Last year, we began a new tradition. And, yes, the annual Williamsport Tournament held last weekend is an eight-team tournament, but all four Backyard Brawl participants compete there. So, the committee figured it was only fair that we started constructing a tournament all-star team there.

Mifflinburg captured this year’s tournament, defeating Delaware Valley, Williamsport and Loyalsock. The Lancers were runners-up; Williamsport took third and Montoursville fourth. South won its first game this season, an exciting comeback 8-7, eight-inning thriller, taking seventh.

The only catch here is that, this team is four those four Lycoming County schools. There are a lot of excellent players to choose from that quartet alone.

So, drum roll, please …

Ashlyn Robinson of Williamsport pitches in the first inning against Montoursville in Williamsport Saturday afternoon. Williamsport won 1-0. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

The (Sort of) Backyard Brawl Softball

All-Star Team

C–Shyla Fulp, Loyalsock (hit .333 with 2B, RBI, R, played super defense); IF–Trinity Belle, Montoursville (hit .400 with hits in all 3 games, 2 RBIs, R); IF–Annika Harding, South (hit .625 with hits in all 3 games, 2B, 2 BB, 2R); IF–Kinsie Phililps, Loyalsock (hit .500 with 3 2B, 3B, 2 RBIs, 3R); IF–Emma Vollman, Williamsport (hit .375 with 2 BB, 2B, 2 RBIs, 5R); OF–Maddie Pinkerton, South (hit .455 with 3B, 2B, RBI, 3R); OF–Kinsley Cannode, Williamsport (hit .375 with HR, 2 BB, RBI, 2R); OF–Addi Barowy, Loyalsock (hit .333 with 2 doubles, 3 RBIs, game-winning RBI in semifinals); P–Ashlyn Robinson, Williamsport (threw one-hit shutout vs. Montoursville in third place game); P–Easton Waller, Loyalsock (wins vs Upper Dauphin and Montoursville, allowing two earned runs in 12 2/3 innings with 23 strikeouts)

Tournament MVP–Brenna Beck, Williamsport: A four-year starter, Beck showcased her entire arsenal last weekend, hitting, running and fielding well. Beck also collected her 100th career hit, joining teammate Ashlyn Robinson in that club this summer. Beck went 5 for 7 with a triple, double, two walks, five RBIs and four runs. She hit safely in all three games, compiled an .800 on-base percentage and made a series of sensational plays against Mifflinburg in the semifinals before hitting a game-tying three-run double in the seventh inning.

UTTER CHAOS

The committee faced some tough decisions as pertained to the weekly rankings. First, Montoursville rocked Loyalsock, 18-1 in four innings last Tuesday. Two days later, Hughesville, which lost 7-0 earlier this season to Montoursville, rallied four times from the seventh inning on and dramatically defeated it, 8-7 in 13 thrilling innings.

Then, Loyalsock exacted revenge against Montoursville, winning Saturday’s tournament semifinal, 3-2. But in the two combined games, Montoursville outscored the Lancers, 20-4. But Loyalsock holds a win against Hughesville and Montoursville does not.

So, that right there is quite a three-team conundrum. Add in Warrior Run defeating previous No. 4 Jersey Shore, 4-3 and that adds to the madness.

Ultimately, these weekly rankings mean nothing but thought does go into them. So, while three selections were easy the final two felt like throwing darts and hoping a few land. The great thing about sports is that eventually, it will all be settled.

GOING OFF

Montgomery (8-2) went 3-0 week, outscoring three opponents, 59-2. The Red Raiders did all their damage, including gathering 40 hits, in just nine at-bats. In the process, they maintained their top spot in the District 4 Class A standings.

Jenna Houseknecht had a huge week, going 7 for 10 with 11 RBIs. She had at least two hits in each game and twice drove in five runs. Ramona Kroll had at least two hits in each game and Zoe Furman walloped two home runs, driving in four runs against CMVT.

While Montgomery’s offense heated up, its pitchers cooled off the opposition. Ava Hartman allowed just one hit in two starts, covering six innings. Houseknecht earned the win against CMVT, combining with Arianna Snyder on a two-hitter.

EXTRA BASES

Hughesville (6-2) has won four straight and responded when down to its last three outs in the seventh, 11th, 12th and 13th innings against Montoursville. It was an impressive display of the team’s toughness and kept the Spartans in the hunt for a league title, drawing it within a game of Montoursville and Loyalsock in the HAC-III standings. Addison Henninger hit the walk-off single against Montoursville and Ashlyn Barlett collected four hits… Lewisburg freshman Morgan Shannon has made an immediate impact in the pitching circle and at the plate. Shannon threw a three-hitter in a 3-2 win against Milton before going 4 for 5 with a double, four RBIs and two runs in a 15-11 loss against Bloomsburg … Cowanesque Valley (6-4) stayed in the NTL-II title hunt, winning three league games by a 39-5 margin. Zeraya Wilson is having a fabulous senior year and went 7 for 11 with a home run, double and seven RBIs. Seven players produced at least two hits in Saturday’s 13-3 win against Sayre Lilah LeBarron threw a three-hitter with seven strikeouts. CV has a shot to tie Williamson for first place and avenge its lone league loss Thursday when the rivals collide … Bucktail bounced back from a loss at Hughesville, blanking Benton, 19-0. Eva Sockman continued her stellar season, going 4 for 4 with two doubles and four RBIs. Carrie Ditty was 3 for 3 with three RBIs and struck out six in two innings. Sisters Kendall and Kelsie Wagner were 4 for 4 with three doubles and five RBIs.

