Both are facing different challenges. They are conquering them quite well, too. And that is helping Loyalsock play some pretty impressive baseball.

That certainly was the case Friday afternoon as Dupont and Frederick combined on a six-hitter, helping Loyalsock defeat visiting rival Hughesville, 9-1. Dupont earned the win, throwing five strong innings of two-hit ball, while Frederick closed with two scoreless innings. Each also delivered RBI hits which produced three first-inning runs as Loyalsock led from then on.

“All the older guys are helping the younger guys get better,” Frederick said. “We’re learning from them and it’s helping us all.”

“I felt great on the mound, especially after coming back from Tommy John,” Dupont said. “I wanted to pitch last year for the team, but wasn’t able to. Now this year I’m able to pitch for the team and it just makes me really happy.”

Blake Babb of Hughesville tags out Brecken Gusick (3) of Loyalsock at second base in the 4th inning in Loyalsock Friday afternoon. Loyalsock won 9-1. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Actually, it delights all the Lancers.

Dupont hardly looks like someone who overcame major arm surgery, going 2-0 thus far and allowing just four hits in eight innings. The right-hander overcame some early control issues against Hughesville, walking three in two innings, settling in from there and letting just one hit leave the infield.

What was a big setback two seasons ago has become a terrific pitching comeback.

“I was very eager to get back out there. I was ready,” Dupont said. “It was 6 months not being able to pitch and another six after. It was hard mentally, but we got it back. I think I’m definitely stronger now than I was before.”

He sure looks like it. The confidence began growing last winter as Dupont resumed throwing. A big part of returning from any injury is mental, understanding that one can let it rip and not fear something going wrong. Dupont cleared that hurdle and has shined in his first two starts, allowing one run and helping Loyalsock (3-2) win three of its last four games.

Drake DuPont of Loyalsock throws in the second inning to Hughesville in Loyalsock Friday afternoon. Loyalsock won 9-1. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

“It was a big deal for him in the winter when we started bullpens to throw 15-20 pitches and see that he’s OK. He got that confidence of coming back from that kind of injury,” Loyalsock coach Mike Frederick said. “It’s a big deal for a kid to come back and feel like you’re OK and can get this done. He’s an awesome kid.”

Dupont played a year ago and put together a strong season; he just could not pitch. Doing so now helps shine a light on his entire arsenal. Because he flashed the offensive prowess again against Hughesville, going 2 for 3.

His two-run single brought in the game’s first runs and Dupont is hitting .556 through five games. Frederick followed with a RBI single and Loyalsock led, 3-0. The Lancers kept adding runs and did not know it there, but the pitching duo already had all the run support it would need.

“That feels great, getting the lead right from the start,” Parker Frederick said. “It gives the pitchers some momentum to start off with.”

Frederick built on the pitching momentum Dupont generated, throwing two scoreless innings. Both excelled in tight moments, stranding six runners. Frederick retired consecutive batters, the final via strikeout after Jed Abernatha (2 for 3) hit a one-out double in the sixth. He then collected another strikeout and picked two runners off base, thwarting a potential seventh inning rally.

Nathan Beiber of Hughesville throws in the first inning to Loyalsock in Loyalsock Friday afternoon. Loyalsock won 9-1. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

It was another quality outing, this time in relief. A week ago, Frederick excelled in his first varsity start, allowing just one run in four innings as Loyalsock handed Bloomsburg its first loss in five games.

“It’s nice having a good defense behind me. I just feel comfortable out there,” Frederick said. “I just wanted to throw strikes, do the job and let the defense make the plays behind me.”

That was a luxury Hughesville pitchers did not have as six errors proved costly, especially later in the game when they helped Loyalsock scored four two-out runs in its last three at-bats. Combine that with the Lancers receiving production throughout the order and Hughesville could only pull as close as 5-1 in the fourth inning when Gage Webb (2 for 3) tattooed a RBI double to deep center field.

Kayden Keefer, Brecken Gusick and Jahvon LaRosa set the game’s tone in the bottom of the first when they drew three straight walks. Dupont and Frederick followed with their RBIs singles and Loyalsock was in control from that point on.

Every Lancer starter reached base and Carter Mileto ignited a sixth inning rally with a pinch-hit single. Keefer totaled two hits, two runs and two steals, while Connor Cowden smashed a long RBI triple which made it, 4-0 in the third before Bennett Singer hit an RBI grounder a batter later.

Jed Abernatha (18) of Hughesville is safe at second as Connor Cowden (22) of Loyalsock tries to make the play in the second inning in Loyalsock Friday afternoon. Loyalsock won 9-1. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Nolan Rall belted a double and Jacob Baylor started that third inning rally with an infield single. Loyalsock produced hits in all six at-bats and scored in all but the second inning.

“We spent the whole week talking about approach and having a plan. We knew who we were playing and we thought we would get that pitcher and had a specific plan for him and to see them execute it is kind of a cool feeling,” Mike Frederick said. “There’s a lot of work behind the scenes with that stuff and for 1-9 to have an approach was seeing that work pay off. There were a lot of competitive at-bats and it puts a lot of pressure on them.”

Hughesville catcher Kyler Solomon can put pressure on opposing running games and showed it again. A player who made one of the biggest plays in a 1-0 win at South Williamsport earlier this season, Solomon continued displaying his defensive acumen, throwing out two runners trying to steal second. Both snap throws were perfect and prevented Loyalsock from doing more damage in the first and fourth innings.

Those were some of the flashes Hughesville showed, but Loyalsock’s complete performance ultimately dimmed them. Whether it was Dupont or Frederick making big pitches at key times, the defense flourishing or someone putting together a quality at-bat, Loyalsock answered every time Hughesville mounted a challenge.

“I couldn’t do it without the team. The team made a lot of good plays out there,” Dupont said. “Everything keeps meshing for us.”

Connor Cowden (22) of Loyalsock scores on a sacrifice by Bennett Singer (2) in Loyalsock during the 3rd inning Friday afternoon. Loyalsock won 9-1. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Hughesville 000 100 0–1 6 6

Loyalsock 302 112 x–9 11 0

Nate Bieber, Wynter Fogelmen (4), Gage Webb (6) and Kyler Solomon. Drake Dupont, Parker Frederick (6) and Bennett Singer. W–Dupont, (2-0). L–Bieber.

Top Hughesville hitters: Jed Abernatha 2-3, 2B; Webb 2-3, 2B, RBI; Blake Babb 1-3; Dylan McConnell 1-3. Top Loyalsock hitters: Dupont 2-3, 2 RBIs; Kayden Keefer 2-3, 2 BB, RBI, 2R, 2 SB; Carter Mileto 1-1, R; Connor Cowden 1-3, 3B, RBI, R; Frederick 1-3, RBI; Nolan Rall 1-4, 2B, R; Jahvon LaRosa 1-4, 2R; Jacob Baylor 1-4, R; Singer 1-4, RBI.

Records: Loyalsock 3-2, 2-1 HAC-III. Hughesville 2-4, 0-3.