And, after a partially torn labrum prevented him from throwing a baseball for two months, Hill felt especially homesick. Now both his arm and mind are healthy; Hill is back home and Williamsport has another weapon.

Hill threw four scoreless innings, earning the win Tuesday at Williamsport’s Lumber Yards, combining with James Naughton and Ethan Chilson on a six-hitter as the Millionaires defeated Loyalsock, 2-1 and concluded the Backyard Brawl 3-0 after capturing the championship last Saturday. Chilson earned his area-best fifth save, leaving the bases loaded with one out in the seventh inning as Williamsport (17-1) won its 15th straight game.

“I’ve been waiting. Just sitting there not being able to throw for those eight weeks is hard, so it’s great to be back on the mound, especially with my team,” Hill said. “I can feel myself building back, but there’s still room for me to get back to where I was last summer and back to 100 %.”

Hill attacked his rehab hard, so he could return and turn what felt like a lost junior season into a memorable one. He started doing so last Friday, starting against South Williamsport in the semifinals. There, Hill threw three scoreless innings in a game Williamsport won, 9-7 in eight innings.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Williamsport short stop Lucas Naughton (10) knocks down a line drive before throwing the runner out at first base in the third inning.

This time, Hill earned the win as both the bullpen and defense came up big. Put it together, and throwing seven scoreless innings at the Brawl is quite an impressive opening act.

“LJ is a guy who loves the game. When he’s on the mound, he just looks like he’s at home,” Williamsport coach Tyler Albert said. “You can tell that kid has a passion for this. He works hard; he comes from a baseball family, and he’s been chomping at the bit. Seeing him work on the things he had to in order to be able to get to this point and back here, it’s helped him not skip a beat.”

Hill proved it against Loyalsock, scattering three hits and striking out five. The right-hander did not walk a batter and struck out five, throwing 42 of his 58 pitches for strikes. Injuries have Williamsport hard this season, so having Hill return and pitch the way he has, gives the HAC-I champions an added boost.

Hill showcased his skills on a huge stage last summer, throwing a no-hitter at the Babe Ruth World Series. So, being under the lights against rivals in his first two starts has hardly fazed him. In fact, that big stage continues bringing out Hill’s best.

“There is a different sense of confidence for him on the mound this year as a junior. That’s huge for this team,” Albert said. “When LJ is on the mound he can beat anyone on any given day.”

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Williamsport short stop Lucas Naughton (10) knocks down a line drive before throwing the runner out at first base in the third inning.

“It’s very helpful because I’m used to the pressure and used to being under the lights,” Hill said. “It makes it easier to stay under control and stay calm on the mound in pressure situations.”

So, too, does having a brilliant defense.

Shortstop Lucas Naughton and second baseman Camden March took turns making highlight plays throughout the first three innings. Naughton jumped high into the night sky in the first, robbing Drake Dupont of a two-out single. March soared even higher on the right side two innings later, denying Kayden Keefer a lead-off single.

Two batters after that, Naughton and first baseman Camron Spangler combined on the night’s best play. Jahvon LaRosa (2 for 3) smashed a hard grounder up the middle which looked like a sure single. Instead, Naughton went into Ozzie Smith-mode, diving as far as he could to his left and making the stop. He immediately popped up and unleashed a throw to Spanger who caught it on the hop and closed the inning.

“That really gets me going inside. Even if I give up a hit I know I have the defense behind me and they’re always making plays,” Hill said. “They’re throwing their bodies on the line and doing whatever it takes just to back me up.”

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Williamsport third baseman Cole Deitrick (41) fields a ground ball in the second inning.

Nolan Rall pitched an outstanding game for Loyalsock, scattering seven hits in six innings and working out of tense situations all night, while striking out five. Williamsport, however, broke through in the third inning when March walked, Deshaun White (2 for 2) singled and Zane Rogers hit a two-out RBI single. Williamsport went up 2-0 an inning later as Cole Deitrick and Trey Damschroder singled before Deitrick came home when Damschroder turned an attempted pick off into a stolen base.

But that was all Rall would allow as the senior did all he could to help Loyalsock reach the postseason. The Lancers pulled within 2-1 in the fifth inning when Carter Cowden singled, Keefer walked and LaRosa hit a two-out RBI single.

Chilson entered in the sixth and stranded two runners. The senior known as Chilly, who like Hill, has overcome serious injuries, then continued stay cool when the heat was its most intense in the seventh.

Cowden was hit by a pitch, Keefer walked and LaRosa drew a one-out walk to load the bases. Against Montoursville in the championship, Chilson retired three straight batters after the first two reached in the second. Again, with no margin for error, it was closing time as Chilson induced a fielder’s choice for a force at home before coaxing a flyout to White in right field.

Make it 5 for 5 in save opportunities for Williamsport’s version of Mariano Rivera.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Loyalsock pitcher Nolan Rall delivers a pitch against Williamsport Tuesday.

“Ethan has an incredible mindset. He has that competitive nature, and he holds himself to an extremely high standard,” Albert said. “Last year he charted for us, and he was able to see the game from a different perspective.

“Something people don’t understand is once something is taken away from you; something that you love, it does something to your brain and you’re going to do and give everything you can to come out on top and succeed. That’s shown with how he’s handled himself, especially coming into these closing situations.”

Loyalsock suffered heartbreak again, losing three one-run Brawl games. In fact, the Lancers (6-13) lost their last five games this season by six total runs, all against playoff teams. So, while the record may not reflect it, this young team came a long way during the season’s second half, and a strong foundation is in place going forward.

“Loyalsock is well-coached and has a good team and they’re hungry,” Albert said. “They’re going to be good next year and the year after that and probably from there on.”

Loyalsock 000 010 0–1 6 1

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Williamsport pitcher L.J. Hill delivers a pitch against Loyalsock Tuesday.

Williamsport 001 100 0–2 8 2

Nolan Rall and Bennett Singer. LJ Hill, James Naughton (5), Ethan Chilson (6) and Jaxson March. W–Hill. L–Rall. SV–Chilson, (5).

Top Loyalsock hitters: Jahvon LaRosa 2-3, BB, RBI; Singer 1-2; Carter Cowden 1-2, R; Rall 1-3; Jacob Baylor 1-3; Parker Frederick 1-4. Top Williamsport hitters: Deshaun White 2-2; Trey Damschroder 2-3, 2 SB; Zane Rogers 1-3, RBI; Cole Deitrick 1-3, R; Lucas Naughton 1-3.

Records: Williamsport 17-1. Loyalsock 6-13.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Loyalsock's Johnson LaRosa (1) dives back to first base as Williamsport first baseman Cameron Spangler (27) waits for the throw in the first inning.