Maybe the Mounties were just too tired.

Because once again, this determined, resilient team ran through a gauntlet to scale the district summit and it took everything it had inside.

Call them skilled climbers and tireless workers. Or just call them champions. Again.

It came the hard way, but South etched itself into its program’s rich tradition lore Tuesday at Central Columbia High School. Cole Gerber and Chance Quimby combined on a brilliant four-hitter, production came throughout the order and the defense made no errors as South captured its second straight District 4 championship, defeating top-seeded Southern Columbia, 4-1. The Mounties (14-7) knocked off the top two seeds (Southern and Montgomery) for a second straight year and became just the second South team to go back-to-back as district champs.

“We have a lot of experience here, and a lot of guys who put in the work,” senior catcher Trace Wertz said after going 1 for 2 with an RBI. “I’ve played with them my whole life, so doing it with them is absolutely awesome.”

“It’s a great day. This is why you play baseball,” Quimby said after earning the save with 1 2/3 innings of hitless relief. “To continue to go through these powerhouse teams is fun, especially all playing us together. We’ve all been playing since we were little and it’s a great feeling.”

South (14-7) next plays District 3 champion Halifax Monday at a District 3 site in the state tournament.

From youth success to district champions, selfless play and clutch performances have defined this group. It did a year ago when a team with just one senior took the title and it shined through again this year with a comeback win against Montgomery and a tremendous all-around performance against a Southern team which pounded District 4 Class AAA champion Mifflinburg late in the regular season.

Gerber improved to 5-0 in the playoffs his first two years and South scored four runs from the third through five innings, building a 4-0 lead.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent South Williamsport team mates celebrate their 4-1 win over Southern Columbia for a back to back District IV Class AA baseball championship at Central Columbia Tuesday.

When Quimby induced a game-ending flyout to Jonah Caputo the celebration was on. More muted this time, but make no mistake, the Mounties are equally thrilled.

“Nothing ever comes easy and it shouldn’t come easy, but these guys are a bunch of hard workers. They’ve put the work in, they keep doing it and they know what it takes,” South coach Chase Waller said after going 2 for 2 in his two seasons. “District titles don’t come easy by any means. You have to fight tooth and nail and do everything you can to end your season with gold around your neck. Last year we flew under the radar a little bit and this year teams had us circled on the calendar, and to get that gauntlet in reverse order is awesome. I couldn’t be prouder and happier for these guys.”

“Going through the same teams, we knew how tough it was going to be,” Gerber said. “South has had a lot of really good teams here and to be one of only two that have gone back-to-back means a lot.”

After throwing a super game against Montgomery in the semifinals, Gerber continued enhancing his spectacular playoff resume. The sophomore lefty ran his scoreless streak against Southern in district the past two years to 12 1/3 innings before Andrew Novak hit a sacrifice fly on his final pitch which made it, 4-1 in the sixth inning.

Gerber scattered four hits in 5 1/3 innings and struck out four. More impressive than the stat line was when Gerber made perfect pitches. As he did in a thrilling semifinal win against Southern a year ago, Gerber was at his best under pressure, stranding six runners in the first five innings. Twice he left runners on, including second and third in the second inning, closing those innings with strikeouts.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent South Williamsport team mates are all smiles after their 4-1 win over Southern Columbia for the District IV Class AA baseball championship at Central Columbia Tuesday.

“I had to get ahead and throw strikes and I know they will make plays behind me,” Gerber said. “It’s always fun coming out and pitching these last two games, especially when it’s the playoffs. It’s really exciting and I was comfortable.”

Quimby feels the same way, displaying the same cold-blooded mentality which has helped South reach such lofty heights the past two seasons.

Like he did against Montgomery, Quimby earned the save and embraced the big moment. The junior right hander came in with one out and a man on second in the sixth, quickly ending that threat by inducing flyouts to right fielder Jax Miller.

An inning later, Quimby retired the first two batters on five pitches before working around a hit batter and sealing another championship. It was the second straight playoff game in which Quimby earned save without allowing a hit.

“With the cushion Cole gave me and the defense I had behind me, I had no doubt in my mind we could get this thing done,” Quimby said. “That was exciting to go in there and help us get it done and win again.”

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent South Williamsport team mates are all smiles after their 4-1 win over Southern Columbia for the District IV Class AA baseball championship at Central Columbia Tuesday.

