South needed that entire package, too.

Before this season, Hills had never played anything but the outfield. Still, Wednesday, she again looked like a natural at shortstop, making a series of big plays which helped the Mounties dramatically edge Montgomery, 8-7. Annabelle Fry threw seven gutsy innings, Annika Harding belted two hits and Fry scored the winning run on a one-out error as South won for the second time in three games, while denying Montgomery a massive comeback win after it rallied from down 7-0 in the fifth inning to tie it.

“Mikaiya having her 100th hit today was absolutely beautiful. She’s such a coachable player. She just gets the game,” South coach Jeanette Spagnuolo said. “She has such a softball IQ that I’m just there facilitating and she’s making magic happen. I love coaching her and her other senior teammates who also who are so dedicated to this team.”

Hills repeatedly displayed her wizadry at shortstop, catching two screaming line drives and adding a tremendous stop up the middle, behind the second base bag, before making a seamless slip to second baseman Emma McLaughlin for a forceout which ended a fourth inning threat. McLaughlin also excelled defensively, making an over-the-shoulder catch in shallow right field, snaring a liner and turning a double play.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent South Williamsport's Annika Harding (30) makes the tag at third during a high school softball game against Montgomery at South Williamsport on Wednesday.

Hills played center field the past three years as South captured three straight District 4 Class AA championships and reached two state championships. Asked to switch and helped a young team featuring new six starters, Hills did not hesitate and the Mounties are better for it, having won two of their last three games.

“I was just like whatever is best for the team. It’s working, so I’m happy about it. I felt like it had to be somebody whose used to being a leader and who doesn’t mind putting yourself out there and risking failure,” Hills said. “It’s different, that’s for sure, but I’m trying my best.”

Hills’s best was good enough at critical times, most importantly in the seventh inning. Montgomery scored three times to tie game and had the go-ahead runner at third with two outs. Chloe Gordner smashed a laser which looked destined to reach left field, but Hills reached low and made a shoe-string catch, preserving the tie.

Moments later, South celebrated its second exciting win in five days as Annabelle Fry walked, went to third on Harding’s single and scored on an error.

“I got a bunch of line drives at the Williamsport Tournament, so I’m just kind of used to it,” Hills said. “I’m definitely getting more comfortable at shortstop.”

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent South Williamsport's Je elana Jasper (10) beats the play at first during a high school softball game against Montgomery at South Williamsport on Wednesday.

Hills always has been comfortable at the plate. The four-year starter has hit above .300 every season and entered the game with 99 career hits. Not that she knew that.

Focused on the team and not her stats, Hills was unaware she was a hit from 100. So, when she rocketed a lead-off third inning single, Hills did not understand why her coaches and teammates were so excited. First base coach Danny Pinkerton informed Hills about the achievement and combining that milestone with a victory sure provided a memorable senior moment.

“I actually thought I wasn’t going to get it. I was very surprised,” Hills said. “I didn’t even connect the dots. It was really nice. I like the surprise. I’m glad I didn’t know. That made it even better”

For four innings, it seemed like Hills and her teammates would celebrate a convincing victory and need not rally the way they did to force extra innings last Saturday against Union-Endicott. Montgomery (8-4) had other ideas.

The Red Raiders were down, but not out and stormed back, scoring four runs in the fifth and three more in the seventh. Arianna Snyder and Ramona Kroll (2 for 2) led off the fifth inning with singles, Zoe Furman scorched a two-run double and scored on a wild pitch and Addison Greger continued her impressive debut season at Montgomery, slamming a home run over the center field fence.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Anna Belle Fry starts in the circle for South Williamsport during a high school softball game against Montgomery at South Williamsport on Wednesday.

Kroll and Amelia Shrimp ignited the seventh inning rally with singles before Furman hit an RBI single and Jenna Houseknecht an RBI fielder’s choice. Greger then tied the game 7-7 with a deep sacrifice fly before Fry induced a grounder to Hills and Hills made her final brilliant play on Gordner’s line drive.

Montgomery dropped its second straight heartbreaker after losing against undefeated Northwest, 6-5, in eight innings Tuesday. Still, the positives far outweigh the negatives and the Raiders look like a team which could again make some postseason noise.

