Maybe most important, however, was simply how Jersey Shore played the game and the way the team responded all afternoon.

After hitting some road bumps at midseason, the Bulldogs looked refreshed, energized, confident and hungry. They basically saw themselves become their best version and with the playoffs a week away, what a time do to so.

“It felt awesome. The energy (Thursday) was different than any other night,” winning pitcher Lexi Frey said after scattering seven hits and going 3 for 4 with an RBI. “I think we all just wanted it really bad for each other.”

That simple fact means as much as any stat could. Teams are most dangerous when they play together and for the players next to them. That is exactly what Jersey Shore (12-4) did against Loyalsock, while winning its third straight game and ascending to the top of the District 4 Class AAAA playoff standings.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Jersey Shore's Lexi Frey starts out in the circle during a high school softball game against Loyalsock at Jersey Shore on Thursday.

Jersey Shore features one of the area’s richest softball traditions and captured district championships in 2023 and 2024. So, while last year was still a success in terms of again reaching the postseason, being eliminated in the semifinals left a sour taste in the team’s collective mouth.

The thing is, several players, including three freshmen starters, were not on that squad. Only three senior starters returned as well, so a new-look team had to quickly jell. If Thursday is any indication they are doing so at the perfect time with a big game Wednesday against rival Central Mountain before contests against Milton and Danville the next two games.

Win those, and after all the ups and downs earlier this season, Jersey Shore likely would enter districts as the top seed. Seeds are just a number, Jersey Shore proving that in 2023 when it was the last team and the last team out, taking out the top two seeds en route to the championship. Still, it would be a notch in the team’s belt considering it is a demanding field featuring defending champion Athens, perennial contender Central Columbia, 2024 District 4 Class AAA champion Midd-West and, possibly, Selinsgrove and Athens.

Getting ready for that tournament is why Jersey Shore plays strong non-conference competition like Loyalsock. Lessons learned in previous big games shined through against the Lancers as Jersey Shore never buckled; scored nine two-out runs and scored seven times in the fifth and sixth innings to go ahead, 9-7.

“It was good for us,” Frey said. “They’re a tough to play and we really got into the game and listened to each other and trusted each other. That helped a lot.”

What the coaching staff saw against Loyalsock is everything which generated optimism entering the season despite several moving parts. Coach Chris Lorson managed those two most recent district champions and sees a lot of those groups in this one.

Time will tell, if the 2026 squad achieves what those others do, but last Thursday certainly was a nice step forward and not just because of the result. Staying enthusiastic and together, while believing in each other is what the coaches have preached all season. The message appears to be coming through loud and clear now.

“I get excited at the start of every spring. I told them at the beginning of the year, and I remind them every day, that that I’m excited as I was three years ago,” Lorson said. “That’s a compliment to them and what I feel like they’re capable of.”

3 X 4

Hughesville (12-4) also is surging and went 3-0 last week, defeating three straight Class AAAA teams. The Spartans are fighting for a Class AAA first round district playoff game and helped their cause with impressive wins against Midd-West (13-2), Shamokin (15-4) and Athens (7-2). The Athens good especially stood out with Hughesville banging out 12 hits against one of the district’s best pitchers, Gretchen Hiley.

Hughesville also routed Midd-West (12-5) and the offense generated double digit hit totals in all three wins. The development of young players like Laurel Bauman, Kenna Fisher and Avery Bergey has been especially impressive and Bauman had three multi-hit performances. Hughesville’s schedule helped it last year when it reached its first district final as it played some excellent teams entering the tournament.

The Spartans are hoping history repeats itself because it has three tough games coming up the next three days against Central and North Penn-Liberty (twice).

EXTRA BASES

South Williamsport has made one of the district’s best in-season turnarounds following an 0-9 start and won for the fifth time in six games when it defeated Shikellamy, 4-2. Seniors Emma McLaughlin (second base), Mikaiya Hills (shortstop) and Maddie Pinkerton (center field) put together a defensive clinic, while freshman pitcher Annabelle Fry scattered seven hits and closed the game with five straight scoreless innings. McLaughlin also hit a go-ahead, two-run triple … Camdyn Weaver, Elise McKean and Aubrey Miller all had three hits, combining for eight RBIs, in Central Mountain’s 15-3 win against Mifflin County. The Wildcats (10-4) have 29 runs and 29 hits in consecutive wins … Arianna Snyder and Jenna Houseknecht combined on a three-inning no-hitter against Sugar Valley before Ava Hartman threw a three-inning one-hit shutout against Muncy, helping Montgomery improve to 13-4. Hartman struck out six and reached 100 career strikeouts. Zoe Furman homered in both wins and was one of five Raiders who delivered multi-hit performances in the two games … Montoursville pitcher Julie Friel was overpowering in two starts last week, shutting out both Shikellamy and Milton, while striking out 26. Friel has fanned at least 13 batters in three of her last four starts. Third baseman Kayleigh Sheleman reached an impressive milestone against Shikellamy, hitting a double to drive in her 100th career run … Warrior Run (9-9) moved within a win of a 3A playoff berth, walking off with an 8-7 win against Milton. Mackenzie Litchard had a big day, striking out 13 and going 3 for 4 with two runs. Mya Evans and Ella Printzenhoff each had two hits and Maura Woland doubled after collecting her 100th career hit earlier in the week against Danville … Wellsboro is one of the district’s younger teams, but also one of its most improved, doubling its win total and reaching districts. The Hornets (10-9) punched their ticket last Friday with an impressive 11-4 win against 2A title contender Wyalusing. Ady Frantz threw a one-hitter, struck out 12 and reached 200 strikeouts this season. She also tripled and drove in four runs.