Chris Masse may be reached at cmasse@sungazette.com. Follow him on Twitter at @docmasse.

DR. MASSE’S TOP 5 RANKINGS

1. Williamsport (9-1): Mifflinburg ended Williamsport’s season-opening winning streak at eight games but not without a fight. The Millionaires did not flinch after falling behind 6-0 before batting and scored five times in the seventh to tie it before dropping an 8-7 heartbreaker. They immediately regrouped and took third with Kinsley Cannode’s home run making the difference in a 1-0 win against Montoursville. Williamsport opened its week with a huge league victory, defeating Central Mountain, 3-1 and completing a season sweep of the squad with home it shared last year’s HAC-I crown. Robinson threw a three-hitter with eight strikeouts and Zaelana Minor drilled a clutch, go-ahead, two-out, two-run home run in the fifth inning. Halfway through the league season, Williamsport is 5-0.

2. Central Mountain (5-2): The Wildcats came back and won their next two games, thumping Selinsgrove and rallying past DuBois. Camdyn Weaver threw a two-hitter with six strikeouts against a hard-hitting Seals offense in an 11-1 victory. Mallory Wunder, Payton Williams and Aubrey Eiler all had two hits in that game with Eiler belting a triple and driving in two runs.

3. North Penn-Liberty (8-2): North Penn-Liberty storms into the rankings for the first time, winning seven straight games and defeating two of the NTL’s top squads in Athens and Wyalusing. The Mounties face another NTL title contender today when they meet Towanda. The Knights took the first meeting, 4-2. After a slow start, the North Penn-Liberty offense has come on strong. Five players are hitting .355 or higher and Bucknell-bound Haley Litzelman is at .500 with 15 RBIs. Freshman Julia Kaczynski has settled in well and his batting .464, scoring a team-high 14 runs. Kameron Lightner went 2 for 3 against Wyalusing and her RBI single was all Elyna Booth needed in last Wednesday’s 1-0 win against Wyalusing.

4. Jersey Shore (7-3): Although Warrior Run edged it, 4-3 last Saturday, the Bulldogs are hitting well and generated 27 hits in two games last week. That included a 16-hit performance in a 17-6 win at Selinsgrove. Junior Lexi Frey had a big week pitching and hitting. She earned the win at Selinsgrove, and struck out 10 against Warrior Run, while going 6 for 8 a double and three RBIs. Freshman Aubree Reichard doubled twice against Warrior Run and Mya Lehman also had two hits. Jersey Shore gets a second crack at Williamsport which pounded it two weeks ago when those rivals play Thursday under the lights at Millionaire Mountain.

5. Montoursville (8-5): I can hear some Loyalsock and Hughesville fans yelling as they read this since both defeated Montoursville last week. But hear me out: Montoursville beat those same two teams, 18-1 and 7-0 the first time around before dropping one-run thrillers in the rematches. Take away recency bias, count the games the same and Montoursville takes it by a nose. The Warriors are receiving fabulous pitching from Julie Friel but also have plenty of other talented arms. They proved it at the Williamsport Tournament with Laney Yonkin, Avery Stahl and freshman Harlee Hagemeyer all throwing well. Equally important, they all threw well in pressure-filled moments. Yonkin started the first two tournament games and handcuffed both Union-Endicott and Loyalsock, allowing just two hits in five innings against the Lancers.

Players of the Week

Elyna Booth, North Penn-Liberty and Maddie Smith, Hughesville: Booth has picked up where she left off last season when she was named the Sun-Gazette Pitcher of the Year. The right-hander has allowed just three runs during North Penn-Liberty’s seven-game winning streak and went 2-0 last week, limiting Wyalusing and Wellsboro to one run and six hits, while striking out 20. Booth also homered against Wellsboro, has 87 strikeouts in 53 innings and is 7-2 with a 0.92 ERA.

Smith also has been dealing and shut down three opponents last week, going 2-0 with a save. The all-state shortstop allowed just two earned runs in 15 innings and struck out 29. Smith threw a one-hitter with 10 strikeouts against Bucktail, fanned 11 in six clutch innings of relief against Montoursville and threw four hitless innings at Wellsboro. She also had three hits and opened her week with two hits, four runs and an RBI.

Game of the Week

Montgomery at South Williamsport

Let’s change it up a little since a lot of the possibilities this week are rivalry rematches. South proved what it is capable of with two strong performances Friday night and Saturday afternoon at the Williamsport Tournament, so the tough schedule it has played makes Wednesday’s game an interesting one. Montgomery has won six of its last seven games and is fighting for District 4 Class A’s top seed. South has controlled the series over the years, so each team will be eager to prove something Wednesday.