“I told the girls I’m not upset about anything in this game because we’re preparing for the postseason. We have things to work on and we’re going to address them in practice but we have another game tomorrow and if it was the postseason we wouldn’t, so we’re going to work on this and it will make us better,” Montgomery coach Chris Glenn said. “I can’t say enough about the effort. A lot of teams would have put their heads down where we were in the fifth, so I’m excited they improved and came back and played tough.”

Furman continued her sensational senior season, going 3 for 4 with three RBIs, two runs and two steals. Six players had hits, Ava Hartman threw terrific in relief and Arianna Snyder made an amazing play in the seventh inning, cutting down the winning run with a throw which could make a Major Leaguer envious.

Maddie Pinkerton opened the inning with a hard liner into the outfield which was dropped and reached second. Following an intentional walk to Fry, Harding roped her second single and it looked like Pinkerton, who valiantly played after getting hit with a line drive while pitching Monday, would score the winning run. Instead, Snyder unleashed a cannon-like throw from fairly deep in left field and Greger barely had to move after receiving it on no hops and applying the tag.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montgomery's Brooke Dietrick makes the pay at first during a high school softball game against South Williamsport at South Williamsport on Wednesday.

“I’m tickled with our season and how we’re playing. We have great attitudes,” Glenn said. “We played two really good games the last two days. We are hitting some really good balls and they made some great plays and that was the difference.”

Fry singled and scored on a wild pitch in the second inning and Pinkerton pounced when given a green light on a 3-0 pitch, lacing an RBI single which scored Hills and made it, 2-0. The Mounties then took advantage of two errors and scored four of their five runs with two outs in the fourth inning. Lily Brewer drilled an RBI single and Harding a two-run single as South went up, 7-0.

What looked like might be a blowout, though, turned into a nailbiter. South has grown used to those situations, too, and is becoming better because of them, winning its two games in its final at-bat.

“You want it to be one-sided, but I think having those games gives us the experience to fight through,” Spagnuolo said. “It gives you set that mindset that we’ve done this before, we can do this again.”

Fry has personified that in both South victories. The freshman has made massive strides in a tough spot this season and stayed calm when Montgomery rallied. It was a similar story against Union-Endicott when she closed with four straight scoreless innings. This time, Fry took a shutout into the fourth inning and made good pitches in key spots, keeping Montgomery 3 for 13 with runners in scoring position.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montgomery's Addison Gregor fields the ball at first during a high school softball game against South Williamsport at South Williamsport on Wednesday.

“Annabelle is throwing so well. She’s staying focused, and she’s finding her groove,” Spagnuolo said. “She’s grinding even when things are tough. All her teammates have her back and that’s really wonderful to see.”

South Williamsport 8,

Montgomery 7

Montgomery 000 040 3–7 10 4

South 011 500 1–8 8 2

Arianna Snyder, Ava Hartman (4) and Addison Greger. Annabelle Fry and Abigail Holbrook. W–Fry. L–Hartman.

Top Montgomery hitters: Zoe Furman 3-4, 2B, 3 RBIs, 2R, 2 SB; Ramona Kroll 2-2, BB, 2R; Amelia Shrimp 1-2, 2R; Greger 1-3, HR, 2 RBIs; Snyder 1-3; Chloe Gordner 1-4; Jenna Houseknecht 1-4. Top South hitters: Mikaiya Hills 2-4, 2R; Annika Harding 2-4, 2 RBIs; Maddie Pinkerton 1-4, RBI, R; Fry 1-3, 2R; Jewelana Jasper 1-4, R; Lily Brewer 1-3, RBI, R.

Records: South 2-10. Montgomery 8-4.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent South Williamsport's Abi Holbrook (2) beats the play at home to score during a high school softball game against Montgomery at South Williamsport on Wednesday.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Arianna Snyder starts in the circle for Montgomery during a high school softball game against South Williamsport at South Williamsport on Wednesday.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montgomery's Zoe Furman steals third during a high school softball game against South Williamsport at South Williamsport on Wednesday.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent South Williamsport's Jewelana Jasper (10) beats the tag at third during a high school softball game against Montgomery at South Williamsport on Wednesday.