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

DR. MASSE’S TOP 5 RANKINGS

1. Williamsport (14-2): Williamsport played just once last week, but put together a super performance, scoring 17 straight runs to turn an early deficit into a 17-2 win against Shamokin. Every starter drove in and scored a run and eight had hits in the victory. The Millionaires have scored at least five runs in six consecutive games and Mya Ritter hit her first varsity home run, adding a double, while driving in three runs. Sophomore Kinsley Cannode homered for a second straight game and four players collected at least two hits. The pitching was impressive, too, but more on that later.

2. North Penn-Liberty (13-3): North Penn-Liberty traveled to Montgomery Monday in a game that ended after deadline, having won 12 of its previous 13 games. Elyna Booth threw consecutive shutouts against Northeast Bradford and Williamson last week, scattering six hits and striking out 21. Julia Kaczynski is having a terrific debut season and went 3 for 4 with two doubles and five RBIs at NEB. Haley Litzelman homered in that game and Maddie Smith generated multiple hits in both contests. North Penn-Liberty entered the week in fifth in the 3A playoff standings but could potentially move as high as No. 2 or fall as low as No. 6 depending on how an exciting final week of the regular season plays out.

3. Jersey Shore (12-4): Jersey Shore has played particularly well in close games down the stretch. Three of the team’s last four wins are by one run and the other was the 9-7 thriller against Loyalsock. Frey is having a fantastic junior year, flourishing in the pitching circle and at the plate. She has been especially impressive in putting out seventh inning fires in consecutive games against Troy and Loyalsock. She struck out 14 in those contests and was one of four Bulldogs who delivered RBI hits in the fifth and sixth innings last Thursday.

4. Loyalsock (12-5): It blows this reporter’s mind that there are some in the Loyalsock community questioning and/or undermining coach Casey Waller, a coach who has long been regarded as one of the best in any sport since arriving to coach Loyalsock baseball in 2004. He guided that baseball team to its first state championship in 2008, led Hughesville and South Williamsport teams to district championships and long has been a man who can get every ounce of ability from his players. Yes, this is softball but, come on, the guy knows his way around a ball field and played professional baseball as well. So, while so many who do more harm than good with their meddling, and think they know more than he does, here’s a spoiler alert: You don’t. Be quiet, and let the team enjoy its season. And, listen, this happens all over at schools across the country, so the message to all these people at all those schools is this: let the coaches coach and the kids play.

5. Hughesville (12-4): Before 2024, Hughesville’s program record for wins in a season was 12. Now the Spartans have reached that number in three consecutive seasons. Since starting that 2024 season, 2-6, Hughesville has gone, 39-13 while reaching its first district final and state tournament. And, with a talented young nucleus in place, the future looks as bright as the present does. The Spartans have won five straight games and both Addison Henninger and Maddie Smith pitched well last week. They are two of the six players who have produced 12 or more RBIs. Hughesville also is hitting a collective .337.

Players of the Week

Addy Knight, Hughesville and Brielle Thornton, Williamsport: Knight moved from the lead-off spot to No. 3 in order, going from catalyst to run producer. The junior infielder highlighted that success last week, going 9 for 12 with six RBIs and eight runs. Since flipping places with Maddie Smith in the lineup, Knight has generated at least one RBI in all five games. Thornton showcased her pitching and hitting prowess against Shamokin. In addition to throwing a three-hitter and striking out eight in four innings, Thornton wore out the Indians’ defense. She went 3 for 3 with a home run and double. Thornton is 2-0 in her starts this season and is an exciting prospect who has allowed just two runs in those starts, while striking out 15 and showing good control.

Game of the Week

Bucktail at South Williamsport: A week ago, we went with Hughesville-North Penn-Liberty but that game was postponed to Wednesday and the committee doesn’t like to go with the same game in consecutive weeks. So, today’s game looks like a fun one with South coming on strong and having a win against Bucktail rival Montgomery. The Bucks (13-3) are fighting for District 4 Class A’s top seed and South (5-11) still has an outside shot at the 2A playoffs if it wins out and gets some help from current third-seeded Williamson’s opponents. The Mounties have won five of their last seven games and have made huge strides the last few weeks.