RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent South Williamsport players gather during a high school softball game against Montgomery at South Williamsport this year.

NFL Hall of Fame coach Bill Parcells once said “You are what your record says.”

Eh, not necessarily. South Williamsport softball presents the other side to the argument. The Mounties are 2-10, but have made enormous strides and are a better team than that record indicates.

A year removed from reaching a second straight Class AA state championship, South knew it was entering a rebuilding phase after seven decorated seniors graduated. Most of the current starters are freshmen and sophomores, so there has been a steep learning curve, especially against a daunting schedule. Still, the Mounties have won two of their last three games and were a run from making it three of four.

“You can definitely see the progress in them from the first game to this game. It’s really nice to see,” senior shortstop Mikiaya Hills said following an 8-7 win against Montgomery last Wednesday. “We’re finally getting some wins and it’s all coming together.”

“The girls work so hard,” senior shortstop Maddie Pinkerton said following the team’s first win, an 8-7 victory against Union-Endicott. “You can see everyone getting better.”

Hills, Pinkerton and second baseman Emma McLaughlin are the lone starters back from last year’s team and all started during both state final runs. They have formed a strong foundation and, while the results have not been the same as their first three years, they all have provided strong leadership.

That has been vital in the team sticking together and coming together. All made big impacts against Montgomery as did the underclassmen, helping the Mounties score a run in bottom of the seventh to walk off with a win against a playoff qualifier.

Montgomery is one of the Mid-Penn’s best teams and South’s win shines a light upon a key fact. South does not play in a conference. The past four years it made sense because the team was so loaded and playing a gauntlet-like schedule enabled South to make the runs it did and win four straight district championships.

Now, however, seems like the right time to get back into a conference, whether the Mid-Penn or the Heartland Conference. As the Montgomery win showed, South may have been a playoff team this year if in that league instead of encountering a schedule which has included nine teams which already have or which likely will earn postseason berths.

Nonetheless, South has soldiered forward and continued progressing. Freshman Annabelle Fry has thrown well in pressure moments, Annika Harding had two hits and three RBIs against Montgomery and Lily Brewer hit a clutch two-out RBI single. So, while the three terrific senior starters will need replaced next spring, the future is looking brighter these days.

This has been anything but a lost season. It more likely is a launching pad.

“Every day we talk about getting 1 % better. That’s the main goal,” South coach Jeanette Spagnuolo said. “I absolutely see it. It makes me so happy.”

ALL COVERED

Williamsport sophomore Kinsley Cannode is having an excellent season, following up her strong debut campaign a year ago. Hitting in the No. 2 spot, Cannode has been on a tear the last few weeks and went 2 for 2 with two walks, a double and two runs in last Thursday’s 13-1 win against Jersey Shore.

But Cannode is equally valuable as a defender. The center fielder has emerged as one of the area’s best and proved it again against Jersey Shore. She made two excellent catches there and turned what looked like a sure double into an out, sprinting toward the fence, extending her glove on the run and making the grab.

It can be easy to focus on what Cannode brings offensively since it’s a lot. Still, plays like those, ones she has made throughout the last two seasons, save runs and when games are close, can turn potential losses into victories.

“Kinsley ran down some balls that most people don’t get to,” Williamsport coach Scott Stugart said following that win. “She has great angles, breaks on contact and she just goes to the right place. She’s fantastic.”

TRIPLE CROWN

Reaching 100 hits, RBIs or runs during a high school career is a tremendous achievement. Doing all three is pretty remarkable.

That’s exactly what Montgomery’s Madisyn Miller has achieved.

The senior first baseman reached 100 hits and RBIs earlier this season and made it 3 for 3 when she scored her 100th run last Friday during a 14-0 win against Sugar Valley. Miller played one of her best games while reaching rare air, going 3 for 3 with two home runs, six RBIs and three runs.

Few have hit home runs over the fence at Montgomery which has long dimensions and a high fence. That Miller did so highlights her hitting prowess.

EXTRA BASES

Bucktail (9-2) has won five straight games and taken over the top spot in the District 4 Class A standings after going 4-0 last week. The Bucks were pounding the ball and scored at least 13 runs in every game. Kelsie Wagner, Kendall Wagner and Lola English all hit home runs and Carrie Ditty and Kelsie Wagner each threw abbreviated no-hitters. Wagner went 3 for 3 with a home run and double in her three-inning no-hitter against CMVT. Bucktail heads to Montgomery today for a game with both big Mid-Penn and District 4 ramifications. The Bucks rallied for a 5-4 win the first time … Camdyn Weaver is having a strong junior season for Central Mountain and the pitcher/outfielder went 3 for 4 with three runs in an 11-1 win against Shikellamy. Aubrey Miller threw a three-hitter and Aubrey Eiler had two hits … A few days after going 3 for 4 with three doubles, Cowanesque Valley freshman Emma Carl showcased her pitching skill and threw a three-inning no-hitter against Cameron County. She added her fourth double of the week there and scored four times … Hughesville freshman Kenna Fisher is having a strong debut season and slugged her first high school home run in a 13-9 win at Warrior Run. Ashlynn Barlett and Maddie Smith also homered as Hughesville erased a 9-6 fifth-inning deficit. Fisher added two more hits and a double in a 3-0 loss at Towanda … Brinley Haile is having a breakout season at Lewisburg and is part of a strong, young nucleus there. She went 4 for 6 in two games last week, belting a double and triple and driving in two runs … Wellsboro sophomore Ady Frantz continues to dazzle. In three games against defending District 4 Class AAAA champion Athens, 3A title contender Towanda and Canton last week, she allowed just six hits and struck out 42.

