Host Williamsport, South Williamsport, Loyalsock and Montoursville all will be there but this is an eight-team tournament, so it has the Backyard Brawl flavor with some added spice. There is a Brawl-like game Friday when Williamsport faces South in the quarterfinals at 5:30 p.m.

Action starts Friday when Loyalsock plays Upper Dauphin and Montoursville faces Union-Endicott at 3:30. Delaware Valley and undefeated Mifflinburg square off in the other quarterfinal. There are all sorts of permutations which could unveil themselves, but it seems likely, at some point, two county teams will collide following that initial Williamsport-South game.

All four county teams have either won or played in multiple district championships this decade and all have strong traditions. Add in four other opponents with quality pedigrees and that makes for a fun event which showcases some terrific softball.

There will be six games each day with the losing teams from the 3:30 Friday games playing again at 7:30. Semifinals start at 10 a.m. Saturday followed by consolation games at noon and the championship at 2.

NICK FIORINI/ Sun-Gazette Correspondent Loyalsock players react during a game this season vs. Williamsport. Loyalsock is set for the Williamsport Tournament on Friday and Saturday.

Loyalsock and South have combined to win the last four championships, South defeating Montoursville in last year’s final. Who wins this year’s tournament is a mystery but it’s the getting there which should be the most fun part because this weekend at Millionaire Mountain basically is a softball lover’s paradise.

PUTTING IT TOGETHER

Team’s have yet to reach the season’s halfway point, so there still is a feeling out process going on. Loyalsock is at that phase as it tries to put all its pieces together.

Each season is a puzzle, but the Lancers are certainly making some quality progress as they fill it in. Loyalsock went 3-0 last week, rallying from an exciting 8-6 win against Hughesville, holding off Warrior Run, 10-6 and handing 5A power Abington Heights its first loss, 6-4.

The Lancers are still learning, but it’s sure a lot easier to do so when winning and gaining confidence along the way.

PHOTO PROVIDED Wellsboro’s Ady Frantz recorded her 200th career strikeout over the weekend. Frantz was named Co-Player of the Week this week alongside CM’s Camdyn Weaver.

“We’re still trying to figure things out. It’s not easy. You’re trying to put the pieces of the puzzle together and we have so many pieces to the puzzle,” first-year coach Casey Waller said following the Hughesville win. “We have some other girls swinging the bat at JV. They’re pushing. It makes it tough when you have some depth, but it’s a good problem to have. It makes it hard from a coaching standpoint to keep everybody understanding the bigger picture.”

That is what Loyalsock is trying to maintain focus upon. The Lancers captured the program’s third district championship last year and are eager to try and build on that success. Loading up the schedule with strong non-conference opponents like Lake-Lehman and Abington Heights is a part of that and Loyalsock has avenged defeats against both teams from last year.

“We put in the work; we have a lot of talent on this team. Everybody here contributes,” shortstop/pitcher Kinsie Phillips said. “When we come together, we feel like we’re capable of beating any team we need to.”

Loyalsock has proven it thus far, its lone loss coming against two-time defending District 2-4 Class 6A champion Williamsport. Even there, the Lancers erased a four-run deficit, tied it with two runs in the seventh before Williamsport walked off with a 6-5 win.

There and against Hughesville, Loyalsock has shown it has the toughness to complement the talent. Hughesville led 6-1 in the sixth inning, but the Lancers stormed back as Breeze Sauers, Phillips and Maddy Williams all produced clutch RBI hits in a seven-run sixth inning.

Equally important, Phillips, Sophia Miller and Easton Waller all earned pitching wins last week. All delivered in tense moments and Waller struck out 14 against Abington Heights. There are a lot of bats; a lot of arms.

It’s a good dilemma to have as Loyalsock moves forward and continues working on the puzzle.

“Once we get to 10 games, we’ll have a great idea of where we’re at, who’s playing where, who’s going to dp, who’s going to flex, who we’re going to pitch,” Casey Waller said. “All of them want the ball. I get that. It’s making sure everyone gets their reps in so when we get ready for playoffs, all the girls are confident and strong. That’s where we’re at right now.”