South gave its pitchers the run support they needed with the four runs in the game’s middle innings. The Mounties scored in the third, the fourth and then twice in the fifth, going up, 4-0. Nine players reached base and every starter either reached and/or drove in a run.

It was classic South baseball with the Mounties moving runners, stealing bases and taking unselfish approaches. Cade Lusk helped ignite the third inning rally with a walk, stole second, went to third on Garrett Lorson’s grounder and scored on Wertz’s sacrifice fly.

An inning later, Torin Haug (1 for 2) drew a lead-off walk, Kamdyn Bubb singled, Haug hustled to third on Quimby’s flyout and Gerber delivered a sacrifice fly. Two errors, one on a Wertz bunt, opened the door in the fifth inning and Jaymes Carpenter kicked it down, scorching a two-run single on a 3-2 pitch and making it, 4-0.

Carpenter had two hits and has five RBIs in two district championships.

“We had good, scrappy at-bats against (Levi) Everitt. They had two legit arms with him and Caden Hopper and they made them work,” Waller said, while also praising his assistants Kurt Wertz, Adam Hook, Joe Engel and Steve Sennett for having the team so prepared. “As the game progressed we reverted to small ball, getting bunts down, getting steals, getting guys in motion and getting those runs across because every run is a huge run, especially against a great team like that.”

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent South Williamsport head coach Chase Waller gets doused after their 4-1 win over Southern Columbia for the District IV Class AA baseball championship at Central Columbia Tuesday.

South complemented its timely hitting and stellar pitching with equally standout defense. Gerber helped stymie a second inning rally when he caught a runner leaning from second. Quimby, playing second base, fielded the throw and made a perfect strike to Bubb at third who tagged out the lead runner.

Shortstop Levi Butler made a nifty play on a tricky hopper to open the first inning and outfielders Lusk, Miller, Lorson and Jonah Caputo all shined, covering ground and catching eight flyballs.

It was not about one person dominating. This consummate team baseball.

Playing it so well is what helped maintain its spot upon the District 4 throne. South became the district’s best team because it is a team, period.

Now, this district champion will start setting its sights upon a new goal. Again, it will be a significant challenge but South sure likes those battles.

“It’s my last year year, so we have to make a statement,” Wertz said. “I was talking to a softball coach and he’s like, ‘How many times you guys won four district championships in a row? It’s time. It’s time for South Williamsport Baseball to make some noise.”

South Williamsport 4, Southern Columbia 1

South 001 120 0 — 4 7 0

Southern 000 001 0 — 1 4 4

Cole Gerber, Chance Quimby (6) and Trace Wertz. Levi Everitt, Caden Hopper (6) and Gavin Richards. W–Gerber. L–Everitt. SV–Quimby.

Top South hitters: Haymes Carpenter 2-4, 2 RBIs; Wertz 1-2, RBI; Torin Haug 1-2, BB, run; Kamdyn Bubb 1-2; Cade Lusk 1-4, BB, run. Top Southern hitters: Andrew Yost 2-3, run; Ayden Hockenbroch 1-3, 2B, run.

Records: South (14-7), Southern (15-4).

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent South Williamsport celebrate their 4-1 win over Southern Columbia for the District IV Class AA baseball championship at Central Columbia Tuesday.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent South Williamsport relief pitcher Chance Quimby (22) celebrates after the final out of their 4-1 win for the District IV Class AA baseball championship at Central Columbia Tuesday.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent South Williamsport's Jax Miller dives back to first base on a pick off attempt in the sixth inning.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent South Williamsport second baseman Garrett Larson (21) fields a line drive for an out in the seventh inning.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent South Williamsport right fielder Jax Miller fields a fly ball for an out in the sixth inning.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent South Williamsport's Garrett Larson is congratulated by his first base coach after hitting a single.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent South Williamsport Torin Haug (11) is safe a third base as Southern Columbia third baseman Kole Myers waits on the throw on a Chance Quimby sacrifice fly in the forth inning..

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent South Williamsport right fielder Garrett Larson fields a fly for an out in the third inning.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent South Williamsport pitcher Cole Gerber (3) is congratulated by team mates after striking out the Southern batter for the third out with runners on base.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent South Williamsport pitcher Cole Garber delivers a pitch to a Southern Columbia batter.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent South Williamsport third baseman Kamdyn Bubb (33) tags out Southern Columbia's Andrew Novak (0) on an attempted steal in the second inning.