And, oh wow, did the Warriors gain it.

Montoursville played tremendous softball in every aspect; Laney Yonkin went 3 for 3 and Julie Friel threw a three-hitter as it steamrolled its way to a shocking 18-1, four-inning win against rival Loyalsock. Mind you, it’s not stunning that Montoursville won since both teams are perennial title contenders. It’s just how it won.

The Warriors (7-2, 5-0) took sole possession of first place in this battle of defending co-HAC-III champions and routed a team which had won five straight games and was coming off a win against 5A undefeated power Abington Heights. This team understands an April win is not its ultimate goal, but the belief it gained playing so well could be the ingredient which powers Montoursville as it pursues its biggest goals.

“It felt good because we’d been struggling hitting,” Yonkin said after driving in three runs. “Coming out here and being able to hit the ball really lifted us up.”

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montoursville's Emily George (24) beats the tag at third during a high school softball game against Loyalsock at Short Park on Tuesday.

“Knowing that our past couple games we hadn’t had any hitting at all and then coming in here and doing that against Loyalsock felt great,” second baseman Karsyn Stone said. “Everything was good today.”

In fact, it was nearly perfect.

Kayleigh Sheleman walloped a third-inning grand slam which highlighted an eight-run third inning after Montoursville scored seven first-inning runs. Sheleman, Friel and Trinity Belle all produced two hits, eight players reached base; Friel struck out six and left fielder Avery Stahl sparked a defense which made several terrific plays.

Talk about generating confidence moving forward.

“We said before the game, ‘Girls, we’re going to face Loyalsock many times this season,” Montoursville coach Mikayla Arnold said. “I could not care less whether we win or lose this one, but what I want you to have is a confident approach and no matter what happens to you, no matter what happens in this game I need you to carry yourselves with confidence from pitch No. 1 to the last and that is what they did. They did a phenomenal job of that.”

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Loyalsock's Easton Waller (12) starts out in the circle during a high school softball game against Montoursville at Short Park on Tuesday.

The visiting team has won this rivalry game the last five times and Montoursville wasted little time building toward continuing that script. The Warriors took advantage of two errors, four wild pitches and Yonkin belted a two-run single to build a 7-0 lead. Belle helped start the rally with a single and March Manotti drove in the first two of her two runs as Montoursville immediately took the wind from Loyalsock’s sails.

Loyalsock responded in the bottom half when Easton Waller doubled and Shyla Fulp singled her home, but Friel dominated from there. The senior continued building on her super season, allowing only one more hit and striking out six against a potent lineup. Friel also held Loyalsock hitless in four at-bats with runners in scoring position.

“We had a game plan and Julie hit her spots. She knew what batters she had to be very intentional with; she knew what her approach was with the rest of them and she executed it,” Arnold said. “Julie has been coming in strong, coming in focused and she was more than prepared for this game.”

So were her teammates.

Stahl made two outstanding running catches, once going back toward the fence and another moving forward on a sinking liner. Belle added a lunging line drive catch in the hole and defensive success translated to the plate as Montoursville erupted for 11 runs and 12 hits in its final two at-bats. After the first out was recorded in the third inning, Montoursville had nine straight batters reach base and took complete control against the defending District 4 Class AAA champions.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Loyalsock's Easton Waller (12) starts out in the circle during a high school softball game against Montoursville at Short Park on Tuesday.

Sheleman pretty much ended the game’s competitive phase when she tattooed her grand slam well over the center field fence and off the top of the batting cage’s netting, making it, 14-1. She added an RBI triple an inning later.

Still, it was Yonkin who had a perfect offensive day, both setting and helping clear the table. The sophomore doubled off the left field fence to fuel the third-inning explosion and added an RBI single an inning later.

“It felt good. I had been struggling on and off, so it felt good out there and be able to make contact at least,” Yonkin said. “We were picking each other up. We were able to build off everyone’s energy.”

