The tie bonding both sequences was Waller’s demeanor. That never changed.

Twelve times host Montoursville was down to its last strike and 12 times it fought it off, cutting a four-run deficit to two. Instead of wilting, Waller locked in and produced a game-ending strikeout as Loyalsock won, 5-3 and took a huge step toward securing the HAC-III championship. Waller threw a three-hitter which included 10 strikeouts; Kinsie Phillips highlighted a four-run first inning with a mammoth two-run home run and Loyalsock (12-3, 7-1) opened a one-game lead over the Warriors.

Loyalsock can win the title it shared with Montoursville (11-6, 8-2) outright with a doubleheader sweep of Southern Columbia in two weeks. One win there ensures no worse than another co-championship.

“I’ve been working really hard on just staying positive. That’s a big thing when I’m on the mound, not getting upset when I’m not getting calls or a play isn’t made, or I walk someone,” Waller said. “I try and stay positive and reassure myself that I’ve got this. I want to be out there with the ball in situations like that.”

Easton Waller of Loyalsock celebrates striking out the side in the bottom of the first inning against Montoursville in Montoursville Thursday afternoon. Loyalsock won 5-3 win at Montoursville. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

That has been the case since the tough-minded sophomore first arrived at Loyalsock. And it shined through again after Montoursville rallied and made things mighty exciting.

Waller quickly retired the first two batters in the seventh, but Emily George was hit by a pitch; Karsyn Stone fought off five two-strike pitches to draw a walk and Kayleigh Sheleman reached on an error. Trinity Belle laced an RBI single a batter later and Danni Detato fouled off two, two-strike pitches before drawing a walk.

Suddenly, Montoursville trailed just, 5-3. It had the bases loaded, the tying runs in scoring position and the winning run at first. On the outside, Waller stayed cool, but inside a competitive fire raged. She used that to douse Montoursville’s flames, pumping three straight strikes by and clinching victory.

As her teammates and coaches breathed a sigh of relief.

“We were sweating a little bit at the end but Easton pitched a good game,” Loyalsock coach Casey Waller said. “You know Montoursville is always going to battle until the last pitch. The girls put forth the effort and that’s all you ask for when you come here.”

Julie Friel of Montoursville throws in the first inning against Loyalsock in Montoursville Thursday afternoon. Loyalsock won 5-3 win at Montoursville. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

“I have full confidence with the bases loaded that I can get the last out,” Waller said. “It’s always been, I gain the further I go. I buckle down when I need to.”

And while Waller often feels like her pitching gets better as the game goes, the Loyalsock offense could not ask for a better start Thursday. The Lancers collected six of their 10 hits there, led 3-0 three batters into the game and went up, 4-0 when Shyla Fulp singled and scored on Maddie Wertz’s RBI single.

Addi Barowy (2 for 4) started the game with a single and Waller scored her two pitches later, smashing an RBI triple. That set the stage for Phillips who broke out of what she described as a recent funk in a huge way.

After working a full count, Phillips unloaded on the next pitch, walloping it over the center field fence for a two-run home run which made it, 3-0. Montoursville is one of the hardest fields to hit a home run at with its fences about 230 feet away, but Philips made it look relatively easy and sent a 1.21 jiga-watt burst of energy throughout the dugout.

“I’ve been struggling with my confidence a little at the plate, but I went up and focused on being positive; having that positive mindset and being more confident and just hitting the ball,” Phillips said. “I just needed to hit Easton in. I was just trying to find a gap somewhere.”

Shyla Fulp of Loyalsock slides safely into home as catcher Danni DeTato of Montoursville tries to make the play in Montoursville Thursday afternoon. Loyalsock won 5-3 win at Montoursville. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

“It was nice to see Kinsie barrel that ball up,” Casey Waller said. “That (first inning surge) was huge. It takes a lot away from the other team, regardless of who you’re playing, when you put up four in the first inning.”

Easton Waller built on the momentum, retiring the first eight batters she faced and Lydia Kresock made it, 5-0 in the third inning, scoring her with a two-out RBI single.