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

DR. MASSE’S TOP 5 RANKINGS

1. Williamsport (11-1): Williamsport produced 31 hits and 27 runs in victories against Danville and Jersey Shore while closing in on a second straight HAC-I championship. The Millionaires can win the title outright with two wins in their final league games and clinch no worse than a share with one victory. Williamsport received production up and down the lineup, the Jersey Shore win highlighting that as every starter reached base and drove in and/or scored a run.

“When you get all nine working together and turning it over, it’s a beautiful thing to see,” Stugart said. “We just have to keep everyone believing in themselves and letting go of the past and keeping that confidence up. This year you can see the difference in a number of girls that are really figuring out that part of the game.”

2. North Penn-Liberty (10-2): North Penn-Liberty has moved into a tie for first in the rugged NTL-I, winning nine straight games, including thrillers against Towanda (10-2) and Troy last week. Elyna Booth threw a three-hit shutout with 11 strikeouts in a 1-0 Towanda win as the Mounties avenged a previous loss before Maddie Smith collected three hits, including a home run and triple in an eight-inning victory at Troy. Haley Litzelman continues raking and was 3 for 4 with a triple, double and two RBIs against Troy. Kameron Lightner added two hits and Julia Kaczynski a double as North Penn-Liberty clinched a fifth straight District 4 Class AAA playoff berth.

3. Montoursville (10-5): Montoursville also earned a spot in that loaded 3A field, battering Southern Columbia, 17-1 before Julie Friel threw her latest gem in a 1-0 victory against Towanda. Friel threw a one-hitter and, in her last two starts, has limited strong Williamsport and Warrior Run offenses to one run and four hits, while striking out 19. Sophomore Laney Yonkin has a bright pitching future and the team appears in strong hands when Friel graduates with Yonkin moving to 4-0 against Southern and producing her sixth quality start this season. Montoursville has moved back into the top four in the 3A standings as teams jockey for home playoff games.

4. Loyalsock (10-3): Make it three straight area teams which clinched 3A berths as Loyalsock put together an excellent week, routing Bloomsburg and defeating Hughesville, 4-2 in a rematch of last year’s district championship. Kinsie Phillips threw a three-inning no-hitter against Bloomsburg and Easton Waller a one-hitter at Hughesville, surrendering no earned runs and striking out 11. The sophomore topped 200 career strikeouts in that game and enters the week with 204. Loyalsock made some lineup changes and it paid off against Bloomsburg with Maddie Wertz, Maddy Williams and Sophia Miller all going 3 for 3. Addi Barowy moved to lead-off and had a big day at Hughesville, going 2 for 3 with a double and three RBIs.

5. Jersey Shore (9-4): Softball, like baseball, can be a funny game. Williamsport nearly lost to Danville two nights before hosting Jersey Shore and the Bulldogs rocked the Ironmen, 19-3 the previous week. But for a second time, the Bulldogs had no answers against Williamsport. Still, Jersey Shore hit the ball hard in that game and opened the week with an impressive 4-3 win against Central Mountain. Lexi Frey threw a seven-hitter there and also belted a triple and double. Freshman Amelia Thomas is an exciting young player who has surged while hitting in the middle of the order. She hit an RBI single against Central Mountain and went 2 for 2 against Williamsport, blending pop with some blazing speed.

Players of the Week

Eva Sockman, Bucktail and Kenna Thomas, Williamson: Sockman overwhelmed four opponents last week, going 10 for 13 with 11 RBIs and five runs. The four-year starter went 8 for 8 during one stretch, slammed six doubles and added a triple. She is hitting .622 with 23 RBIs and 13 extra-base hits. Thomas has helped Williamson close in on the NTL-II championship and was at her best last week as Williamson thumped Sayre and opened a two-game lead on Cowanesque Valey. Against CV, Thomas threw a five-hit shutout and struck out 11, while going 2 for 2 with an RBI. Two days later, she led the charge in a 13-2 win against Sayre, going 3 for 4 with two doubles, a triple and four RBIs. Thomas is 5-2 with a 0.99 ERA, striking out 63 in 49 2/3 innings, while rising to second on the team with 17 RBIs.

Game of the Week

Loyalsock at Montoursville: Thursday’s game could be for the HAC-III championship. Both have one league loss and Montoursville enters the week with two league games remaining and Loyalsock three. Before squaring off Thursday, Montoursville heads to Bloomsburg today and Loyalsock is at Warrior Run. If both win those games, Montoursville could clinch the outright crown with a win against Loyalsock. Conversely, the Lancers could take a one-game lead and then take the outright crown with a doubleheader sweep of Southern Columbia. A year ago, these two shared the crown and they also have split two games this season. In the last four games not played at a neutral site, the visiting team has won each time.