Lucas Naughton of Williamsport and Marc Molina of South Williamsport collide during this play from the first inning in Williamsport Friday evening. Williamsport won 9-7. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Kirby moved them into scoring position with a grounder to the right side.

Big inning–Montoursville first: Yes, the Warriors only scored once here and still trailed, 2-1 but it was important they blunt the momentum Loyalsock had built with a strong start. This entire game was a fight and Montoursville showed it was eager to fight back as Brody Aldenderfer walked and scored on Moore’s RBI single.

Loyalsock Player of the Game–Jahvon LaRosa: Drake Dupont pitched six outstanding innings, but LaRosa earns the nod after going 3 for 4 with two RBIs. LaRosa twice hit go-ahead RBI singles, the first making it, 1-0 and the next putting Loyalsock up, 3-2 in the fifth inning.

Montoursville Player of the Game–Kane Moore: The senior leader also went 3 for 4 and drove in that first inning run. Moore’s bunt single helped fan the flames which Eck created. Instead of just moving the runner, Moore hustled down the line after bunting into no-man’s land and put Loyalsock in a precarious situation with Montoursville’s Nos. 3-4 hitters coming up and one out.

Game Two

Williamsport 9, South 7, 8 innings

Play of the Game–Lucas Naughton’s web gem: South loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the seventh and was 90 feet from the final when Naughton turned on his jets, covered what felt like an acre’s worth of ground and made a spectacular catch. The shortstop sprinted after a ball hit just left of the left field line in foul territory. Off the bat, it looked like nobody could catch it, but Naughton tracked it down and secured the catch before preventing the winning run from scoring. Deshaun White struck out the next batter to end the inning and Williamsport scored twice in the eighth to win it.

Big inning–South fourth: While Williamsport won this tour de force, South dramatically altered the complexion when it erupted for seven runs, turning a five-run deficit into a two-run advantage. Chance Quimby, who pitched valiantly in relief, ignited the turnaround with a lead-off single and Marc Molina gave South its first lead, smashing a two-out, two-run single. Jaymes Carpenter, Torin Haug and Kamdyn Bubb all had RBIs that inning and South scored the last four runs with two outs.

South Player of the Game–Trace Wertz: The senior catcher reached base in all five plate appearances, going 1 for 1 with four walks. He drew his second walk during that fourth inning flurry and also caught a good game behind the plate.

Williamsport Player of the Game–Trey Damschroder: White shined on the mound, throwing three scoreless innings in relief to earn the win, but Damschroder closed out the game for the save and also excelled at the plate. Before throwing a scoreless eighth inning with two strikeouts to close it out, Damschroder went 2 for 3 with a double and three RBIs. That double opened the eighth inning and Damschroder scored what became the winning run when Cam March drew an RBI walk.

Third Place Game

South 4, Loyalsock 3

Play of the Game–Andrew Walter’s go-ahead double: Walter made his first Brawl at-bat a memorable one, smashing a tie-breaking sixth inning double which scored Marc Molina and gave South a 4-3 advantage. Walter then closed out the victory on the mound, working a perfect seventh inning and earning the win in relief after Kamdyn Bubb threw 5 1/3 terrific innings.

Big inning–South fourth: Just like against Williamsport, South came charging back in the fourth inning. Loyalsock had scored twice in the top of the fourth but the Mounties answered with three runs. Molina rocked a two-run double and Bubb’s RBI single gave South its first lead, 3-2. Garrett Lorson and Trace Wertz sparked the rally with a single and double, respectively. Lorson later threw a laser and threw out a runner from right field for the second straight game.

Loyalsock Player of the Game–Brecken Gusick: Give Parker Frederick credit for throwing six strong innings, but we will go with Gusick who went 2 for 4 and belted a two-run double which gave Loyalsock a 2-0 lead. Gusick also patrolled left field well, covering ample ground.

South Player of the Game–Marc Molina: The senior third baseman had a big tournament and capped it by going 2 for 3 with two doubles and two RBIs. Molina also scored twice, both runs putting South ahead, 3-2 and then, 4-3. Molina also played strong defense at third base and was a big part of a strong error-less defense.

