Make no mistake, though, South Williamsport had plenty to cheer outside those moments as well, and excelled while playing for the first time in a week.

Reidy went 2 for 2 and reached 100 career hits, while Lorson walloped a towering home run as South thumped visiting Shikellamy, 11-1 in five innings. Alizabeth Schuler also homered and went 3 for 4 with five RBIs, while earning the win. Maddie Pinkerton was 3 for 3, and South (11-3) scored nine runs over the last two innings, turning a close contest into a rout.

“You could see as the game went on we started to get into a rhythm,” South coach Tom O’Malley said. “It was good communication throughout the lineup as far as saying what the pitcher was throwing and they made the corrections and that was good. That’s part of the veteran leadership.”

Reidy and Lorson have been vital parts of that leadership the last four years, helping South capture three straight District 4 Class AA championships and reach last year’s state championship. Both have put together excellent scholastic careers and Reidy became the first to produce a thunderous reaction Wednesday.

Sage Lorson of South Williamsport is safe at second base as Hailee Renn of Shikellamy tries to make the play during the 4th inning in South Williamsport. South won, 11-1. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

The senior catcher needed two hits to join Schuler and shortstop Gianna Goodman in the 100-hit club. Reidy drew a walk in her first at-bat before ripping a single in the third. An inning later, Reidy had her first crack at 100 and pounced.

Facing a 3-1 count, Reidy scorched a ball up the middle and reached an elite fraternity. Both teammates and fans jumped for joy and let out loud yells, celebrating Reidy’s achievement. It was a fitting tribute to a player who has helped South perform so well these last four seasons.

“It was probably going to be Ball 4, but I swung. I said, ‘I’m getting this hit,'” Reidy said. “It felt really good getting it because I don’t have that nervousness of thinking, ‘I have to get 100.’ Now I can just have fun in the box.”

Lorson enjoyed her time in the box the following inning. The senior right fielder flied out and walked her two previous at-bats, gathering vital information each time. This time, Lorson drove the first pitch she saw high, deep and well over the center field fence, giving South an 8-1 lead.

Lorson’s long blast ignited the game-winning four-run rally and had fans once again cranking up the noise.

Abigail Lorson of South Williamsport singles in the second inning against Shikellamy in South Williamsport. South won, 11-1. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

“I feel like it usually does take us the first time through to make the adjustments and understand what she’s throwing,” Lorson said. “The second time through I was just looking to make the adjustment as (third base coach) Cory (Goodman) had been telling me. The third time I figured it out. That felt really good.”

And it made O’Malley look like a fortune teller.

“I called it on the pitch. I said she’s going to hit one right here and, boom!” he said. She’s so strong. If she squares a ball up, you know it’s a no doubter.”

Reidy and Lorson each delivering big hits in consecutive innings highlighted a South offense which came alive as the game progressed. The Mounties were slow to burn the first three innings, although, they led, 2-1. But they turned information into results, scoring nine runs and generating eight hits over the last two as everything came together.

It was not just that South hit, but when it hit, too. The Mounties went 6 for 10 with runners in scoring position and scored seven two-out runs, the last coming on Schuler’s three-run, walk-off single as Mikaiya Hills hustled from first and scored the winning run.

Sage Lorson of South Williamsport rounds the bases on a 5th inning home run against Shikellamy in South Williamsport. South won, 11-1. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

“As soon as one person gets a hit it’s contagious on this team. It’s just one after another,” Reidy said. “When you can string hits together that’s what happens. You get wins.”

“They made some adjustments. It was a different pitching style than we saw last week, but that’s what you have to adapt to,” O’Malley said. “She fell behind on a lot of hitters but we got a little anxious, and were popping up. The second time around was better and third time around was even better. That’s the key. We have to continue to make the adjustments and they did that well today.”

The bottom of the lineup continued providing a spark as well. Abby Lorson went 1 for 2 with three runs, Pinkerton produced a hit each time up and Emily Holtzapple was 1 for 2 with an RBI and sacrifice. Those three gave South a 2-0 second inning lead, Lorson hitting a two-out single before Pinkerton and Holtzapple laced RBI singles.

Like she did in the fifth inning, Sage Lorson started a fourth inning rally, this time battling back from 0-2 and drawing a lead-off walk. Pinkerton singled again, Holtzapple bunted both runners into scoring position and Goodman scorched a two-run single. Two batters later, Schuler launched a two-run home run the opposite way; over the right-center field fence and South led, 7-1.

Schuler also shined in the pitching circle, striking out four in four innings and putting out two fires in the opening two innings by retiring six straight hitters after runners were in scoring position with no outs. Kendall Cardone kept the clutch pitching going in the fifth inning, stranding two more runners and giving South a shot at going for the early knockout.

Alizabeth Schuler of South Williamsport pitches to Shikellamy during the first inning in South Williamsport. South won, 11-1. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

South, which plays at Central Mountain (12-1) Thursday, waited a long time to play following last week’s thriller against Bald Eagle Area. Two consecutive games, including one in which it traveled to Holy Redeemer but did not take the field, were postponed. Still, South stayed focused. When the time finally came to play again the Mounties certainly were ready.

“It was especially difficult because we’d be on the field one day and then in the (Little League) complex the next,” Sage Lorson said. “But our coaches help us to focus on the little things that we can control. They always say control the things that you can. Once we do that, than we play games like this.”

Shikellamy 001 00–1 5 1

South 020 54–11 12 1

Shanna Kimball and Sydney Sinko. Alizabeth Schuler, Kendall Cardone (5) and Lily Reidy. W–Schuler, (10-3). L–Kimball.

Maddie Pinkerton of South Williamsport connects on an RBI single in the 4th inning against Shikellamy in South Williamsport. South won, 11-1. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Top Shikellamy hitters: Gwen Wiest 2-3, R; Ella Oaks 1-3, RBI. Top South hitters: Maddie Pinkerton 3-3, 2 RBIs, 2R; Schuler 3-4, HR, 5 RBIs; Reidy 2-2, BB; Sage Lorson 1-2, HR, RBI, 2R; Abby Lorson 1-2, BB, 3R; Emily Holtzapple 1-2, RBI; Gianna Goodman 1-4, 2 RBIs, R.

Records: South 12-3.

Alizabeth Schuler of South Williamsport rounds the bases on a home run in the 4th inning against Shikellamy in South Williamsport. South won, 11-1. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

South Williamsport show sportsmanship by slapping hands with Shikellamy in South Williamsport. South won, 11-1. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette