals in the 18-3 Bucktail win. Jameson Barlow, Nick Delany and Kase Snyder all had two hits in that game and Drew Ryder went 1 for 2 with a double and three RBIs.

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

DR. MASSE’S TOP 5 RANKINGS

1. Central Mountain (15-0): The HAC-I champions had last week off since rain washed away its games. As Central Mountain gears up for the playoffs it has two excellent opponents to help it prepare, facing perennial powers Bellefonte and Hazleton the next two days. The Wildcats are atop the District 6 Class 5A standings with defending state champion Hollidaysburg not far behind. If Central Mountain maintains its lead it would face Johnstown in the semifinals.

2. Warrior Run (17-1): Warrior Run is a league champion for the first time since 2016, clinching the HAC-II crown with consecutive wins against Bloomsburg and Mifflinburg. Pitchers James Keifer and Landon Tillson combined on a no-hitter in an 11-0 win against Bloomsburg before Landon Polcyn threw a two-hitter and struck out 10 in a 3-1 victory against Mifflinburg. Isaiah Betz and Griff Harrington both had two hits in each victory and Harrington homered while adding two doubles. Warrior Run will be the top seed in the District 4 Class AAA playoffs but was dealt a blow when the PIAA denied Tillson the opportunity to compete in the playoffs after transferring from Meadowbrook Christian despite competing in the football playoffs (because he did not play football the previous year) and despite apparently having the evidence to support being cleared for postseason eligibility. Loyalsock’s Chase Wright has fought a similar losing battle in what becomes more of a confusing convoluted system each day.

3. Williamsport (12-6): Damschroder has shined in consecutive Brawls. The sophomore three 3 1/3 scoreless innings to earn a save last year before stretching that streak to 5 2/3 with his clutch performance in Saturday’s final.

“He carries himself so well and views things so well. He was chomping at the bit,” Williamsport coach Tyler Albert said. “To see him go out there and step up again, that’s a pattern. He’s capable of doing a lot to help the team.”

4. Montoursville (14-4): The Warriors are a play or so from winning three of their close losses which have come by five combined runs with the go-ahead runs all coming in the sixth inning or beyond. Clean up those little things and Montoursville gives itself an opportunity to go where it wants where it hopes to. The Warriors opened their week with a 5-0 win against Central Columbia as Brody Aldenderfer and Logan Kirby combined on a two-hit shutout.

5. Montgomery (12-4): Starting to get healthy again, Montgomery has clinched a share of the Mid-Penn West Division championship following three straight wins. The Red Raiders can take that title outright with a win against St. John Neumann Tuesday. They also have a potential District 4 Class AA semifinal preview against Northwest this afternoon. Briar Persing pitched for the first time in more than a month in Saturday’s 13-1 win against Muncy, striking out seven in 3 1/3 innings. Parker Persing had a big day, going 3 for 3 with five RBIs.

Players of the Week

Deshaun White,

Williamsport and Logan Kirby, Montoursville

Oh yeah, White also hit a grand slam in Thursday’s win against Jersey Shore, meaning he drove in 10 runs during a three-day span. Kirby went 1-0 with a save, closing out the Central game, after entering when it was 3-0. The right-hander improved to 5-0 in the Brawl semifinals and allowed just two hits in 7 2/3 innings last week, striking out 17.

Game of the Week

South Williamsport at North Penn-Mansfield

Today’s game is a big one with South fighting for a playoff spot and North Penn-Mansfield trying to improve its seeding for the 3A playoffs. These two played a thriller a year ago with South winning, 2-1 in 10 exciting innings.