Loyalsock did not capture the championship, but it did exact revenge. Williamsport’s Kinsley Cannode and Ashlyn Robinson stole the show in a third-place game and South Williamsport ended a drought in dramatic fashion, taking seventh place at Saturday’s eight-team Williamsport Tournament.

Easton Waller struck out 13 and threw a two-hitter as Loyalsock defeated Montoursville, 3-2 in the semifinals, erasing the frustration of an 18-1 loss against those same Warriors four days earlier. Mifflinburg, however, dominated the final later in the day, taking the championship, 10-0 in five innings.

Williamsport rallied from a 6-0 first inning deficit and 7-2 sixth inning hole to tie Mifflinburg in the semifinals before losing, 8-7. Robinson then thundered back in the third-place contest, throwing a one-hit shutout, while Cannode brought the thunder and belted a fourth inning home run as Williamsport won, 1-0.

Maddie Pinkerton belted four hits, while Annabelle Fry threw a complete game and joined Annika Harding with three hits as South turned a three-run seventh inning deficit into an 8-7, eight-inning victory against Union-Endicott, earning its first win.

It was a busy day at Millionaire Mountain and the following is a look at all games there featuring area teams.

Championship

Mifflinburg 10, Loyalsock 0, 5 innings

A wild roller coaster ride of a week concluded on a down note for Loyalsock as Taylor Stewart threw a three-hit shutout and Mifflinburg scored in every inning to win both the title and a showdown between District 4 Class AAA title contenders.

Mifflinburg (12-0) remained undefeated, breaking things open with six runs in the third inning and building an 8-0 lead. Stewart won her third tournament game and the Wildcats collected eight hits. A year ago, Mifflinburg battered Loyalsock (8-3) at the tournament before Loyalsock won the district semifinal rematch.

Loyalsock is hoping history repeats itself and that it can earn a rematch later this year. For now, though, it’s about sustaining the positives Loyalsock displayed in tournament wins against Upper Dauphin and Montoursville and erasing the lackluster play it displayed in blowout losses against the Warriors and Mifflinburg.

“When we keep our energy up in the dugout and out on the field the whole game, we do well,” Waller said. “Sometimes we go flat, and that’s when our momentum drops. When everyone stays in the game, I have faith that we’re going to put runs up, so when I go out on the mound I have faith we can get outs and add on to the score.”

Semifinals

Loyalsock 3, Montoursville 2

That is what happened Saturday morning as Loyalsock scored twice in the fourth, grabbing a 2-0 lead and fighting back to regain the lead after Montoursville had tied it in the fifth. Waller hit an infield single to open the sixth and scored on Addi Barowy’s sacrifice fly before closing out the victory in the seventh.

This one was especially sweet for Waller who did not make it out of the first inning Tuesday against Montoursville. When another chance came, Waller embraced it and dominated, not allowing an earned run.

“I threw against Upper Dauphin (Friday) but I told dad (coach Casey Waller) last night, ‘I want the ball tomorrow,'” Easton Waller said. “It definitely was better than previously in the week against them. It was good to get out there and throw well. Keeping the walks down was huge, and they were making plays in the field behind me.”

The biggest came in the seventh inning when catcher Shyla Fulp combined with first baseman Maddie Wertz and stifled a potential rally. After Karsyn Stone drew a lead-off walk, a pinch-runner entered, but Fulp caught her leaning a tad too far on a bunt attempt and made a snap throw to Wertz who applied the quick tag.

Montoursville had the top of its order up at the time, so Waller was especially boosted by that play and closed out the victory, inducing a grounder back to the circle and a flyout to Barowy in center field.

“That was huge because Shyla has had a ton of pickoffs this season. That helps me personally after someone gets on, having them pick me up and getting that out back,” Waller said. “It’s amazing. We get a lot of girls out stealing. It’s been great having Shyla behind the plate and Mo (Wertz) being heads up over there.”

Last Tuesday, Montoursville built a 7-0 lead before Loyalsock batted. This time, Loyalsock struck first when Fulp reached on an error in the fourth and Kinsie Phillips (2 for 3) smacked an RBI triple the opposite way, giving her four tournament extra-base hits. Philips scored on a wild pitch moments later, making it, 2-0.

Two-out errors proved costly in the fifth inning as Trinity Belle laced a two-out, two-run single, tying the game, 2-2. Waller, though, did not allow another hit. The sophomore left runners on second and third with one out in the first inning, fanning the next two batters and induced 22 swings and misses, striking out 13 in the first six innings.

