The Warriors then channeled that energy into a 1.21-jigawatt jolt which shocked Crestwood into submission. Montoursville produced enough sparks to make Benjamin Franklin smile and powered its way into the 4A state quarterfinals.

Logan Kirby threw a one-hit shutout, 10 players reached base and Montoursville exploded for 18 runs in two at-bats, pummeling Crestwood, 18-0 in Monday’s state tournament opener. The Warriors (18-4) scored 11 first inning runs, seven more in the second and steamrolled their way into Thursday’s Elite 8 where they will play Fleetwood at a site and time to be determined.

“I’ve said the last few games it doesn’t matter if you get a hit or make an error, it’s about the next thing. Make an impact any way you can,” first baseman Brayden McCourt said after going 1 for 1 with two RBIs and two runs. “If it’s not at the plate, it’s in the field; if not in the field it’s on the bases or cheering and keeping your teammates up. Impact matters.”

Montoursville made a seismic impact against Crestwood. Kirby retired six straight batters at one point, McCourt, shortstop Royce Bowes and left fielder Michael Reeder all made superb plays and Montoursville landed a knockout as quick as Ivan Drago did against Apollo Creed.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montoursville's Royce Bowes (9) scores on a Brody Aldenderfer sacrifice fly in the first inning.

“We’re always talking about doing anything you can to get on base,” third baseman Zack Neill said after going 2 for 3 with three RBIs and two runs. “Make them have to make the play.”

Montoursville earned a spot in the state quarterfinals for the first time since 2021 and continued its stellar postseason play which included impressive wins against Athens and 2024 state semifinalist Danville. Monday’s performance perfectly illustrated how the Warriors have been able to make this run.

It’s not one or two players carrying the load, but every player equally doing so. Neill, Bowes and Jimmy Mussina all had two hits, while Noah Kirby was 1 for 1 with two RBIs and two walks. Brody Aldenderfer drove in two runs with a sacrifice fly and two walks, while KJ Moore reached three times and scored runs, also starting a key first-inning double play. Jonah Heddings slammed an RBI double and Carson Menne delivered a pinch-hit single.

“The thing I like the most tonight was we didn’t try to do too much. Guys were not swinging out of the zone on the off-speed stuff; we stayed in the zone, we took our walks and guys came up and hit the ball to the biggest part of the field,” Montoursville coach Jeremy Eck said. “We had a gap-to-gap mindset all night long and it’s kind of coming together for us a little bit. We’re playing some quality baseball and we’re going to try and ride this as long as we can.”

Crestwood was coming off a 2-0 District 2 championship loss against state quarterfinalist Mid Valley, but Montoursville let it be known early that the Comets would not be involved in another low scoring game. A staggering 13 of the first 14 batters reached base and the lone out was a productive one with Aldenderfer hitting a sacrifice fly and making it, 1-0.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montoursville's pitcher Logan Kirby and team mates celebrates after their 18-0 win over Crestwood in the first round of the PIAA playoffs at Williamsport Monday.

Following that sacrifice fly, the next 10 Montoursville batters reached base. Neill scorched a two-run single, Heddings his RBI double, Bowes lasered an RBI double and Mussina (2 for 2, 3 RBIs, 2 runs) added an RBI single. A wild pitch followed Mussina’s hit and, in the blink of an eye, Montoursville led, 11-0.

Montoursville produced a similar inning when it scored 11 first inning runs at the Backyard Brawl against 2A state quarterfinalist South Williamsport, but did not score again over the next four. The Warriors refused to let history repeat itself and kept their foot on the gas this time, adding seven second inning runs, allowing them to go for a shocking knockout in the third.

“We came back in the second inning and kept playing hard. We kept the momentum going,” Neill said. “We use that (South game) as motivation. We said we can’t plateau.”

Instead, Montoursville kept ascending. The Warriors batted around again with eight of the first nine batters reaching base. Again, when the Warriors did make outs that inning, they were quality outs with Bowes moving runners on a grounder and McCourt tagging a long sacrifice fly to the right field warning track.

Noah Kirby laced an RBI single, Aldenderfer drew an RBI walk, Mussina roped a two-run single and Neill beat out an RBI infield single in succession. Montoursville opened the game, hitting 8 for 12 with runners in scoring position and led 18-0 before the third out was recorded in the second inning.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montoursville's Jimmy Mussina connects for a single in the first inning.

“We did talk about how important it was to keep going,” McCourt said. “Coach told us we played really well that first inning but we can’t let up because you don’t want to give them an opportunity to get back in the game.”

Kirby and the defense did their part as well. Kirby threw an efficient 42 pitches, striking out three and letting just one runner reach third. Moore combined with Bowes and McCourt to turn a first inning double play, while Reeder made a sensational diving catch in no-man’s land in shallow center field an inning later. Bowes fielded a hard grounder a batter later and McCourt made a super scoop to keep the momentum going as Montoursville then translated the defensive energy into more offense.

The Warriors felt a bit slighted watching Crestwood warm up. Perception is reality and Montoursville perceived that Crestwood was preparing like the Warriors might not be ready for them. That turned an already motivated team into a raging unit.

“We came out focused. When guys come out and walk out on the field and just go through the motions it kind of lights a fire under these guys,” Eck said. “We tall all the time about playing the game the right way and flying on and off the field and playing the game the way it’s supposed to be played. They had a little extra motivation coming in.”

Now the goal is try and take that hunger and energy into the next game.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montoursville's Jonah Heddings connects for a double with an RBI in the first inning.

“We want to stay comfortable, stay loose, and we want to stay in our flow,” McCourt said. “We just want to keep playing baseball the way we’ve been playing baseball. Anything can happen, and baseball is an amazing game. We hope for the best and just continue to play our baseball and whatever happens, happens.”

Crestwood 000–0 1 3

Montoursville (11)7x–18 10 0

Jaxson Fedak, Bobby Reed (1). Jacob Feisel (2) and Josh Mylet. Logan Kirby and Noah Kirby. W–Kirby, (7-0). L–Fedak.

Top Crestwood hitters: Chase Galella 1-1. Top Montoursville hitters: Jimmy Mussina 2-2, 3 RBIs, 2 runs; Royce Bowes 2-3, 2B, RBI, 2 runs; Zack Neill 2-3, 3 RBIs, 2 runs; N. Kirby 1-1, 2 BB, 2 RBIs; Brayden McCourt 1-1, BB, 2 RBIs, 2 runs; Jonah Heddings 1-3, 2B, RBI, run; Brody Aldenderfer 2 BB, 2 RBIs, R; Carson Menne 1-1; KJ Moore 2 BB, 3 runs; Michael Reeder RBI, 2 runs.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montoursville's Royce Bowes celebrates after hitting a double with an RBI in the first inning.

Records: Montoursville (18-4).

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montoursville's Elijah Eck heads for home to score one of two runs on a Zack Neilll single in the first inning.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montoursville's KJ Moore is grazed by a pitch in the first inning.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montoursville's Royce Bowes is safe at third base as Crestwood third baseman Zach Stavish waits for the throw on a double steal in the first inning.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montoursville left fielder Michael Reeder makes a catch for an out in the first inning.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montoursville pitcher Logan Kirby throws to first base on a bunt in the first inning.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montoursville second baseman Royce Bowes celebrates after turning-two in the first inning.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montoursville second baseman Royce Bowes (9) forces out Crestwood's Jack Rodgers before turning-two in the first inning.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montoursville pitcher Logan Kirby delivers a pitch to a Crestwood batter in the first round of the PIAA playoffs Monday.