RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montoursville players receive their championship medals following their win over Danville in the PIAA district 4, Class AAAA final at Bowman Field on Monday, May 26, 2025. The Warriors won 7-3.

A few moments following Montoursville finished routing Shamokin, 11-1 early last month, Warriors’ coach Jeremy Eck walked his team toward center field

And he let them have it. Not in a celebratory way either.

Yes, Montoursville won and improved to 11-2, but something was missing. The Warriors were not playing at the standard the program was accustomed to. For a program coming off two straight District 4 Class AAAA championship losses the message was clear–get it together or kiss those title hopes good-bye.

Montoursville received the message loud and clear. It has the championship trophy to prove it.

The Warriors refocused and recaptured the gold, avenging last year’s defeat and beating Danville, 7-3 to capture a fourth district championship in seven seasons. Now another gold pursuit begins and Montoursville plays Crestwood today at Millionaire Mountain in the state tournament’s first round.

“I was furious (following the Shamokin game). The way we were going about our business and approaching things wasn’t where it needed to be,” Eck said following his eighth district title win last Tuesday. “I challenged the guys and even called them out and they bought in. The attitudes changed and a lot of things changed.”

As such, a team which came so close to a district championship the previous two seasons kicked down that door, beating a team which had 13 seniors back from last year’s state semifinalist. Montoursville (17-4) did lose two more games against District 4 Class AAA champion Mount Carmel and Williamsport after Eck’s talk. Still, he liked the way his team battled in both games, rallying each time to erase multiple run deficits and tie things. The approach and attitudes had changed for the better.

By the time districts started, Montoursville was in a good spot, ready to pounce on its district opportunity. The Warriors throttled Athens, 11-1 in the semifinals, then showed how far they have grown this season by beating a team which mercy-ruled it last April.

“It was a slow start to the season. Coach Eck is always saying how we haven’t played our best baseball, putting it together on offense, pitching and defense,” Logan Kirby said after throwing 6 2/3 strong innings in the district final. “That was pretty close (last Tuesday). We could have easily given in there and let them flip the score there but we hung with it and the outcome showed.”

It certainly did.

Montoursville built a 3-0 third inning lead, but Danville chipped away, scoring a run in the bottom of the third and cutting it to 5-3 in the fourth. Instead of buckling, Montoursville rallied together as Michael Reeder hit an RBI single and Royce Bowes a sacrifice fly. Kirby and Jimmy Mussina took it from there, closing the game with three scoreless innings as Montoursville paid back Danville 367 days after last year’s championship.

“I was excited not just for the district final, but we’re here again to try and get revenge. I didn’t really care who started, I just wanted to win,” Kirby said. “Jimmy did his thing against Athens and I came out here and did my thing against Danville and we just kept it going.”

“Answering them was crucial. Momentum is a very key thing in sports. If someone has a lot of momentum, they’re going to keep that rolling,” Reeder said. “Every time they had something big, we answered it back and made sure the momentum stayed ours. That was definitely key to us winning this game.”

Montoursville did not play a perfect game, but it played a good one. There were still a few defensive and base running mistakes which it worked around.

That gave Eck and the coaching staff a perfect mix entering states. The Warriors had the gold, but also understand they have to keep getting better if they hope to make some noise in states.

The team carried a chip upon its shoulder throughout districts after many, this publication included, predicted Danville to repeat as district champions. That lit a fire and all the players carried equal weight as they climbed the district ladder, with every starter reaching base.

“Losing back-to-back years was rough. We’re coming out here and we’re getting doubted and getting that win, getting that gold, and bringing it back to Montoursville is really nice,” Bowes said. “We’re looking forward to states now.”

That is what Eck wants to hear. One goal has been achieved but another big one remains out there. So, the grind continues.

Montoursville has come a long way from that center field meeting following the Shamokin game. Now it would love nothing more than to go all the way. But that is a process every player knows goes one pitch, one at-bat and one play at a time.

“You just go out there and play the best game you can,” Kirby said. “You go out there, let it all out and whatever happen, happens.”

“We have to regroup and get back after it,” Eck said. “It’s a great opportunity and you have to try and find a way because it’s hard getting here and you never know if you’ll get back here.”