“Losing to them like we did last year, too, feels sickening. We don’t like that feeling, especially a rival game,” Waller said. “Any time we play Montoursville it’s a little extra. We got here super early, so we could get stuff started, get some extra reps and get girls ready.”

Mifflinburg 8, Williamsport 7

Williamsport (9-1) always seems ready to mount a strong comeback. The Millionaires have been defined this season as much by their resiliency as their success. A team which has produced a series of exciting comeback wins, nearly did so again.

Mifflinburg scored six runs in the top of the first inning and still led, 7-2 in the sixth. Down but not out, Williamsport stormed back, tying the game, 7-7 when Brenna Beck scorched a three-run double down the right field line in the sixth inning.

Although Mifflinburg scored in the top of the seventh and turned a game-ending double play, Williamsport went down fighting, making sure that even in defeat, it played like a winner.

“They probably feel a little bit of disappointment that they have their first loss of the season which is human, but the coaches are thrilled with how they came back,” Williamsport coach Scott Stugart said. “They continue to that. It’s part of their DNA now. They believe in themselves and if you ever want to have a successful run in the playoffs, you need that.”

Beck reached an impressive individual milestone, producing her 100th career hit in that game. The senior shortstop also played spectacular defense and finished 3 for 3 with a triple and four RBIs. She was one of several players who delivered in big moments whether with her glove, a hit or a walk as Williamsport kept digging deep.

Emma Vollman had two hits, including an RBI double; Kate Solomon ripped an RBI double and catcher Payton Pennycoff singled and walked, generating strong at-bats in all three appearances.

“Honestly, I think we do better under pressure,” center fielder Kinsley Cannode said. “We have a good team bond. We believe in each other. We just one hit and then we start rolling.”

Third-Place Game

Williamsport 1, Montoursville 0

Cannode rolled out Williamsport’s one run with one fantastic swing against Montoursville.

The sophomore center fielder tattooed a fourth-inning, lead-off home run well over the left field fence. She hit her first career home run eight days earlier against Danville, but this one being an ultimate game winner felt even sweeter for a player who has been especially locked in the last two weeks.

“It was awesome. It was a hard loss the last game. We needed some energy, so I was happy to get in there and be able to do that and help the team,” Cannode said. “I felt like I hit it pretty well. I felt really good for my team.”

Cannode finished 2 for 3 and helped Williamsport win a game defined by brilliant pitching from Robinson and Julie Friel who allowed a combined four hits. Both took no-hitters into the fourth inning and Friel, who finished with 10 strikeouts, had fanned six at that point.

Cannode, however, learned from her previous at-bat. Expecting Friel to work outside entering the game, Cannode adjusted and looked inside, turning on a 2-2 pitch and blasting it over the fence.

“I was making sure I didn’t chase up because she had a really good rise ball going on,” Cannode said. “I switched my approach to inside and I got it.”

Robinson took it from there and stifled a dangerous offense, allowing just a Belle fourth inning single. The senior threw against Mifflinburg as well but instead of looking tired, seemed as strong and fresh as ever. Robinson struck out three, let her strong defense work and consistently induced weak contact.

Only twice did a Montoursville runner reach second base and never did one get to third. All this against a team which defeated Williamsport, 16-1 in last year’s semifinals.

“She takes it to another level when she’s out there competing, especially against the top schools,” Stugart said. “The energy that takes to exert after throwing in an intense game before that is amazing. That’s just the type of kid Ashlyn is. She’s a great competitor.”

Seventh Place Game

South Williamsport 8, Union-Endicott 7, 8 innings

South has shown it also features some outstanding competitors, especially at this weekend’s tournament. After overcoming a multiple-run deficit a night earlier before dropping an 8-7 heart-breaker, South scored three seventh-inning runs and forced extra innings before Pinkerton scored the go-ahead run and Fry closed it out, giving the Mounties their first win.

Pinkerton, Mikaiya Hills (2 for 5) and Emma McLaughlin are the lone starters back from last year’s team which reached a second straight Class AA state championship. South is one of the district’s youngest teams and many freshmen have been thrown into the fire out of necessity.

Through the fire, this team is growing both better and tougher.

“Every game, I notice that there’s more fight each time. You can tell in the dugout that everyone wants it,” Pinkerton said. “Everyone is up on the fence. We’re all here to play and we’re all here to get the win.”

