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Chris Masse on softball: South’s Lily Reidy keeps driving and continues to excel

By Chris Masse 9 min read

As Lily Reidy answered a post game question, coach Tom O'Malley walked by expressing how humble the senior catcher is.

That is just one of the qualities he, the coaching staff and her teammates have enjoyed about having Reidy the last four years at South Williamsport. She is a player who possesses all the positive intangibles and does the little things right.

And that has helped her achieve some big moments.

The latest came last Wednesday when Reidy collected her 100th career hit, going 2 for 2 and helping South defeat Shikellamy, 11-1. The four-year starter has hit .408 against during high school while reaching that milestone and has been instrument to the Mounties (11-4) capturing three straight District 4 Class AA championships.

Reidy continued hitting Saturday, bashing a three-run home run against 5A state title contender Abington Heights.

"So much wisdom she has. She’s sharp and has a lot of experience," O’Malley said. "You see it in key situations."

One of the state’s premier catchers defensively and offensively Reidy has been a calming influence to pitchers Alizabeth Schuler and Kendall Cardone the past four seasons, while often being a wall behind the late and possessing a hose-like arm.

Reidy has been equally impressive at the plate, settling into the clean-up spot last year and helping South reach the state championship. Like her teammates, Reidy possesses a lot of talent, but also like her teammates her success is more about her insatiable work ethic and constant desire to improve.

"It (100 hits) is such a great tribute to Lily. You see her put the hard work in at practice," senior right fielder Sage Lorson said. "We’ve played together since the second grade and I’ve seen it the whole way through. I’m really happy for her."

Still, it’s always been about the next game, the next at-bat, the next play for Reidy. Refusing to rest upon past achievements, Reidy kept driving throughout the offseason and continues excelling. She is hitting .489 with four home runs, 20 RBIs, eight walks and 16 runs.

Reidy is as tough as she is productive. She highlighted that a year ago when she made a put out at home despite the spikes on the player sliding home cutting through her cleats. Reidy stayed in and homered the next inning, helping South win and that performance was a microcosm of her softball career which took off on the 2019 Little League World Series team and which will take her to Seton Hill next fall.

"Lily is a gamer. I know I can pencil her in every day," O’Malley said. "She controls the strike zone. Like all good hitters, she has a good eye. She knows how to hit, that’s for sure."

Reidy and her teammates celebrated senior day last Saturday. It was a surreal moment because it feels like yesterday they were playing on ESPN at the Series. Back then many talked not just about how well that 2019 team was playing but how good they might be come high school.

Turns out they have been even better than advertised. Now the sun is starting to set on their high school careers and the goal is to extend them as long as possible. It’s a different year and a different time in their lives, but Reidy will approach it like she has everything else -- all out.

"It feels unreal. It’s your freshman year and you think we have all this time and then all a sudden it’s here," Reidy said. "From here on out it’s going to be hard games. You have to give your all and play every game like it's a playoff."

PLAYOFF BOUND

Despite graduating most of last year’s starters and having no pitchers returning who threw any varsity innings last season, Muncy (9-6) secured a Class AA playoff berth last week, defeating Lewisburg and Sugar Valley before dropping a 12-11 heartbreaker against Bucktail. The Indians play 18 games this season, so at worst, will finish .500, ensuring that playoff spot.

Starting mostly underclassmen, Muncy won five straight entering the Bucktail contest and has made nice strides in all facets throughout the year. The top of the lineup has been particularly strong and lead-off hitter Chevelle Bauman also is coming on strong in the pitching circle. Rachel Paulhamus tripled twice against Bucktail and Jailyn Baker has three triples in her last two games.

Bauman did not allow a run in three straight outings before the Bucktail game and has 29 strikeouts in her last 18 2/3 innings. She fanned 10 at Bucktail.

Muncy has a promising core to build around going into the future, and it reaching the playoffs this season only brightens that path forward. Now, though, the Indians can focus on the present and try making noise in a year many had written them off during the preseason. However this season ends, it has been a success.

