The Defenders are District 4’s Upset Queens.

Warrior Run stunned heavily favored Loyalsock and Montoursville teams during districts after going 0-4 against those squads during the regular season. Doing so both shined a light upon the team’s massive late-season growth and earned it a spot in Monday’s state tournament.

There, the Defenders will try enhancing their upset resume when they play at District 2 champion Mid-Valley.

“It’s not over yet. I didn’t know if we were going to get to this point, but here we are,” shortstop Maura Woland said after slamming three home runs in a dramatic 5-4 semifinal win against Montoursville. “It’s a new game; new season.”

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Warrior Run's Ella Printzenhoff (37) heads for home to score the go-ahead run during the team’s District 4 Class AAA quarterfinal win over Loyalsock.

Warrior Run (13-10) took that approach upon entering districts and it changed everything. The Defenders were seeded seventh in a loaded eight-team field. HAC-III champion Loyalsock was the defending district champion and had outscored Warrior Run 23-9 in two previous games.

Rather than look back, Warrior Run gazed ahead. Winning for the first time at Short Park this decade, the Defenders erased a 1-0 fourth inning deficit and rallied for a thrilling 2-1 win in eight innings. Makenzie Litchard stifled a potent offense, throwing a five-hitter and striking out nine and the Defenders moved forward.

Many thought the road would end at Elm Park against Montoursville in the semifinals. The Warriors also swept the season series, outscoring it, 15-3. The next game was all that mattered, though, and Woland put on a show as the Defenders fought back from a 4-1 deficit and won, 5-4. Litchard did not allow a hit after the third inning and struck out 10 as Warrior Run became the first No. 7 seed to reach the championship in any District 4 softball tournament this decade.

“It really proves as a team that we can really do this,” Litchard said. “A lot of people didn’t expect us to win the other day; a lot of people didn’t expect us to win (the semifinals), but we’re proving to everybody that we can win and we’re really doing this.”

Indeed, there was nothing flukish about either win. Warrior Run played spectacular defense at Loyalsock; Woland, center fielder Sienna Wise and left fielder Makenzie Heffner all making game-changing plays, while complementing Litchard’s clutch pitching.

Woland went Reggie Jackson against Montoursville and Litchard surrendered one hit after the second inning, repeatedly delivering in pressure moments.

“The motivation we have is incredible. We never let up,” Woland said. “When we were down 4-1 you can see that; we never let up.”

Warrior Run fought an uphill battle the entire regular season, overcoming 0-2, 2-5 and 7-9 starts. The Defenders displayed flashes but struggled for consistency. That started changing, however, as they won their last four regular-season games, highlighting that streak with an 8-3 finale victory at District 4 Class A champion Montgomery.

Instead of pulling apart when times grew tough, players formed a tighter bond. The foundation was in place and Warrior Run built upon it with its two big playoff wins.

“I think we’ve really come together. We worked out some kinds and started really playing as a team,” Litchard said. “We said before the year we wanted to make a state run and now we’re moving on to states.”

Litchard is a big reason why. The junior picked the perfect time to throw her best yet at the high school level. In three wins against Montgomery, Loyalsock and Montoursville, Litchard limited each team and struck out 29.

“We were starting to do a couple things and work some things out, but even before that, Mackenzie started pitching more and trusting herself and trusting the pitches,” Warrior Run coach Mark Evans said. “She’s executing the pitches that are called. I’ve always said that when she’s hitting her spots, she’s tough.”

Evans became the team’s coach in 2023 and toughness has permeated the program since then. In fact, what Warrior Run is doing this season mirrors what that 2023 team did. That year, the No. 6 Defenders stunned perennial title contender Central Columbia after two previous losses and took out Towanda to reach both the championship and state tournament.

“When I came into the program. I wanted to change the culture and I wanted them to compete in every situation down to the last pitch,” Evans said. “For the most part, we’ve bought into it the last four years. These last couple days (during districts) the aura has been positive and you can just feel something was different.”

Warrior Run wants to take that aura on the road now. It will again assume its role as the underdog but these determined underdogs have shown they have some bite.

Records mean nothing at this point; nor do previous achievements. Warrior Run knows that as well as anybody. Now, a team which shook up the district tournament has a chance to make it loudest noise yet.

“We’re all moving this train where we want to move it,” Litchard said. “It’s so nice to see everyone working together.”

“We have to go in there with the motivation that we can win,” Woland said. “We can do this.”