Turns out Montoursville went prime Mike Tyson and landed a convincing early knockout.

Logan Kirby threw his latest playoff gem, a three-hit complete game; Carson Menne belted three hits and Noah Kirby and Austin Davidson each collected two as Montoursville steamrolled the Warriors, 11-1 in six innings in Monday’s 4A state tournament opener at Millionaire Mountain.

Montoursville (18-4) scored five fourth inning runs and five more in the sixth, Elijah Eck’s two-run walk-off double giving the Warriors the mercy-rule win. It also earned the Warriors a spot in Thursday’s state quarterfinals against District 3’s Boiling Springs.

“We know how good those guys (Wyoming Area) are and they had tons of energy,” Montoursville coach Jeremy Eck said. “I told our guys we’re going to be in a in dogfight tonight. You better be ready for a fist fight.”

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montoursville's players react as winning run rounds third during the PIAA Class AAAA baseball playoffs against Wyoming Area on Monday at Millionaire Mountain.

This one turned more Ivan Drago-Apollo Creed than Rocky Balboa-Creed. Noah Kirby’s first inning RBI double put Montoursville ahead to stay and his older brother shut down a potent offense, striking out seven and throwing an economical 81 pitches while earning his seventh career postseason win.

A year after reaching the state championship, Montoursville advanced to the state quarterfinals for a fifth time since 2018. And while others could be fooled into thinking Monday’s win was easy, there is nothing easy about winning, especially in June against the state’s best.

“I’m super proud of these guys. Every year, you don’t know,” Eck said. “You don’t know who you’re going to run into; don’t know what arms you’re going to see. It’s another huge win for our program.”

“We’re grateful because a lot of schools are done right now, and it’s awesome just to live another day and be with the guys one more time,” Menne said after going 3 for 4 with two RBIs. “After last year, a lot of people probably didn’t think we’d be back in this spot right now, so it feels good.”

That includes a pre-playoff publication which did not list Montoursville as a serious state title contender. The thing is, the Warriors view that as outside noise and block it out. Focusing on playing their brand of baseball is the objective and Montoursville certainly did that well Monday.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montoursville's Brody Aldenderfer celebrates a triple during the PIAA Class AAAA baseball playoffs against Wyoming Area on Monday at Millionaire Mountain.

The Warriors hit .375 with runners in scoring position, seven players generated hits and every starter reached base with six driving in runs. All this against a team starting a Rutgers-bound pitcher in lefty Jake Snyder and two relievers who helped Wyoming Area (19-4) win 19 of its first 21 games.

Add in Kirby allowing no earned runs and Montoursville had all the ingredients necessary to cook up another playoff win despite an 11-day layoff since capturing the district championship.

“June baseball is tough,” Noah Kirby said. “It’s like a freight train when we can get it going. I feel like we feed off each other’s energy really well.”

Kirby had the best view of his brother improving to 4-0 during the last two postseasons. Especially fresh following the long break, Logan looked especially potent and surrendered just a fifth inning unearned run after Montoursville had built a 6-0 lead. That was the only the second time Wyoming Area had a runner reach second base and Kirby responded by working a perfect sixth inning, retiring the side on eight pitches.

His younger brother ended that fifth inning with a perfect throw to catch a runner trying to steal third and Logan Kirby left a runner on third base in the third when he struck out Snyder. That was Wyoming Area’s last serious threat as Kirby allowed just one hit from there.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montoursville's dugout reacts as runners cross the plate during the PIAA Class AAAA baseball playoffs against Wyoming Area on Monday at Millionaire Mountain.

“I felt decent. I don’t know if the velo was there or not but I did the same thing I always try and do; pitch to contact, let the defense work and keep them off-balance,” Logan Kirby said. “They’re a really good team, so I knew I had to pitch well, but it’s a team game so you don’t have to try and do everything.”

Noah proved it in the first when he put Montoursville up for good. Brody Aldenderfer worked a lead-off walk and Kane Moore moved him to second with a bunt. Noah then continued his strong postseason and smashed an RBI double which made it, 1-0. He singled two innings later and was part of a game-changing fourth inning rally which put Montoursville up, 6-0.

“I was just doing what I do,” Noah said. “I knew he wasn’t going to beat me. I knew my hands we’re too quick. I was really looking for anything over the heart of the plate and he gave me something.”

Snyder had allowed just three hits over his last 19 innings but Montoursville chased him with two outs in the fourth inning with a combination of Wyoming Area errors and timely hitting. Menne started the five-run flurry with a single, stole second and scored on a dropped third strike which was thrown down the right-field line. Following two, two-out errors, Zack Neill roped an RBI single and Wyoming Area went to the bullpen.

Austin Davidson kept the inning going and made it four two-out runs following a Logan Kirby walk. Davidson had stung the ball his first two times up but was the victim of fantastic plays. This time, he would not be denied, lacing a two-run single into center field before adding another single as part of the sixth-inning, game-winning rampage.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montoursville's Logan Kirby throws during the PIAA Class AAAA baseball playoffs against Wyoming Area on Monday at Millionaire Mountain.

Menne continued providing thunder down under from the No. 8 spot with his big day. The senior right fielder delivered against Athens in the district final and picked up where he left off, being a part of two rallies which produced 10 runs.

It seemed fitting then that Menne was in the middle of the walk-off inning. Neill walked, Logan Kirby singled and Davidson singled before Jonah Heddings drew an RBI walk. Menne then smashed a two-run single and Eck ended the game just a pitch later, torpedoing his two-run double down the right field line as Menne scored the clinching run.

“They had a really good arm and I tried to stay short to the ball,” Menne said. “I was able to execute in a timely manner and get it done. It feels good just to live another day.”

Montoursville had breaks of nine and 11 days before playing its next game the last two times. This time, it will soon be at it again, facing another big test Thursday when it battles Boiling Springs.

It’s another challenge in a season filled with them. It also is an opportunity so few teams get to experience.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montoursville's Noah and Logan Kirby confer during the PIAA Class AAAA baseball playoffs against Wyoming Area on Monday at Millionaire Mountain.

“It’s special. I don’t take it for granted,” Eck said. “If you can get your guys to buy in, that’s what matters the most and that’s what I’m most proud of about this group.”

Montoursville 11,

Wyoming Area 1

(6 INNINGS)

Wyoming Area 000 010―1 3 4

Montoursville 100 505―11 11 2

Jake Snyder, Ryan Nemschick (4), Caleb Pavinski (5) and Max Langdon. Logan Kirby and Noah Kirby. W―L. Kirby, (8-0). L–Snyder.

Top Montoursville hitters: Carson Menne 3-4, 2 RBIs, 2 runs; N. Kirby 2-4, 2B, RBI; Austin Davidson 2-4, 2 RBIs, run; Zack Neill 1-2, 2 BB, RBI, 2 runs; Brody Aldenderfer 1-3, BB, run; L. Kirby 1-3, BB; Elijah Eck 1-4, 2B, 2 RBIs.

Records: Montoursville (18-4), Wyoming Area (19-4).

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montoursville's Austin Davidson tries to elude the tag at first during the PIAA Class AAAA baseball playoffs against Wyoming Area on Monday at Millionaire Mountain.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montoursville's Emerson Lehman beats the tag at second during the PIAA Class AAAA baseball playoffs against Wyoming Area on Monday at Millionaire Mountain.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montoursville coach Jeremy Eck motions to his base runners as two runs score during the PIAA Class AAAA baseball playoffs against Wyoming Area on Monday at Millionaire Mountain.