EXTRA BASES

Bucktail (8-7) boosted its own playoff chances in that thrilling win against Muncy as it scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh. The two-time defending District 4 Class A champions also produced some milestones there with freshman pitcher Carrie Ditty reaching 100 strikeouts and Lola English scoring her 100th career run ... Montgomery clinched the Mid-Penn West Division championship in exciting fashion a day earlier when it walked off with a 3-2 comeback win against Bucktail. The Red Raiders (13-1) trailed 2-0 in the sixth and 2-1 in the seventh before scoring twice and winning their second walk-off game this season. Delilah Preitz produced her third straight multi-hit game, going 2 for 3 with an RBI and Ava Hartman threw a four-hitter, striking out 10 ... Hughesville made history Saturday, defeating Towanda, 5-0 and setting a program record with its 13th win. Ella Breneisen threw a shutout, the defense made no errors and seven players produced hits against a fellow Class AAA playoff qualifier. Maddie Smith capped a strong week, going 2 for 2 with three RBIs, while Breneisen added two hits, Addison Henninger and Avery Earnest doubled. Kiana Peck added a hit and RBI ... Jersey Shore made the most of its first action in eight days Saturday, blanking Southern Columbia, 10-0 in five innings as Lynna Clark, Isabelle Engel and Alexis Frey combined for nine strikeouts. Frey, Engel, Kylie Schall, Dani Miller and Annika Clark all had two hits. Jaymison Stellfox and Lynna Clark each had hits and 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 (12-1): Mother Nature prevented the top two ranked teams from finishing last Thursday's game as South led Central Mountain 1-0 in the third inning. Central Mountain has a busy week ahead and Monday's game against Mifflin County could be a District 6 Class AAAAA championship preview with each holding the top two spots. Central Mountain plays State College today before facing Johnstown in the district semifinals. The defending champions have won 10 straight games and pitchers Joslyn Schultz and Camdyn Weaver form a strong duo. Monday's Mifflin County game was the team's first in 10 days.

2. South Williamsport (11-4): The Mounties built an early 3-0 lead against 5A state title contender Abington Heights before the Comets broke things open late and won, 11-3. South has played one of the state's most demanding schedules and it continued Monday when it traveled to face District 4 Class AAAA leading Athens (14-1). Seven different players had hits against 16-win Abington Heights and most of the team's 15 games have been against schools from 4 through 6A.

3. Williamsport (10-5): Williamsport has a Major League Baseball like schedule this week with five games in six days. That stretch started Monday against Holy Redeemer and features rivalry showdowns against Loyalsock and Jersey Shore Thursday and Friday, respectively. The Millionaires played just once last week and looked anything but rusty, pounding out 23 hits in a 19-12 win against Mifflin County. Seven players collected at least two hits and freshmen Kinsley Cannode and Zaelana Minor continued their impressive debut seasons, combining for four hits and five RBIs. Catcher Emily McAnnelly went 4 for 5 and Ashlyn Robinson and Bailey Livermore each had three hits. The Millionaires have won five of six games and are closing in on securing District 2-4 Class 6A's top seed.

4. Loyalsock (11-6): Easton Waller stifled an offense which had scored 65 runs in its last four games Saturday, throwing a four-hitter in a 6-2 win against perennial District 2 title contender Holy Redeemer. Waller was even more impressive at the plate with the freshman going 4 for 4 with a home run, two triples, three runs and an RBI. Sofia Mileto, Shyla Fulp, Addi Barowy and Maddie Wertz alll produced hits and RBIs, helping Loyalsock move into fourth in the crowded District 4 Class AAA standings. Loyalsock also plays a grueling schedule and has three games against playoff qualifiers Jersey Shore, Williamsport and Central Columbia as it prepares for the postseason.

5. North Penn-Liberty (11-3): After sliding a bit, North Penn-Liberty came roaring back last week, posting impressive wins against Athens and Hughesville. The Mounties handed Athens its first loss in 15 games this year, winning 1-0 as Elyna Booth threw a two-hit shutout and struck out seven. They then broke out offensively in a 9-3 win against 12-win Hughesville with Maddie Smith, Addie Smith, Kaylee Graham, and Maddie McNamara all going for two hits. Elaina Shaw hit the RBI single which made the difference against Athens. The Mounties entered the week second in the District 4 Class AAA standings with an outside shot at overtaking Mifflinburg if it wins and receives outside help.

Players of the Week

Taylor Shannon, Muncy and Brenna Beck,

Williamsport

Both team's No. 3 hitters were impossible to retire last week. Literally. Shannon went 6 for 6 with three walks in three games, crushing a long home run at Bucktail, while adding three doubles and five RBIs. Shannon also walked five times, giving her 11 straight plate appearances reaching base. Beck generated what would be a good week for most hitters in one game. The junior shortstop went 6 for 6 against Mifflin County, becoming the area's first player this season to record six hits in a contest. Beck belted two doubles, scored three times and is 10 for 13 in her last three games.

Game of the Week

Jersey Shore at

Williamsport

It's championship or bust for Williamsport under the lights at Millionaire Mountain Friday. If Williamsport wins this showdown of defending district champions, it shares the HAC-I title with Central Mountain. If Jersey Shore wins, Central Mountain takes the crown outright. It's an interesting world where Central Mountain is cheering for its top rival and that added subplot makes a game which would be intriguing no matter the situation even more exciting.

Starting at /week.