Williamsport sophomore Zaelana Minor wondered if she could handle second base a year ago. Katelyn Solomon questioned whether she could deliver a the most pressure-packed moment Wednesday.

Both produced resounding yes responses.

Minor made the game’s biggest play, potentially saving the game in the top of the seventh at Millionaire Mountain before Solomon won it in the bottom half. Minor’s leaping snare of an Addi Barowy liner preserved a tie and Solomon’s walk-off single scored Isabella Reddy as Williamsport edged Loyalsock, 6-5 in a thrilling showdown between defending district champions.

“I was nervous,” Solomon said. “I was trying to tell myself, ‘You’ve got this.'”

She was right.

Loyalsock had fought back from a 4-0 second-inning deficit and tied the game in the seventh on a two-run Kinsie Phillips single. Minor, however, provided Williamsport a huge lift and Reddy and Payton Pennycoff opened the bottom of the seventh with walks, Pennycoff fighting back from 0-2 to do so.

That set the stage for Solomon who had struck out in her two previous at-bats, but who also has shown a flair for the dramatic, slamming a walk-off home run against Danville last year. Like Pennycoff, Solomon fell behind 0-2, but like her freshman teammate, she also relied on lessons drilled in throughout the preseason.

Williamsport has worked hard on two-strike approaches, not wanting to go down looking as much as last year. That paid monster dividends at the most critical time. Solomon, who had hit a two-strike triple against Bellefonte in a scrimmage, took the next pitch toward right-center field, and shot it through the infield. That brought home a hustling Reddy as Williamsport celebrated its second straight riveting season-opening win after downing Central Mountain a year ago.

“I told her how great that was. She said, ‘For some reason I do better when I have two strikes on me,'” Williamsport coach Scott Stugart said. “I told her those first two are OK to hit on too, but we’ll take that. We love the two-strike hits.”

“I was telling myself swing at anything close,” Solomon said. “It was great. That’s what makes the game fun.”

And this certainly was a fun one for all those who filled up the bleachers, hill beyond the outfield and areas behind home plate. Both squads return strong cores from district champions and also feature young players eager to make their marks, like Pennycoff, a freshman catcher who threw out a base runner and went 1 for 2 with two walks.

Add in the rivalry with Loyalsock making a spirited comeback effort and an early-season March game felt a lot like a late May playoff contest.

“We knew we could do it,” Minor said. “Everybody was excited and a win like that makes everyone feel good going into the rest of the season.”

“The girl competed; they battled,” Loyalsock coach Casey Waller said. “I’m proud of them for competing because once we got down, we could have folded. Just to see them being resilient early was great and we’ll get better.”

Philips had a big day, going 3 for 3 with a home run and four RBIs. After Easton Waller hit a one-out double in the seventh, Shlya Fulp walked and set the stage for Phillips who stayed with a pitch on the outside corner and hit the game-tying two-run single into center field.

Winning pitcher Ashlyn Robinson, however, continued displaying her trademark toughness and induced a flyout which moved Phillips to third. Minor then did her best Roberto Alomar impersonation and kept the game tied with her brilliant leaping catch.

Barowy smoked a liner which looked destined to land in right field and give Loyalsock its first lead. Instead, Minor leapt high and snared the ball as it continued rising. It was yet another excellent stop by a former shortstop who played second base for the first time a year ago and helped Williamsport repeat as district champions.

“She hit it and I thought it was going over my head. I at least was going to try for it, so I jumped,” Minor said. “It hit my glove and I was surprised because I didn’t think I was going to get it. It felt really good.”

Williamsport produced good vibes early with Pennycoff and shortstop Brenna Beck throwing out runners at second and third, respectively, in the top of the first. In a preview of things to come, clutch defense led to timely hitting in the bottom of the first with Emma Vollman hitting a lead-off single, stealing second and scoring on Beck’s RBI single.

Robinson followed with a two-strike RBI single and Reddy a two-out RBI double, pushing the lead to, 3-0. An inning later, Kinsley Cannode walked and scored on Robinson’s second RBI single and Williamsport went ahead, 4-0.

Phillips, though, changed the game’s complexion in the third inning. After Waller walked and scored on an error, Phillips tattooed a mammoth two-run home run over the hill beyond the center field fence and pulled Loyalsock within, 4-3. It was the latest highlight by an explosive sophomore who had a big debut season a year ago.

An excellent third baseman as well, Philips also walked and her key hits both changed and then tied the game.

“Kinsie had a heck of a game with the bat. She was clutch for us,” Waller said. “Kinsie is a D1 hitter. I believe that to my core, and she can lock down third base. She’s a gamer. When she’s at the plate you just sit over there and relax because I know she’s going to have quality at-bats.”

Waller is another of Loyalsock’s super sophomores and displayed her poise throughout the game after entering in relief in the first inning. Waller struck out 11 in 4 2/3 gutsy innings and fanned the side in order after Williamsport loaded the bases with no outs and leading 5-3 in the fourth inning. Waller again struck out the side in the fifth when the Millionaires had runners on second and third with two outs.

Robinson was not as overpowering but was equally effective. Utilizing good spin, placement and moxie, Robinson took a four-hitter into the seventh inning and stranded six runners. Her defense helped as well with Beck, Vollman, Minor and Solomon at first base all making terrific plays.

“For her to handle those types of batters and this quality of a team the way she did was impressive,” Stugart said. “You tip your cap to Loyalsock and some of the good things they did, but she battled. She’s such a tough competitor.”

That seemed to be the common denominator between both teams. Loyalsock has played two close games against high-caliber Lake-Lehman and Williamsport thus far. The Millionaires made their first one about as exciting as possible. Many more games and challenges are coming for both teams, but they each have resilient foundations to build upon.”

“That’s the biggest takeaway here. I love having quality opponents early in the season,” Stugart said. “I think it gets us up to speed quicker. I was really pleased with how we reacted to key situations.”

Loyalsock 003 000 2–5 6 1

Williamsport 310 100 0–5 7 3

Sophia Miller, Easton Waller (1), Kinsie Phillips (6) and Shyla Fulp. Ashlyn Robinson and Payton Pennycoff. W–Robinson. L–Phillips.

Top Loyalsock hitters: Phillips 3-3, HR, BB, 4 RBIs, R; Waller 1-3, 2B, 2R; Maddie Wertz 1-3, BB; Lydia Kresock 1-3; Shyla Fulp 2 BB, 2R. Top Williamsport hitters: Emma Vollman 2-4, R; Robinson 2-4, 2 RBIs, R; Isabella Reddy 1-3, 2B, RBI, R; Brenna Beck 1-3, BB, 2 RBIs, R; Pennycoff 1-2, 2 BB; Katelyn Solomon 1-3, BB, RBI.

Records: Williamsport 1-0. Loyalsock 1-1.