Fulp and Waller had two hits each and eight starters reached base. Maddy Williams nearly provided a valuable insurance run with a laser-like liner in the seventh inning, but center fielder Emily George made a sensational, face-first diving catch and robbed her.

“We’ve been hitting well. One through nine, we’ve been pretty solid,” Phillips said. “We just have to keep that going.”

Laney Yonkin prevented them from doing so over the final four innings. Actually, she did a darn good job of that for all six innings she threw in relief, allowing no earned runs and scattering four hits.

Easton Waller of Loyalsock is safe at second as Trinity Belle, left, and Karsyn Stone, right, of Montoursville try to make the play at second in Montoursville Thursday afternoon. Loyalsock won 5-3 win at Montoursville. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Building off a strong performance against Loyalsock at the Williamsport Tournament, Yonkin surrendered just one hit during the final three innings and showed why both her present and future are bright. She has complemented ace Julie Friel well all season and the benefits could especially loom large as the postseason approaches.

“Laney did an awesome job coming into the game and keeping us in it. For her to see the innings she has this year when we still have Julie on the mound is big,” Montoursville coach Mikayla Arnold said. “She’s done so much. Not only does she come in and throw effectively and keep us in games, but she also helps Julie not have to throw every inning of every game. She keeps her fresh. We love having Laney on the mound.”

Montoursville loves having Kayleigh Sheleman at the plate too, and the all-state third baseman helped it close within 5-1 in the fourth inning. Sheleman broke up Waller’s no-hitter and roped a double into the right-center field gap before scoring on a wild pitch.

A recurring theme, however, started playing out from there. Montoursville applied pressure, but Waller thrived when it ramped up. She left a runner on second that inning and the bases loaded in the fifth, inducing an inning-ending grounder back to the pitching circle. Over those last four innings, Waller stranded eight runners and Montoursville went 1 for 7 against her with runners in scoring position.

“It was awesome to see that fight in them, but we just couldn’t get that big hit,” Arnold said. “All it takes is one hit when those bases are loaded to keep us right in the game or change the game.”

Easton Waller of Loyalsock celebrates after her team mate Addi Barroway scored the bottom of the first inning against Montoursville in Montoursville Thursday afternoon. Loyalsock won 5-3 win at Montoursville. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Montoursville is finished with league play and now becomes big Southern Columbia fans. The Warriors need a Tigers upset or two to either share the league crown or take it themselves. Loyalsock has been at the top of that HAC-III throne since 2023 and did not enjoy sharing it a year ago.

Now, the Lancers control their own destiny. So, while the long-term goal is to get better every day and extend the season as long as it can, Loyalsock also has a short-term goal. It will try achieving it May 13 when it hosts that Southern doubleheader at Short Park.

“We want to get the PHAC because we tied for it last year,” Easton Waller said. “This year we want to take the whole thing.”

Loyalsock 5,

Montoursville 3

Loyalsock 410 000 0–5 10 2

Montoursville 000 100 2–3 3 2

Easton Waller and Shyla Fulp. Julie Friel, Laney Yonkin (2) and Danni Detato. W–Waller, (8-2). L–Friel.

Top Loyalsock hitters: Addi Barowy 2-4, R; Waller 2-4, 3B, RBI, 2 runs; Fulp 2-4, run, SB; Kinsie Phillips 1-2, HR, 2 BB, 2 RBIs; Lydia Kresock 1-3, RBI; Maddie Wertz 1-4, RBI; Sophia Miller 1-4. Top Montoursville hitters: Emily George 1-2; Kayleigh Sheleman 1-3, 2B, run; Trinity Belle 1-4, RBI; Raigan Fredericks 2 BB.

Records: Loyalsock 12-3, 7-1 HAC-III. Montoursville 11-6, 8-2).

Addi Barroway of Loyalsock scores in the first inning against Montoursville in Montoursville Thursday afternoon. Loyalsock won 5-3 win at Montoursville. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Shyla Fulp of Loyalsock slides safely into second base as Karsyn Stone (16) of Montoursville tries to make the play in Montoursville Thursday afternoon. Loyalsock won 5-3 win at Montoursville. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette