Madie Ham, left and Jenna Houseknecht (center) of Montgomery celebrate after retiring a Benton in the first inning in Montgomery. The Montgomery Red Raiders won 21-0. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Montgomery has captured a state championship, two district titles and three league crowns over the last nine seasons, while reaching the District 4 Class A semifinals each time.

While the players change, a common denominator among each season is Montgomery beefing up its non-conference schedule. The Red Raiders often overwhelm several Mid-Penn foes and Chris Glenn and his staff decided long ago that in order for them to reach their bigger goals they have make the non-conference games as competitive as possible.

Yes, that increased the likelihood for some losses, but it also increases chances for postseason success and that is the main goal. Montgomery entered Monday’s league game against Sugar Valley 11-4 and the non-conference schedule has it played well as the postseason beckons.

The Raiders proved that last week, avenging their lone league loss and defeating Bucktail, 10-7. Ava Hartman scattered seven hits, the defense shined and the offense produced 12 hits in a showdown of District 4 Class A title contenders.

“We’ve had a lot of close games with South and Bucktail and a lot of one-run games; games that have gone to extra innings,” center fielder Zoe Furman said after going 3 for 4 with a triple and two RBIs. “For us to win a game like that, hopefully it’s going to keep us rolling.”

“It’s always a battle against Bucktail and it gets the intensity up,” Glenn said. “It’s great to have that experience to play a game like this.”

Glenn was referring to the experience his team has gained playing teams like Halifax, Wyalusing and South Williamsport. Yes, South is 3-10, but its record is deceiving as it has played mostly larger school district title contenders, so rallying from down seven to tie it before losing, 8-7 against the Mounties was a beneficial experience.

So, too, will be games against Warrior Run Wednesday and North Penn-Liberty next week, both teams being 3A title contenders. Wyalusing is a Class AA title threat as well.

Even Montgomery’s finale against Canton is a good one. Like South, Canton is a better team than its record indications, highlighting that by routing Bucktail, 15-0. The Warriors, however, have had to run through a gauntlet, playing against a stacked NTL-I cross over schedule. So, Montgomery has put its non-conference schedule to good use.

“We play some tougher games with our non-conference schedule and that’s the way we want it,” Glenn said. “You learn from that. That’s where you take the experience from those games into this one (Tuesday’s comeback win against Bucktail).”

Highlighting what the schedule does, Montgomery nearly handed Northwest its lone loss in 14 games this season when they played two weeks ago. Northwest (14-0) has mercy-ruled nearly every opponent, but Montgomery was an out from victory before dropping a 6-5 heartbreaker in eight innings.

Nonetheless, games like those are what makes the team better. That is exactly why Montgomery played so many strong non-league teams during their 2022 state championship season and 2021 district title campaign. Iron sharpens iron and Montgomery wants it as sharp as possible when districts start.

Win or lose, those challenging games are learning tools. Past and current Raiders have benefited from playing those. Time will tell how much the schedule helps this season, but Montgomery certainly will be battle-tested. That is the main goal each year when the Raiders construct that schedule.

“Those are the games we want,” Glenn said. “We’re hitting good pitching and that’s what we have to do in the playoffs. We’ll keep working on that and see what we can do.”

BATTLE ROYAL

As of now, six teams have clinched or likely will soon clinch District 4 Class AAA playoff berths. Warrior Run (7-8) has a favorable schedule from here and could make it seven and Wellsboro (8-9) will be a close call.

However many teams qualify, this will be a rugged field. Just look at Warrior Run and Wellsboro. The Defenders showcased their credentials, defeating Jersey Shore, and Wellsboro features sophomore pitcher Ady Frantz, who has overpowered some super teams this year.

Mifflinburg is undefeated and the likely top seed, while Loyalsock, Towanda, North Penn-Liberty, Montoursville and Hughesville filled out Nos. 2-6 entering the week. Loyalsock captured last year’s championship, Hughesville was the runner-up, Montoursville has wins against both teams and Towanda and North Penn-Liberty have two of the field’s best pitchers.

Two teams qualify for states from this group and that seems appropriate. Actually, whoever does not make it probably would be capable of making some state playoff noise. And the two teams that reach states certainly will earn it the hard way.

“It’s going to be a ball game every time we play Montoursville, Mifflinburg, Hughesville, North Penn-Liberty, Towanda, Warrior Run, Wellsboro … It’s loaded,” Loyalsock coach Casey Waller said after Loyalsock won a 5-3 thriller at Montoursville last Thursday. “I don’t think anyone is loaded like Triple A is. On any given day whoever is on can win.”

EXTRA BASES

Bucktail seniors Kendall Wagner and Lola English both achieved impressive milestones last Monday against Sugar Valley, collecting their 100th career hits. Wagner went 2 for 3 and English 3 for 3 with a triple and two RBIs. They join fellow senior Eva Sockman as 100-hit members and Sockman went off in that win, going 4 for 4 with a home run, double and eight RBIs. Bucktail (11-3) closed its week with a 15-0 win against Muncy as Kelsie Wagner threw a three-inning no-hitter and struck out eight … Ramona Kroll went 2 for 4 with an RBI and ignited a go-ahead, eight-run fourth inning rally with a lead-off single. It was the latest strong performance by the freshman who is hitting .436 with 15 RBIs … South continues its late-season surge and won for the third time in four games, pounding out 17 hits in a 13-8 win at Southern Columbia. Every starter had at least one hit and Mikaiya Hills wore out the Tigers, going 4 for 4 with a double, RBI and three runs. Annika Harding stayed locked in with three hits and Allie Nolan returned from injury to add two hits. She and Maddie Pinkerton both had two hits and two RBIs with Pinkerton smashing a triple … Sullivan County (8-6) inched closer to its fourth straight District 4 Class A playoff berth, defeating Sugar Valley and Millville. Emilia Viveiros threw a three-hit shutout against Sugar Valley and struck out 13 in the two wins. Bailey Smith went 2 for 3 with two doubles and Mariah Hallabuk had two hits and two RBIs in the 13-7 win against Millville … Warrior Run erupted for 12 fifth inning runs against Southern Columbia, turning a one-run deficit into a 12-1 mercy-rule win. Mackenzie Litchard threw a three-hitter and struck out eight. Makenzie Heffner continued her breakout season, belting a walk-off home run and going 3 for 4 with a double, three RBIs and two runs … Frantz threw a three-inning no-hitter, striking out eight as Wellsboro blanked Coudersport, 18-0. Two days earlier, the sophomore right-hander produced her 300th career strikeout in a 7-6 win against Canton. Teagan Novinger and Gena Fleming each had two hits and two RBIs against Coudersport, helping the Hornets win their second straight game.

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

DR. MASSE’S TOP 5 RANKINGS

1. Williamsport (13-2): Although Tunkhannock snapped Williamsport’s five-game winning streak Saturday, it was still a celebratory week for the Millionaires who secured their first outright HAC-I championship. A year after sharing its inaugural title with Central Mountain, Williamsport took it for itself, outscoring Selinsgrove and Shikellamy, 35-0. Every starter collected a hit in both wins and Ashlyn Robinson surrendered three hits, while striking out 13. Senior right fielder Bella Reddy went 5 for 6 in two wins and Kate Solomon bashed her second grand slam in a week against Selinsgrove. Zaelana Minor homered in the championship-clinching win against Shikellamy and nearly every starter produced at least one multi-hit performance over the explosive stretch.

2. North Penn-Liberty (11-3): After defending District 4 Class AAAA champion Athens snapped its nine-game winning streak, North Penn-Liberty came back strong, erasing a one-run deficit and defeating District 4 Class A title contender Cowanesque Valley, 7-5. Haley Litzelman and Julia Kaczynski both had three hits, Litzelman homering and Kaczynski adding a double. Litzelman also produced her 100th career hit. Kenna Lightner also generated two hits. Elyna Booth struck out 12, topping 10 strikeouts for the third time in five starts, while reaching 300 career strikeouts. The Mounties are fourth in the district standings and the top four host quarterfinals, but also have one of the most demanding schedules these last two weeks.

3. Loyalsock (12-3): Loyalsock took a big step toward winning a fourth straight HAC-III championship with its Montoursville win, scoring four first inning runs before holding off a seventh inning rally. The Lancers hold a one-game lead on their rivals and can win the title outright if they sweep a doubleheader from Southern Columbia next week. Before then, Loyalsock also started a gauntlet of challenging games yesterday against Central Columbia. The Lancers then head to Jersey Shore and Holy Redeemer.

“I feel like our team chemistry is getting better, but we still have a way to go,” Waller said. “We’re starting to play better than we were at the beginning.”

4. Jersey Shore (10-4): Jersey Shore has made things interesting in its last two games, winning one-run thrillers each time. The latest came Thursday when it edged Shikellamy, 5-4. Amelia Thomas continued her outstanding debut season, going 3 for 4, while Dani Miller belted a home run, finishing with two hits, two RBIs and two runs. Sophia Wrench has made a big impact this season and also had two hits, including a double, and two RBIs. Lexy Frey threw a seven-hitter and struck out eight as Jersey Shore clinched its 25th playoff berth in 26 seasons during the 2000s. As is the case in Class AAA, Jersey Shore is part of a strong field in Class AAAA. It entered the week at No. 2, close to top-seeded Athens, but also with Central Columbia and Midd-West close behind.

5. Hughesville (9-4): Every starter produced a hit last Thursday as Hughesville defeated Bloomsburg, 16-6. The Spartans broke out of an offensive funk in a big way, scoring 25 runs and collecting 30 hits in wins there and at Southern Columbia. Kenna Fisher, Lyla Kinney and Ashlynn Barlett all homered at Southern and Fisher, Addy Knight and Kiana Peck all had three hits at Bloomsburg. Broken record here, but Hughesville also has loaded up its schedule for the stretch run and it started Monday against Midd-West. The Spartans play three straight days and are fighting for a home playoff game.

Players of the Week

Lyla Kinney, Hughesville and Easton Waller, Loyalsock: Kinney has come a long way throughout her junior and hit for the cycle during that two-game stretch last week. Kinney went 4 for 8 with a hit of every variety and seven RBIs. She drove in a career-high five runs at Bloomsburg and also scored four runs in two wins. Waller gave Warrior Run and Montoursville fits with her bat and arm last week. The sophomore pitcher went 6 for 8 with a triple, two doubles, three RBIs and seven runs. Waller was equally impressive in the pitching circle, going 2-0, surrendering just five hits in 11 innings and striking out 16. Waller produced her 10th strikeout to close out Montoursville in a complete game effort last Thursday, leaving the bases loaded.

Game of the Week

Hughesville at North Penn-Liberty: Wednesday’s game is the first of two games these title contenders will play the next two weeks. Both teams have become quite familiar with the other, playing four times the past two seasons. That includes exciting playoff games won by each team. Hughesville avenged three straight losses against North Penn-Liberty at the perfect time last year, winning 1-0 in the district semifinals, while reaching both its first district final and state tournament. With both fighting for seeding and featuring strong rosters, this should be a fun one, complete with a postseason-like atmosphere.