DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette Montoursville’s Brody Aldenderfer scores in the sixth inning against Athens during the District 4 Class AAAA baseball championship.

Following a torrid start this season, Montoursville center fielder Brody Aldenderfer cooled a bit. But that’s baseball; it happens.

The past is the past, regardless of whether it’s positive or negative. The next at-bat becomes the most important.

Aldenderfer keeping that mindset helped him deliver the game’s biggest hit Thursday afternoon at Blue Mountain.

Aldenderfer launched a long two-run second inning double which gave Montoursville an early three-run lead. Ultimately, that double provided the winning margin as the Warriors defeated Boiling Springs, 4-2 in the 4A state quarterfinals, earning a second straight Final 4 appearance. Montoursville (19-4) returns to Blue Mountain Monday where it will play Holy Ghost Prep in the semifinals.

“That was massive,” Zack Neill said after throwing 3 2/3 hitless innings in relief. “Recently, he’s been struggling a bit, but breaking out like that I pray to God that gives him the confidence he needs because he’s a great hitter; a great player.”

Aldenderfer has proven that throughout his scholastic career, providing pop from the clean-up position on last year’s state finalist before becoming a table setter as the lead-off hitter this year. Aldenderfer had two hits in the district championship win against Athens and scored the game’s opening run against Wyoming Area last Monday, drawing a walk and scoring on Noah Kirby’s RBI double.

He nearly duplicated that opening act Thursday but was called out on a close 3-2 pitch. So, when he fell behind 0-2 the next at-bat, Aldenderfer could have tensed up. Instead, he focused on the next pitch; the next opportunity.

A player with a .500 on-base percentage, Aldenderfer took two balls and then went the opposite way with the fifth pitch, sending it to deep left field and easily scoring Carson Menne and Gabe Moser. Aldenderfer let out a joyous yell upon reaching second base, savoring a hard-earned moment.

“It’s an awesome feeling coming up clutch for the team,” Aldenderfer said. “Hearing the crowd go wild is an incredible feeling.”

Montoursville players also went wild, the two-run double sending a thunder bolt of energy throughout the dugout. There was a long way still to go, but Aldenderfer’s two-run double created a wave of positivity which reached both the field and mound.

“That was a huge hit,” second baseman Kane Moore said. “With our pitching, we knew if we could keep it close, we’d be fine.”

Aldenderfer has excelled as a center fielder, hitter, base runner and pitcher throughout the last four years. The only one who sometimes may forget that is the player himself. His teammates, though, are happy to remind him.

They know how valuable Aldenderfer is. And he proved it again Thursday.

“Sometimes he doubts himself, but he’s something different,” Neill said. “He’s a phenomenal athlete.”

FOR THE

DEFENSE

Moore made a sensational play at second base which saved one; likely two runs against Boiling Springs. That play was featured in a Sun-Gazette story which ran Friday, but there were two other defensive gems which stood out and greatly altered the quarterfinal’s complexion.

Boiling Springs opened the game with a single and walk and had the heart of its order coming up as it tried taking an immediate lead. Josh Snyder hit a three-run home run in his final at-bat Monday, helping the Bubblers defeat Conwell-Egan, 8-0.

It seemed a precarious situation, but Montoursville starter Elijah Eck came up huge, inducing a grounder to Neill at shortstop. Neill was shading toward the bag and made the stop; tug second and threw to first baseman Cy Heddings, completing the double play. Eck ended the threat a batter later and Montoursville built on the momentum in the bottom of the first when Logan Kirby hit a two-out RBI single.

Two innings later, Boiling Springs cut a three-run deficit to 3-2 and had the tying runner at third with one out. The team’s top hitter Dom Beck was up but Moser forced him into hitting a grounder back to the mound. The senior pitcher then looked toward third, caught the runner leaning and fired to Eck who applied the quick tag for a crucial out.

Had Moser not made that fantastic play, the game would have been tied when Torin Williamson singled a batter later. Instead, Moser stranded him, inducing a pop out to Moore.

“They squared some balls up but we also played great defense in the field,” Montoursville coach Jeremy Eck said. “That double play early in the game was big. Picking a runner off third, that was huge and there were some other things. It’s just special to go it with these guys.”

TRIPLE THREAT

District 4 again is making a big impact on the state level. A year after Montoursville and Mount Carmel reached their respective state finals, Southern Columbia and Mifflinburg also have earned semifinal berths Monday.

South Williamsport defeated Southern in the District 4 Class AA championship, but Southern rebounded and won consecutive games against Moniteau and Marian Catholic, earning a spot in Monday’s semifinals against Halifax.

Mifflinburg captured the District 4 Class AAA championship and has won consecutive thrillers against Notre Dame-Green Pond and Trinity by one run each time. That included Thursday’s dramatic 6-5 win in 11 innings. The Wildcats play Bermudian Springs Monday, seeking their first state final appearance since 2002.

SO CLOSE

It was nearly an all-District 4 semifinal with Warrior Run dropping a heartbreaking 4-3 quarterfinal against Bermudian Springs. The Defenders took a 3-2 lead into the bottom of the seventh before Bermudian Springs rallied and walked it off.

Still, what a year it was for Warrior Run (18-7) which overcame injuries and adversity to win its first state playoff game. Griff Harrington threw a no-hitter when Warrior Run made history in Monday’s opening round with a 1-0 win against District 2 champion Dunmore.

It was quite a run for a fabulous senior group which won 63 games and two league championships. All that while dramatic shifting the trajectory for a program which had won seven games in four seasons before their arrival.