Championship

Play of the Game–Trey Damschroder orders up a double dose of onions–twice. OK, this is actually two sequences but, my column, my rules. Montoursville twice loaded the bases with one out in the third and fifth innings. Each time, Damschroder slammed the door and retired the next two batters, putting out the fires. He struck out consecutive hitters in the third, preserving a 3-2 lead and struck out another before inducing a grounder to shortstop Lucas Naughton to keep it, 4-2 in the fifth.

Give first baseman Camron Spanger an honorable mention for his Willie Mays-like catch along the right field line in the sixth inning.

Big inning–Williamsport third: Following two hitless innings, Williamsport came alive in the third, scoring three times and taking a 3-0 lead. Spangler ignited the rally with a lead-off single before Camden March was hit by a pitch and Deshaun White hit an RBI single. Another run came home on a wild pitch before Damschroder capped the flurry with a two-out RBI double.

Montoursville Player of the Game–Noah Kirby: The junior catcher went 2 for 3 and added a walk in his final at-bat which brought the tying run to the plate. He delivered a key hit in the third inning, belting a two-run single which pulled the Warriors within, 3-2.

Williamsport Player of the Game–Trey Damschroder: You are seeing Damschroder’s name a lot here and with good reason. The junior lefty pitched another outstanding game, scattering four hits, two infield singles, in 5 2/3 innings, while striking out eight. He also went 2 for 3 with a double, two RBIs, two steals and a run.

Brawl All-Star Team: C–Trace Wertz, South (2 for 4, 4 BB, 2B, .750 obp); IF–Lucas Naughton, Williamsport (3-7, 3R, RBI, 2 SB, .556 obp, marvelous defense); IF–Jahvon LaRosa, Loyalsock (4-7, 3 RBIs, .625 obp); IF–Kane Moore, Montoursville (3-4, 2 BB, RBI, reached base in 7 of 8 plate appearances); IF–Marc Molina, South (4-8, 2 2B, 4 RBIs, 3R, two multi-run hits to tie or put South ahead); OF–Brecken Gusick, Loyalsock (3-7, 2 RBIs, R, .500 obp); OF–Garrett Lorson (2-7, 2R, 2 assists throwing out runners at third from right field with perfect throws); OF–Giovanni White, Williamsport (.625 obp, 2R, excellent defense); DH–Noah Kirby, Montoursville (3-7, 2B, 3 RBIs, .500 obp); P–Deshaun White, Williamsport (1-0, 3 IP, 0R, 0 H, 4 Ks); P–Trey Damschroder, Williamsport (1-0, 5 2/3 IP, 4 H, 8 Ks)

Backyard Brawl MVP–Trey Damschroder, Williamsport: You see above what he did pitching-wise, but Damschroder may have been even better at the plate and joins teammates Naughton and White as players who have won this award as underclassmen. Damschroder had both a tournament-high five hits and five RBIs, going 5 for 7 with two doubles. He was lethal with two outs, going 3 for 3 with five RBIs in those spots and also scored twice, while stealing two bases.

AROUND THE AREA: Warrior Run (14-4, 7-2) has an opportunity at earning a share of the HAC-III championship when it plays Bloomsburg this afternoon. The Defenders will share the crown with Mifflinburg if they win, while a loss gives Mifflinburg the title outright. Warrior Run went 2-0 last week and Tyler Ulrich threw a two-hitter, while going 2 for 4 with two RBIs in a 17-0 win Friday against Milton. Cohen Zechman added two hits and two RBIs … North Penn-Mansfield sophomore Noah Musser is coming on strong and has been dominant in three straight pitching performances. Musser is 2-0 during that time, allowing just four hits in 9 2/3 innings and striking out 19. Fellow sophomore Isaac Sparks threw five innings of four-hit baseball in a 3-1 win against Northeast Bradford … Jersey Shore sophomore Carter Rhinehart homered and went 2 for 4 with three RBIs in Jersey Shore’s 11-10 loss against Midd-West. Mazden Lupton had two hits in that game and a day earlier against Williamsport.

