The trend has continued this season because, following a 4-8 start, every game basically has been a playoff contest. And Warrior Run has won them all.

The surging Defenders evened their record Monday and continued gaining momentum as nine players combined for 10 hits in a 16-1, three-inning win against Class AA playoff qualifier Muncy. Mackenzie Litchard earned the win, Maura Woland went 2 for 2 and literally just about everyone hit.

“We’ve capitalized on the games that we need to, and we really hit the ball well today against Muncy,” Woland said after starting the scoring with an RBI double. “That’s really what we have to do as we try getting into the playoffs.”

Playoffs seemed like a long shot after Warrior Run lost four straight games and fell to 4-8. The streak looked like it would reach five after the Defenders faced a three-run seventh inning deficit against HAC-III champion Loyalsock two days after being mercy ruled against it. Instead, they came roaring back, walked off with a thrilling 6-5 win and have continued excelling since.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Muncy's Avery Buss misses the tag at second as Warrior Run's Millie Gelnett (22) advances during a high school softball game at Warrior Run on Monday, May 12, 2025. Warrior Run won 16-1.

“We got through the heavy part of our schedule and played well at the end and kept going,” Warrior Run coach Mark Evans said. “I like where we’re at right now. We’re not getting too high or too low. They’re just trying to take care of business.”

They certainly did so emphatically against Muncy. The Defenders wasted no time making an impact, nor showing they had any rust following a 10-day layoff. Ella Printzenhoff hit a lead-off single before Woland Lakesha Hauck belted consecutive RBI doubles.

Mya Evans hit an RBI grounder, Ella Wertman a two-run single and Skye Reigle another RBI grounder as Warrior Run took a 6-0 lead. The Defenders really broke things open in the second inning, scoring 10 runs with six different players, including two substitutes, delivering hits. Mya Evans, Millie Gelnett, Reigle, Mackenzie Heyler and Kiley Day all generated RBI singles and helped Warrior Run land an early knockout blow.

“Our attitude and effort has changed. During warm-ups we’ve been coming ready to play,” Woland said. “Even when we’re off the field, we’re ready to play and always talking about it.”

Muncy did not play a bad game either. The Indians did not make any errors and had four hits in three innings. This was mostly about what Warrior Run did right, including playing flawless defense itself.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Mackenzie Litchard throws for Warrior Run during a high school softball game against Muncy at home on Monday, May 12, 2025. Warrior Run won 16-1.

Woland continued her stellar play at shortstop, making a nice running catch toward the left-field line with a runner on first and all-state catcher Taylor Shannon batting in the first inning. She also fanned the flames which soon became an inferno in the second inning, scorching a lead-off single up the middle.

Woland hti the go-ahead, eighth inning single against South Williamsport earlier this season when the Defenders rallied for a statement 4-3 win. She also was in the middle of the comeback rally against Loyalsock and the three-year starting junior is becoming a leader as well.

“She’s tough. In a clutch situation there’s not many other people you want up there,” Mark Evans said. “She’s been taking real interest in her defense since her sophomore year and playing really well there. The pop flies in short left and short center, she gobbles up. She’s made some great plays for us.”

Those wins against South and Loyalsock have revealed how dangerous Warrior Run can be. The season has been a roller coaster ride at times, but through all the ups and downs, the team has understood that when it plays well, it can be mighty tough to beat.

That helped it through those downs times and now Warrior Run is hoping it can continue ascending.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Warrior Run's Ella Printzenhoff (37) tosses the ball to Maura Woland to make the tag on Muncy's Leah Vest during a high school softball game at Warrior Run on Monday, May 12, 2025. Warrior Run won 16-1.

“There was a lot of momentum from those games. We always look back on those games and see what we’re capable of doing,” Woland said. “We just know what we can do and how we can do it. We just need to capitalize on the things we know how to do and work hard for it.”

That has been Muncy’s focus this season and a young team has defied the odds many put on it, again reaching the playoffs. That is a nice achievement for a team replacing a decorated senior class which included, arguably, the best player in program history in pitcher Nolah Moyer.

Muncy did not attain the result it wanted Monday, but it went down fighting. Leah Vest continued her strong senior season, smashing a two-out RBI triple in the third inning after Chevelle Bauman ripped a two-out single. Vest went 2 for 2 and Jailyn Baker built on her recent hot hitting, which included three triples in the previous two games, going 1 for 1.

All are positives for a team which started the season 3-4 before winning five of its next six games.

“There was a lot of talk that we wouldn’t make playoffs, so we made that a goal,” first-year Muncy coach Bob Koslap said. “The most important thing for this season is everyone’s average has doubled from the first six games to the second half of the season. Everybody has improved defensively and offensively.”

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Warrior Run's Maura Woland is late on a tag at second as Muncy's Jailyn Baker (8) advances during a high school softball game at Warrior Run on Monday, May 12, 2025. Warrior Run won 16-1.

Warrior Run can say the same. What was looking like a lost season at one point, has become something much bigger. The Defenders still have work to do as their playoff quest continues. Therein lies a key to their success as they stay focused on the next task instead of letting the big picture trip them up.

In addition to playing in a tough league, Warrior Run built a challenging non-conference schedule, including that game against South, as well as playing two-time defending District 4 Class AAAA champion Jersey Shore.

At the perfect time, those challenging games at bringing out the team’s best.

“The teams that we play, they make us better,” Woland said. “We know we can compete with them and we’ve seen it a lot.”

Warrior Run 16, Muncy 1

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Mackenzie Litchard throws for Warrior Run during a high school softball game against Muncy at home on Monday, May 12, 2025. Warrior Run won 16-1.

(3 INNINGS)

Muncy 001–1 4 0

Warrior Run 6(10)x–16 10 0

Chevelle Bauman, Sophie Mairana (2) and Taylor Shannon. Makenzie Litchard and McKenna Forman. W–Litchard. L–Bauman.

Top Muncy hitters: Leah Vest 2-2, 3B, RBI; Bauman 1-2, run; Jailyn Baker 1-1. Top Warrior Run hitters: Maura Woland 2-2, 2B, RBI, 2 runs, SB; Ella Wertman 1-1, BB, 2 RBIs, run; Ella Printzenhoff 1-2, run; Lakesha Hauck 1-2, 2B, RBI; Mya Evans 1-2, 2 RBIs, 2 runs; Millie Gelnett 1-2, RBI, 2 runs; Mackenzie Heyler 1-1, RBI, run; Skye Reigle 1-2, 2 RBIs, run; Kiley Day 1-1, RBI; Forman 2 BB.

Records: Warrior Run (8-8), Muncy (9-7).

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Muncy's Chevelle Bauman starts out in the circle during a high school softball game against Warrior Run at Warrior Run on Monday, May 12, 2025. Warrior Run won 16-1.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Warrior Run's Skye Riegle makes the tag at third on Muncy's Jailyn Baker (8) during a high school softball game at Warrior Run on Monday, May 12, 2025. Warrior Run won 16-1.