Loyalsock and Montoursville produced one of the area’s best games this season last Thursday, each overcoming late game deficits before the Lancers won, 8-7 in nine innings, while securing a share of a third straight HAC-III championship.

Had Loyalsock catcher Shyla Fulp not stepped up so well in the first inning, however, Montoursville likely wins that game in seven innings.

A runner was on first with one out in the top of the first but strayed a bit too far from the bag and Fulp unleashed a laser-like throw, picking her off. A batter later, Kayleigh Sheleman blasted the first of her two home runs. But instead of that being a two-run home run it was a solo shot. Avery Cozzi homered a batter later. Again, instead of it being 3-0 with just one out, it was 2-0 with two outs and Fulp’s play helped limit the damage in what could have been a runaway first inning flurry.

Give Montoursville one more first inning run and it wins, 7-6 in seven innings. Fulp has a way of doing all the little things right which equal big wins. Her outstanding play in her first varsity season at catcher is a major reason Loyalsock again is a league champion.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montoursville players meet Avery Cozzi (26) at the plate after she homered during a high school softball game against Loyalsock on Thursday, May, 1, 2025 at Short Park. Loyalsock won 8-7 in 9 innings.

“I take a lot of pride in doing the little things to help my team win a game,” Fulp said. “Whether it’s throwing someone out, blocking a wild pitch or even just communicating to my defense. Even though they are small things, it helps a lot later in the game.”

Fulp has proven that all season, excelling behind the plate and as the team’s No. 2 hitter. The three-year starting junior scored three runs against Montoursville, including the game-winner on a Maddie Wertz walk-off single. She consistently reaches base, hits for contact, bunts well and is among the area’s stolen base leaders.

That Fulp is shining offensively is not shocking since she played a vital role in Loyalsock reaching last year’s state quarterfinals. But Fulp developing into one of the district’s premier catchers is a bit surprising simply because she never before played that position at the varsity level.

No one can tell.

“She’s been amazing behind the plate,” pitcher Easton Waller said. “I’m confident pitching to her. I don’t worry about anything when Shyla is behind the plate. I know even if I’m wild Shyla is going to get it. She has my back.”

“Shyla is a wall behind there,” Wertz said. “She does a great job and blocks everything.”

That she does. And that has played a massive role in Loyalsock winning three close games against playoff-bound Hughesville (twice) and Montoursville in the last two weeks. Fulp’s ability to keep everything in front of her has prevented opponents from taking extra bases. With two of those three games going to extra innings, that has been a critical difference between winning and losing.

Fulp all but was born with a softball in her hand, starting at a young age. She has caught for her travel ball team but it still has been impressive that Fulp has made such a smooth transition to the varsity level, continuing Loyalsock’s tradition of cranking out excellent catchers.

“I’ve been a catcher for years. It has never been my main position but I play there if needed,” Fulp said. “It was never my favorite position, so when my coach said I was going to be playing there this season, I kind of was sure but the more games I caught, the more I started to love it.”

It shows. Fulp has become a defensive anchor. Catchers often are teams’ quarterbacks behind the plate and she has mastered not just the skills, but also the leadership. A calming influence to the pitchers, Fulp also can help set up the defense, shut down running games and make her team better.

“My mindset going into the season being catcher was that I have to do anything I could to help my pitchers know what pitches to throw and help my defense know where to go with the ball.”

Fulp seemingly always knows where to go with the ball, proving it again against Montoursville. Her throws come not just fast, but also are accurate. Opponents run at their own peril against Fulp.

That is one of the perks of playing catcher. Fulp showcased her versatility the last two seasons, playing both in the infield and outfield. Now, she is becoming quite a weapon at a position and embracing all the moments which come her way.

“What I like most about catching is throwing people out,” Fulp said. “I love to show off an arm I never once had. I also love the fact that I can bond with the pitchers.”

Loyalsock loves that it has Fulp behind the plate.

