A near-perfect performance produced an impressive season-opening win–and a tasty treat.

Eager to build on last year’s historic season, Hughesville excelled in all facets Tuesday and coach Dave Dimoff rewarded his team by buying it ice cream following its win at South Williamsport. Proclaiming that produced a loud ovation, but make no mistake, Hughesville craves winning more than desserts.

If it plays how it did Tuesday, Hughesville might satisfy that hunger.

Addy Knight smashed a three-run home run, Maddie Smith went 3 for 3, Kenna Fisher drove in four runs and Addison Henninger threw four strong innings as Hughesville thumped South, 16-1 in five innings. Eight players combined for 12 hits and every starter reached base as the Spartans (1-0) scored multiple runs four times.

“You could see it in the offseason. They worked hard in the offseason,” Dimoff said. “We had 16 open gyms and attendance in the offseason was high. They worked around their work schedules; their play schedules, everything they’re involved in to get the necessary reps in and I think it showed today.”

It sure did. Coming off a record 16 wins and first state tournament appearance, Hughesville scored nine runs in the first two innings and led, 13-1 after three. Henninger threw hitless innings in three of her four innings and Smith worked a perfect fifth, while the defense excelled behind both.

It’s only one game in a long season, but it certainly was a super start.

“It definitely felt a lot better knowing that I had some cushion and I don’t have to go out there thinking I have to strike everybody out,” Henninger said after fanning four and also collecting two hits with an RBI. “I have wiggle room and it’s great that we jumped out like that and got some runs right away.”

Knight set the tone when she battled back from a 1-2 count and opened the game with a seven-pitch walk. Ashlyn Barlett singled and Smith (4 runs, 3 steals) made it, 2-0, hitting a two-run single before scoring on Kiana Peck’s grounder.

As good as the start was, it was just the appetizer before Knight highlighted the main course in a six-run, second-inning outburst. After Avery Bergey walked and Laurel Bauman singled, Knight broke the game open and launched her three-run blast down the left-field line.

Knight tattooed the ball but it was not evident off the bat if it had the distance and/or would stay fair. It did both and a sprint down the line became a trot around the bases before Knight was swarmed at home by jubilant teammates.

“I thought it was going foul. I thought it was curving a little too much. I just knew I had to get those two runs in,” Knight said. “I was just looking to barrel it up at that point. I was booking it down. I was just running at that point, and it was great seeing it go over.”

Knight has flourished in the lead-off spot since her freshman year, helping Hughesville set wins record in each of the past two seasons. The second baseman has a potent blend of speed, pop and discipline and all shined through against South.

Knight twice drew walks, working back from 1-2 counts and the only time she was retired was because left fielder Alyssa Barnes made an excellent play on a liner. Whether clearing or setting the table, Knight provides Hughesville a weapon and her skills helped Hughesville score 13 runs in the first three innings she batted.

That included in the second and third innings when Fisher showed why her present and future look bright. The freshman third baseman hit a two-run single in the second and a two-run double in the fourth. Henninger also laced an RBI single and Peck rocketed a two-run double in the fifth, validating Knight’s confidence in the entire lineup.

“I just want to get on. I know if I get on, whether I single or walk, whatever I do, I know they’re going to do what they need to do to hit me home,” Knight said. “I know I have a great team behind me.”

Henninger takes a similar pitching approach and it paid dividends Tuesday. The junior hurler has skills similar to last year’s ace Ella Breneisen who is now throwing at Edinboro. Henninger may not be overpowering, but she is quite effective, mixing her pitches well, spotting them and letting a quality defense work behind her. 

Henninger threw 1,100 pitches at the JV level last season and won her first varsity start against Bloomsburg. That experience is paying off and the right-hander retired the side in order twice, while getting through the order in four batters or fewer three times. Henninger, a strong hitter on last year’s district finalist, opened the game with a perfect first inning and closed with a perfect fourth, needing just 15 pitches to get through both.

“I felt great out there, especially knowing I have such a great defense behind me,” Henninger said. “The strength of my teammates and support gives you a lot more confidence. Being able to throw different pitches and learn knew pitches gives me a lot of confidence, too.”

“Addison has worked. She has prepped; she’s confident and she trusts her defense,” Dimoff said. “They all trust each other and that’s the biggest thing.”

South did its best to fight back in the second inning when Mikaiya Hills hit a lead-off double and scored on Annabelle Fry’s RBI single a batter later. A Jewelana Jasper single and Abigail Holbrook walk loaded the bases with one, but Henninger came up big.

First, she produced her second strikeout before Allison Nolan hit a hard liner at Smith who snared the ball and ended the threat.

Obviously, it was not the result South wanted, but this is a team which graduated seven decorated starters from last year’s Class AA state finalist. It’s a marathon, not a sprint, so the Mounties will try and build off the positives they have displayed throughout a productive preseason.

“These girls work so hard. They really care about each other and they seem to be super supportive of each other,” first-year coach Jeanette Spagnuolo said. “Even in today’s game where things were not going our way, the dugout did not change. There were no body language changes, no mood changes. Even in the field very seldom were you seeing anyone drop their heads. They stuck in. I think it comes from them supporting each other so much.”

Spagnuolo also was encouraged by the determination Fry displayed in her first pitching start. The freshman did not let Hughesville’s success dent her determination and she kept doing all she could to battle back. Ultimately, it was about what Hughesville did right and not what she or her teammates did wrong.

Now a team bursting with young promise and bolstered by three three and four-year starters, is eager to make a lot go right moving forward.

“As long as we can keep that (chemistry) it will be something solid to look forward to as our season progresses,” Spagnuolo said. “The way they support each other and the way they work is impressive. The next step is them seeing what I see at practice every day.”

Hughesville made that jump the past two seasons and really broke through last year when it won 16 games, including two postseason contests, and reached its first district championship. Hughesville earned a literal taste following Tuesday’s win and a proverbial one last year.

Now it wants more.

“The girls are ready. It’s a play at a time and a hit at a time,” Dimoff said. “They’re a great group of kids. They’re just a fun group of kids to coach.”

Hughesville 364 03–16 12 1

South 010 00–1 3 2

Addison Henninger, Maddie Smith (5) and Kiana Peck. Annabelle Fry, Allie Bower (5) and Abigail Holbrook, Dani Brigandi (5). W–Henninger. L–Fry.

Top Hughesville hitters: Smith 3-3, BB, 3 RBIs, 4R, 3 SB; Kenna Fisher 2-3, 2B, BB, 4 RBIs, 2R; Addy Knight 1-2, HR, 2 BB, 3 RBIs, 3R; Henninger 2-4, RBI; Peck 1-3, 2B, 3 RBIs; Lyla Kinney 1-3, RBI; Laurel Bauman 1-3, R; Ashlyn Barlett 1-4, R. Top South hitters: Mikaiya Hills 1-2, 2B, R; Fry 1-2, RBI; Jewelana Jasper 1-2.

Records: Hughesville 1-0. South 0-1.