EXTRA BASES

Two weeks after driving in her 100th run, Montgomery’s Madisyn Miller reached another impressive milestone, collecting her 100th hit, doing so in a 19-1 win at CMVT. Miller has hit .505 for her scholastic career with 105 RBIs and 26 extra-base hits. Addison Greger had a strong week for Montgomery (5-2), producing two multi-hit games. Ava Hartman threw a seven-hitter with six strikeouts, doubled and drove in three runs in an 8-3 win against Line Mountain … North Penn-Liberty (5-2) steamrolled its way to three shutout wins last week, outscoring those teams, 42-0 and generating 56 hits. Elaina Shaw opened the week 6 for 7 with a home run and three doubles. Elyna Booth and Haley Litzelman combined on a three-inning perfect game and each had 13 strikeouts in complete games against Canton and Sayre, respectively. Booth also was locked in offensively, going 7 for 11 with three RBIs. Litzelman went 8 for 9 with a home run and eight RBIs … Hughesville responded well following the heartbreaker at Short Park, hammering Southern Columbia, 11-1. Addison Henninger threw a five-hitter and drove in three runs for a second straight game, while Addy Knight was 3 for 3 and Maddie Smith 3 for 4. Freshman Kenna Fisher and Lyla Kinney both had two hits and doubles as the Spartans scored at least 11 runs for a third time … Following a rough performance against Canton, Bucktail outscored Smethport and Muncy, 28-0 in its next two games. Kelsie Wagner dazzled against Smethport, throwing a four-inning no-hitter, striking out six and going 3 for 3 with a home run, double and four RBIs. She went 3 for 3 again two days later at Muncy, smacking two doubles. Her sister Kendall crushed her third home run against Muncy and Lola English went 4 for 4 with two doubles, two RBIs and five runs … Emilia Viveiros threw a six-hit shutout and Gabby Evans went 2 for 2 with an RBI in Sullivan County’s 10-0 win against CMVT. Mariah Hallabuk homered two days earlier in a 17-5 win against Millville, while Miley Dickinson went 4 for 5 with two doubles and three RBIs … Lydia Keener had a super day for Warrior Run in Saturday’s 7-1 win against Shikellamy. The junior pitcher threw a four-hitter and struck out 11 in just her second varsity start. Mya Evans, Makenna Heffner and Ella Printzenhoff all had two hits as the Defenders scored at least six runs for the third time in four games.

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

DR. MASSE’S TOP 5 RANKINGS

1. Williamsport (5-0): Williamsport made its lone game last week a big one, producing a shocking 20-0 win at Jersey Shore. That Williamsport won was not the surprise, but how it won. The Millionaires collected 12 hits, made no errors, seized on every Jersey Shore mistake and received one-hit pitching with nine strikeouts from Ashlyn Robinson. The win gave Williamsport sole possession of first place in the HAC-I going into Monday’s showdown at Central Mountain which ended after press time. Williamsport scored at least six runs in each of its first five games and center fielder Kinsley Cannode is coming on strong, going 4 for 8 with a home run, triple and five RBIs in her last two games. Freshman catcher Payton Pennycoff has made an immediate impact and had two hits at Jersey Shore.

2. Loyalsock (6-1): Lydia Kresock and Phillips showcased their power in Loyalsock’s win against Warrior Run, each smashing two home runs. Kresock is having a breakout season and has four extra-base hits. Phillips has built off her excellent freshman season and is among the area’s RBI leaders with 15.

3. Central Mountain (3-1): Central Mountain won three straight games entering Monday’s Williamsport contest and displayed some late-game magic in victories against Danville and Mifflin County. The Wildcats walked off with wins both times, downing Danville, 5-4 in nine innings before coming back the next day and turning a two-run deficit into a 6-5 win against Mifflin County. Freshman Payton Williams produced two hits in both games and Elise McKean had three hits, a triple and two RBIs in a 13-1 win against Shikellamy. Cirstyn Watson was 3 for 3 with two doubles in that win.

4. Montoursville (6-2): Julie Friel has been an outstanding pitcher who entire high school career, but she has gone to the next level as a senior. Friel has struck out nine or more in four straight starts and reached 10 in her last three, including a masterful three-hit shutout in Friday’s 1-0 win against Danville. Friel also has two saves, throwing 2 2/3 scoreless innings with five strikeouts in those situations. Equally exciting for Montoursville is how well sophomore Laney Yonkin has thrown in her two starters. There, Yonkin is 2-0 and she dominated Bloomsburg last week, striking out 12 in five innings as the Warriors won, 4-2.

5. Jersey Shore (6-2): Jersey Shore quickly put the Williamsport game behind it and thundered back, scoring 32 runs in victories against Shikellamy and South Williamsport. Right fielder Mya Lehman put on a hitting display which would make Babe Ruth smile in the South win, going 3 for 3 with three home runs and eight RBIs. That included a first inning grand slam which set the game’s tone. Freshman Amelia Thomas has been raking as well and had six hits with four RBIs in the two wins. Lynna Clark also had multi-hit games in both wins and Annika Clark was 2 for 4 with two RBIs against South. Jersey Shore delivered 23 hits in those victories and Lexi Frey earned the win in the circle both times.

Players of the Week

Camdyn Weaver, Central Mountain and Ady Frantz, Wellsboro: It was not just that Weaver hit well in Central Mountain’s victories, but when she hit. Weaver lived a player’s dream against Danville, smashing a walk-off home run, doing so with two outs. A day later she belted a key two-run double against Mifflin County. Weaver also earned the win in both games, scattering seven hits over nine innings against Danville and striking out 11.

Frantz also is excelling with her bat and arm. The sophomore was raking last week, going 7 for 12 with a grand slam, two triples, double and eight RBIs. She also scored five times. Frantz has been nasty in the circle, striking out 74 in 36 innings and topping 200 career strikeouts in Saturday’s win. Frantz helped Wellsboro go 3-0 last week, earning wins against Troy and Cowanesque Valley while fanning 26 batters.

Game of the Week

Montoursville at Loyalsock: They could cross paths at the Williamsport Tournament, but Tuesday’s game at Short Park is the one that holds a whole lot of league championship implications. The Warriors and Lancers are tied for first, both undefeated in the HAC-III. They split two games last year, before Loyalsock won a rubber match in the district quarterfinals. The road team won each time last season and this showdown feels like a true toss-up.