FIGHTING BACK

Its playoff hopes appeared on life support last Wednesday when Warrior Run entered the bottom of the seventh inning trailing Loyalsock by three runs. The Defenders were 4-8 and three outs from going five games below .500 against a team which mercy-ruled it two days earlier.

And that’s when Warrior Run started roaring back. Now those playoff hopes are alive and well and Warrior Run is looking like a team which could be dangerous if it qualifies.

The Defenders rallied for a 6-5 win against Loyalsock before winning a 1-0 thriller against Southern Columbia and erasing a two-run deficit to beat Montgomery, 6-2 and hand it its first loss in 13 games this year. At 7-8 entering the week, Warrior Run has worked its way back into a position where it could find its way into the playoffs and cause havoc once there like it did two years ago, entering as the No. 7 seed and reaching the championship.

This is a team that now has comeback wins against South Williamsport and Loyalsock, showcasing its potential going forward. Mackenzie Litchard and Mackenzie Heyler threw gems against Southern Columbia and Montgomery and the offense came alive as Maura Woland, Ella Printzenhoff, Lakesha Hauck and McKenna Forman all produced two hits.

The work continues but if Warrior Run continues its comeback theme and reaches the playoffs it could be one of the last teams a higher-seeded squad wants to see.

EXTRA BASES

Despite the Warrior Run loss, Montgomery (12-1) clinched its seventh straight playoff berth after blanking Muncy and Sugar Valley while staying atop the Mid-Penn West Division standings. Ava Hartman was literally nearly unhittable in those wins, throwing a four-inning perfect game against Sugar Valley following her one-hit shutout against Muncy. Delilah Preitz and Arianna Snyder had big games in those wins, Prietz going 4 for 5 and Snyder driving in seven runs … Muncy (7-5) bounced back and won its three next games, boosting its playoff chances. Chevelle Bauman dominated in the pitching circle, allowing no runs and just two hits in six innings, while striking out 15. She also went 4 for 5 with three RBIs in a 20-4 win against Millville, while Taylor Shannon was 3 for 4 with a home run, double and four RBIs. Leah Vest and Rachel Paulhamus both added two hits and five combined RBIs … Hughesville (11-4) is playoff-bound for a second straight year following blowout wins against Bloomsburg (twice) and Southern Columbia. The Spartans are two wins from breaking the program record for victories in a year (which they tied last season) and received production throughout the lineup in the three games, totaling 43 runs and 36 hits … Jaymison Stellfox had a huge day for Jersey Shore in its 19-2 win against Shikellamy. The senior went 5 for 5 with two doubles, three RBIs and three runs. Dani Miller, Lynna Clark and Isabelle Engel all had three hits … Sullivan County (11-3) is back in the District 4 Class A playoffs, sweeping three games against Benton, CMVT and Millville. Miley Dickinson erupted against CMVT, finishing 4 for 5 with two doubles, seven RBIs and three runs … Bucktail (7-6) is back in the playoff picture following a 3-0 week highlighted by a 10-9 walk-off win against Moshannon Valley. Makenna Stone went 4 for 5 in that win, Eva Sockman was 3 for 3 against Sugar Valley and Lola English 2 for 2 against Oswayo Valley. Carrie Ditty threw a one-hitter in that 10-2 win, fanning 10.

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

DR. MASSE’S TOP 5 RANKINGS

1. South Williamsport (11-3): Inclement weather has been preventing South from playing a lot of the games against tough teams it desires, wiping out Bethlehem Liberty and Holy Redeemer contests the past two weeks as well as yesterday’s scheduled showdown with Central Mountain for the area’s top spot. The Mounties, however, did get one in and, despite a 1-0 loss against Bald Eagle last Wednesday, should benefit from playing it. In a rematch of the last two Class AA semifinals which both teams split, BEA won a 1-0 thriller. Alizabeth Schuler stifled a potent lineup and the defense shined with shortstop Gianna Goodman making several clutch plays, including a double play which saved a run. The game featured a playoff atmosphere and a situation like that is exactly what South seeks with its schedule.