Stone helped that energy reach 1.21 jiga-watt levels, continue to excel in the No. 9 spot. The freshman works pitchers well, consistently finds a way to get on base by any means and excels at turning over the lineup.

She did so again in the fourth inning. Stone roped a third-inning RBI single, drew a walk to continue the first inning rally and dropped a perfect bunt in her final at-bat. George hit a sacrifice fly a batter later before Belle singled, Sheleman went the opposite way with her RBI triple and Friel hit a RBI single.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montoursville's Reagan Tucker (11) beats the tag at first during a high school softball game against Loyalsock at Short Park on Tuesday.

“Even though I’m hitting in the 9 spot, I still have to stay confident and do my thing,” Stone said. “We’re definitely good at coming off and building off each other. We’re all really close, so we all feel like we can make each other better.”

That was evident Tuesday as Montoursville won for the fifth time in six games and snapped Loyalsock’s five-game winning streak. A key to earning this win was never letting up. Montoursville has played some wild games against Loyalsock over the years, including twice in the playoffs, and the last thing it would do is become complacent.

Once the Warriors put Loyalsock against the ropes, they kept throwing haymakers. Doing so helped them land an early knockout.

“We just kept saying the score is 0-0,” Stone said. “Stay up and stay focused and just play the game.”

Montoursville played it about as well as possible. Still, after Friel produced a game-ending strikeout, there was no big celebration. Just a few handshakes were enough because Montoursville knows the biggest game now is the next one.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montoursville's Karsyn Stone (16) scores on a wild pitch during a high school softball game against Loyalsock at Short Park on Tuesday.

The Warriors gained the confidence they coveted. Now their goal is putting it to good use moving forward.

“We said to these girls that this is a great win today, but we need to win a lot more innings against Loyalsock. If we’re putting ourselves in a position to compete in the Williamsport tournament and then compete for a district championship, chances are we’re going to see them four times this season. That’s a lot of game to play,” Arnold said. “We have to carry this confidence, but we can’t just be satisfied and they’re not.”

Montoursville 708 3–18 12 0

Loyalsock 100 0–1 3 4

Julie Friel and Danni Detato. Easton Waller, Sophia Miller (1) and Shyla Fulp. W–Friel. L–Waller.

Top Montoursville hitters: Laney Yonkin 3-3, 2B, 3 RBIs, 2R; Kayleigh Sheleman 2-4, HR, 3B, 6 RBIs, 3R; Trinity Belle 2-3, BB, 3R; Friel 2-3, BB, RBI, 2R; Emily George 1-2, 2B, RBI, 2R; Karsyn Stone 1-1, BB, RBI, 2R; March Manotti 1-3, 2 RBIs, 2R; Avery Stahl 2R. Top Loyalsock hitters: Waller 1-2, 2B, R; Fulp 1-2, RBI; Addi Barowy 1-2.

Records: Montoursville 7-2, 5-0 HAC-III. Loyalsock 6-2, 3-1.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montoursville's Julie Friel (7) starts out in the circle during a high school softball game against Loyalsock at Short Park on Tuesday.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montoursville's Julie Friel (7) starts out in the circle during a high school softball game against Loyalsock at Short Park on Tuesday.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Loyalsock's Shyla Fulp (22) steals second during a high school softball game against Montoursville at Short Park on Tuesday.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Loyalsock's Sophia Miller (18) takes over in the circle during a high school softball game against Montoursville at Short Park on Tuesday.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Loyalsock's Sophia Miller (18) takes over in the circle during a high school softball game against Montoursville at Short Park on Tuesday.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montoursville's Kayleigh Sheleman (4) fields a pop fly during a high school softball game against Montoursville at Short Park on Tuesday.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Loyalsock's Kinsie Phillips (7) and Sophia Miller (18) have a meeting on the mound during a high school softball game against Montoursville at Short Park on Tuesday.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montoursville's Avery Stahl (22) fields a fly ball to center during a high school softball game against Loyalsock at Short Park on Tuesday.