Dr. Masse’s Top Five rankings

1. Williamsport (16-1): It actually was a double championship week for the Millionaires. A day before the Brawl started, Williamsport captured a share of the HAC-I championship, defeating Jersey Shore, 6-2. In a preview of things to come, Ethan Chilson closed out the game and earned a save after entering in a three-run contest. The senior also sealed the Brawl championship, throwing 1 1/3 hitless innings for his area-high fourth save.

2. Montoursville (15-4): It was an up and down week for the Warriors who suffered a shocking 3-2 loss against Danville before pounding Milton and Central Columbia; rallying past Loyalsock and leaving nine runners on base against Williamsport. More than the results, however, is the way they are playing which both concerns coach Jeremy Eck, but also gives him belief that his team can remain dangerous.

“The message to our team after this game (against Loyalsock) was we have to get back to what we were last year. That 2025 team is 2025, but the way we played for each other and went about our business and sold out, we’re not doing that right now,” Eck said. “We’re not getting bunts down; guys are hesitant to do the things we’re asking and that’s not going to get us anywhere. If we can turn the corner and play as a family again and do the little things, we’ll be fine, but it was ugly (Friday).”

3. Central Mountain (11-4): The Wildcats can earn a share of their second straight HAC-I championship if they defeat Shikellamy Thursday. A loss there and Williamsport takes the title outright. Two-time 5A state champion Bethel Park defeated Central Mountain, 11-1 Friday, but the Wildcats stayed in the league championship hunt with an 8-1 win against Shamokin and 4-3 win against Jersey Shore. Sophomore Aiden Jones earned his second win against the Bulldogs this season and the Wildcats broke a 3-3 tie in the seventh inning.

4. Montgomery (15-3): Montgomery captured a third straight Mid-Penn West Division championship, winning three straight games last week against Bucktail, Sugar Valley and Muncy. Briar Persing threw a three-hitter with 10 strikeouts in the 7-1 Muncy win and Parker Bennett made the most of his last home game, going 3 for 3 with a triple, RBI and two runs. His brother Chase added to the fun, going 1 for 2 with two RBIs. Freshman Gage Furman had a big day at Sugar Valley, going 3 for 4 with an RBI, while combining with Mason Bryson on a super pitching performance as the Raiders won, 9-1. Montgomery is fighting Southern Columbia for District 4 Class AA’s top seed, but needs Southern to lose at least one game to have a shot at it.

5. Wellsboro (14-2): Wellsboro has won 10 straight games and has a shot to at least share the NTL-I championship if it can win the completion of a suspended 4-4 game against Athens today. Marek Mascho forced extra innings in that one a few weeks ago with a seventh inning, two-run home run and had a big day in Friday’s 17-2 win against Wyalusing, going 3 for 3 with a double and four RBIs. Wellsboro scored 27 runs in two victories and Coen Tennis also had three RBIs against Wyalusing. Mascho and Gabe Cuneo each had three hits in a 15-1 win against Northeast Bradford.

Players of the Week

Gage Baltzley, Wellsboro and Mason Bryson, Montgomery: Baltzley is having a super freshman season and excelled with his arm and bat last week. He threw a two-hitter against NEB, improving to 5-0, while striking out seven. Baltzley also went 2 for 2 with two doubles and two RBIs there before adding a hit and three RBIs Friday. Bryson was another dual threat and is tied for an area-best six wins, going 6-0, with two more victories last week. Bryson allowed just one run in nine innings, scattering

four hits and striking out 14. Bryson also hit safely in each game, compiling a .500 average. Bryson has not allowed more than a run in three straight starts, providing excellent depth behind Persing and Bennett.

Game of the Week

Wellsboro at Hughesville: Wellsboro is fighting for a high 3A playoff seed and Hughesville for a 3A playoff berth. That creates added intrigue for Wednesday’s game which already looked mighty interesting. These two have played three times in the playoffs since 2009, all three being exciting contests. Wellsboro has surged down the stretch and Hughesville has some outstanding wins, so it feels like anything goes here.

–Masse may be reached at cmasse@sungazette.com. Follow him on Twitter at @docmasse