2. Central Mountain (12-1): A five-win week made Central Mountain a champion once again. The Wildcats swept two games from Jersey Shore (7-3, 4-0), highlighting their super week, and clinched at least a share of a third straight HAC-I championship. Central Mountain now needs Jersey Shore’s help because if the Bulldogs defeat Williamsport in the Millionaires’ league finale, it is the outright champion. A Williamsport means it and Central Mountain would both wear the crown. Regardless, the Wildcats are playing well in all facets with the offense balanced and the defense shining behind pitchers Joslyn Schultz and Camdyn Weaver. Weaver threw a two-hit shutout in the title clinching victory Friday and has allowed three or fewer hits in each of her last three starts.

3. Williamsport (9-5): State College snapped Williamsport’s four-game winning streak with a 4-1 victory last Friday but the Millionaires have made big strides since hitting some speed bumps at midseason. Williamsport turned things around with a 7-4 win against BEA and Centre Count all-time strikeout leader Sierra Albright before outscoring three consecutive HAC-I opponents, 27-9. Every starter had a hit in a 10-7 victory against Shikellamy and Bailey Livermore threw a one-hit shutout with nine strikeouts in a 10-0 victory against Selinsgrove. Ashlyn Robinson was 4 for 4 with a triple and three RBIs in the Shikellamy win, while Brenna Beck went 4 for 7 with six RBIs in the last week’s two wins. Freshmen Zaelana Minor and Kinsley Cannode both have made big impacts with Minor hitting a triple and double against Selinsgrove before Cannode went 2 for 3 with a double, two RBIs and three runs at Shikellamy.

4. Loyalsock (10-6): Loyalsock winning a third straight league championship is especially impressive considering how much turnover there has been since last year when the team took a big graduation hit. Sofia Mileto has provided excellent leadership as the team’s lone senior and both the present and future look bright for a team which closes its regular season with as tough a non-conference schedule as one can find. The Montoursville victory highlighted the team’s resilience and potential with multiple hitters, defenders and pitchers all producing in key situations.

“That was a really good win,” coach Mark Godfrey said following the Montoursville victory. “Hopefully this is the game that puts us over the hump to where we realize, ‘Hey, we are pretty good.'”

5. Montoursville (10-5): Montoursville split two exciting regular season games against Loyalsock and now can split the HAC-III championship with it if it wins its league finale in nine days against Bloomsburg. The Warriors have not won a league crown in the 2000s, so that would be another notch in the collective belt of a team which has thundered back from a 1-3 start. The Warriors displayed their resiliency against Loyalsock, overcoming a three-run seventh inning deficit to force extra innings after Avery Cozzi smashed a three-run home run. Cozzi went 3 for 3 with two home runs, a double and five RBIs, while also making two sensational catches at second base which prevented multiple runs from scoring.

Players of the Week

Kayleigh Sheleman, Montoursville and Kendall Wagner, Bucktail

Saying Sheleman is locked in right now might be an understatement. In her last two games, she is 8 for 8 with a grand slam, three home runs and eight RBIs. She dazzled at Loyalsock, finishing 5 for 5 with two home runs, including a go-ahead blast in the top of the ninth inning. She produced her fourth multi-home run game this season and has 32 RBIs. Wagner has been in a similar zone and was a run producing machine in Bucktail’s three wins, going 7 for 12 with 13 RBIs. The junior infielder was the hero in the comeback win against Moshannon, hitting a walk-off single and finishing 4 for 5 with four RBIs. She built on that momentum the next game, walloping two home runs while again going 4 for 5 with six RBIs and four runs.

Game of the Week

Williamsport at Loyalsock

Tuesday’s game at Short Park is not just a rivalry game, but also a showdown between teams which have come a long way since competing at the Williamsport Tournament last month. Loyalsock has won the last three in this series and the Millionaires are seeking their first rivalry win since 2022. The last time these two met at Short Park they produced a classic with Beck hitting a go-ahead triple in the eighth inning before Marissa Helmrich walloped a walk-off two-run home run as Loyalsock won, 6-5.