That is what South did, not flinching after U-E scored seven straight runs and turned a 4-0 deficit into a 7-4 advantage. The Mounties pounded out 15 hits, so they kept believing they could come back and when Pinkerton laced a lead-off single, the belief turned into clutch production.

Fry followed with an RBI single, Harding doubled and Jewelana Jasper tied it, 7-7 with a two-run ground rule double. Hills opened the eighth inning with a single, McLaughlin bunted her to second and Hills stole third before coming home on a throwing error. Fry took a nasty line drive off the arm but Hills scooped the ball up and threw to first baseman Dani Brigandi, closing out the victory.

“It feels special just because it’s my senior year. We work really hard, so those girls need to feel good,” Pinkerton, a four-year starter who will play at Lock Haven, said. “I think now the younger girls are breaking in and realizing, ‘We want to do this, we want to play really hard.’ We played a really good game, so I feel like we can do this every time we play.”

Pinkerton made a run at the cycle, slamming a first inning RBI triple, two singles and a double in her final at-bat, adding a stolen base.

“At the beginning of the season I felt like there was a lot of pressure. New team, new season, being a leader, and (Friday) was a struggle at the plate, but today I felt really dialed in,” Pinkerton said. “She was a good pitcher. She hit her spots well, but after my first hit, I felt good and felt relaxed.”

Championship

Mifflinburg 10, Loyalsock 0, 5 innings

Loyalsock 000 00–0 3 3

Mifflinburg 116 11–10 8 1

Sophia Miller, Easton Waller (1), Kinsie Phillips (4) and Shyla Fulp, Maddie Wertz (5). Taylor Stewart and Brooke Gessner. W–Stewart. L–Miller.

Top Loyalsock hitters: Waller 1-2; Fulp 1-2; Lydia Kresock 1-2. Top Mifflinburg hitters: Lainey Miller 3-3, R; Amelia Fluman 2-3, RBI, R; Avery Reibsome 1-3, 3 RBIs.

Records: Mifflinburg 12-0. Loyalsock 8-3.

Third-Place Game

Williamsport 1, Montoursville 0

Williamsport 000 100 0–1 3 0

Montoursville 000 000 0–0 1 0

Julie Friel and Danni Detato. Ashlyn Robinson and Payton Pennycoff. W–Robinson. L–Friel.

Top Williamsport hitters: Kinsley Cannode 2-3, HR, RBI; Brenna Beck 1-3 . Top Montoursville hitters: Trinity Belle 1-3.

Records: Williamsport 9-1. Montoursville 8-5.

Semifinals

Loyalsock 3, Montoursville 2

Loyalsock 000 201 0–3 4 3

Montoursville 000 020 0–2 2 2

Easton Waller and Shyla Fulp. Laney Yonkin, Julie Friel (6) and Danni Detato. W–Waller. L–Friel.

Top Loyalsock hitters: Kinsie Phillips 2-3, 3B, 2B, RBI, R; Sophia Miller 1-3; Waller 1-4, R; Addi Barowy RBI. Top Montoursville hitters: Trinity Belle 1-4, 2 RBIs; Avery Stahl 1-3.

Mifflinburg 8, Williamsport 7

Mifflinburg 600 001 1–8 8 4

Williamsport 200 005 0–7 9 0

Taylor Stewart and Brooke Gessner. Ashlyn Robinson and Payton Pennycoff. W–Stewart. L–Robinson.

Top Williamsport hitters: Beck 3-3, 3B, 2B, 4 RBIs, R; Emma Vollman 2-4, 2B, RBI, 2R; Kinsley Cannode 1-2, BB, R; Robinson 1-4, RBI; Pennycoff 1-2, BB, R; Kate Solomon 1-4, 2B, RBI, R.

Seventh Place Game

South Williamsport 8, Union-Endicott 7, 8 innings

South 211 000 31–8 15 4

U-E 004 210 00–7 13 2

Annabelle Fry and Abigail Holbrook. Botting, Ramirez (7) and Mancini. W–Fry. L–Ramirez.

Top South hitters: Maddie Pinkerton 4-5, 3B, 2B, RBI, 3R, SB; Fry 3-4, 2 RBIs; Annika Harding 3-5, 2B, RBI; Mikaiya Hills 2-5, 2R; Jewelana Jasper 1-2, 2B, 2 RBIs, R.

Records: South 1-9.