Seconds later, they all literally bounced for joy while embracing along the third-base line.

This was a moment those players likely will never forget. And it was one three years in the making.

All the hard work came bursting through and Montoursville players took the run of their lives, carrying the championship banner around the Shangraw Complex field.

At last, Montoursville is District 12’s best team.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montoursvile pose for a photo after their 2-1 win over Keystone for the Little League District 12 Majors Softball Championship at Lycoming College Wednesday.

Sheleman threw a three-hit gem; the defense played spectacular and Montoursville completed a fabulous run as it edged Keystone, 2-1 and captured the District 12 Majors softball championship. Montoursville rallied after losing to Keystone, 9-1 in the winner’s bracket final, defeating South Williamsport and Keystone twice in two nights, avenging two title games losses against it the last two years in the 8-10 district finals.

“It’s awesome. They’ve put in a of hard work the last three weeks,” Montoursville coach Travis Sheleman said. “We’ve been going just about every day. It feels good to watch them succeed. It feels good to know all the hard work paid off.”

It paid off in a big way as Montoursville secured that elusive district title, overcoming a former nemesis and super opponent to do so. Montoursville scored two runs in the top of the first inning before Keystone answered with a run in the bottom half. From there, Sheleman, her defense and Keystone pitcher Madison Edwards dominated.

Bolsar and first baseman Sophia Hoffman combined on a game-changing fifth inning play and Sheleman struck out five, including the game’s final hitter. Nothing was given. Montoursville earned this championship the hard way.

“It’s relief. We’ve been going after them for three years, so it feels like a huge weight off your shoulders,” Sheleman said. “We’ve been chasing them for three years, so it feels great to finally get the win.”

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montoursvill catcher Avery Bolsar (4) bites her championship medal after their 2-1 win over Keystone in game two of the Little League District 12 Majors Softball Championship at Lycoming College Wednesday.

Keystone did not win another championship, but it certainly delivered a championship-like effort. Both teams combined to play an excellent game which took just 71 minutes and featured no walks. Edwards threw a two-hitter and Keystone never backed down.

It was an impressive turnaround after Keystone struggled the previous night, making four errors and falling behind by eight runs early on.

“We played a good game, but we couldn’t get the bats going and all the credit to Montoursville,” Keystone coach Chip McCann said. “We are pretty balanced. We have six 11-year-olds back next year, so we’ll give it another go next year, hopefully.”

Montoursville embraced that mentality following last year’s championship loss and reached the summit Wednesday. Sheleman opened the game by reaching second on a throwing error before Bolsar dropped a bunt single and Sheleman scored on a wild pitch. Bolsar moved to second on a throwing error and scored on a Myla Carey grounder as Montoursville went up, 2-0.

Keystone countered in the bottom half as Riley Houser dropped a perfectly placed bunt single, stole second, moved to third on Edwards’s single and scored on Sienna Schneider’s RBI grounder.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montoursville team mates take a jog around the field with their championship banner after their win over Keystone for the Little League District 12 Majors Softball Championship at Lycoming College Wednesday.

From there, Sheleman and her defense kept growing stronger. And that combination came up especially clutch in the fifth inning when Keystone seemed poised to tie it, 2-2.

Schneider opened the inning by belting a triple down the right-field line. Sheleman maintained her poise and struck out the next batter. When the third pitch was dropped, Bolsar made a quick recovery and a quick throw to Hoffman. The first baseman then made a perfect snap throw back to Bolsar. In turn, she applied a quick tag, and the lead runner was cut down for a second out.

A batter later, Sheleman incuded a grounder back to the circle and Montoursville preserved its lead entering the final inning.

“That’s a huge play, but that’s something we work on at practice a lot,” Travis Sheleman said. “I think the hard work at practices is why that play worked out the way it did. That run ties the game, so I knew if they scored, we’d be down. By getting that double play, that brought us up even more.”

Sheleman scattered four hits in Tuesday’s rematch against Keystone before throwing, possibly the game of her young life, considering the ramifications. The right-hander walked none, went to just one three-ball count, struck out five and threw 54 of her 79 pitches for strikes, constantly working ahead.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montoursvill catcher Avery Bolsar (4) takes a look at her championship medal after their 2-1 win over Keystone in game two of the Little League District 12 Majors Softball Championship at Lycoming College Wednesday.

The defense was just as strong, making every play by Sheleman. That combination helped the pitcher retire the final five batters she faced and 12 of the last 13.

“It’s definitely one of the better games she’s thrown,” Travis Sheleman said. “She’s been pretty confident all all-star season that she has a good defense behind her, so she can just throw and let them hit.”

Montoursville hopes to build on that momentum when it plays at the Section 3 Tournament which starts next Tuesday at South Williamsport. There, Montoursville will open against the District 15 champion.

Keystone’s run ended but what a run it has been the last four years. McCann coached most of these players when they first competed as eight-year-olds. That year eventual state runner-up, Jersey Shore mercy-ruled Keystone in its first game.

From the bottom, Keystone rose, improving each season and capturing consecutive championships before reaching this year’s final.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montoursville team mates celebrate their 2-1 win over Keystone in game two of the Little League District 12 Majors Softball Championship at Lycoming College Wednesday.

“Sports are great from that perspective. You get them into something competitive and see the growth and the lessons they’ve learned and all the little things they’ve picked up along the way and that’s great,” McCann said. “I have a great group of kids. I couldn’t ask for a better group. The parental support we have is tremendous. I know that’s not the case everywhere, so it’s very much appreciated.”

Keystone certainly appreciated Edwards’s latest brilliant pitching performance. The right-hander also shined on the big stage, letting just one hit leave the infield. She struck out eight, walked none and threw 54 of her 69 pitches for strikes. Edwards also retired 14 of the last 16 batters she faced and only went to a three-ball count once.

“She’s a stud. She’s her own worst enemy sometimes, confidence-wise, but she has all the tools,” McCann said. “Whenever she puts it all together, you’ll probably be reading about her for years to come.”

Montoursville 200 000–2 2 0

Keystone 100 000–1 3 3

Averie Sheleman and Avery Bolsar. Madison Edwards and Josey McCann. W–Sheleman. L–Edwards.

Top Montoursville hitters: Bolsar 1-2, R, SB; Frankie Finicle 1-2; Myla Carey RBI. Top Keystone hitters: Sienna Schneider 1-2, 3B, RBI; Blake Houser 1-2, R, SB; Edwards 1-2.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montoursville team mates celebrate their 2-1 win over Keystone in game two of the Little League District 12 Majors Softball Championship at Lycoming College Wednesday.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montoursville short stop Mayomi Belle (2) celebrates their 2-1 win over Keystone in game two of the Little League District 12 Majors Softball Championship at Lycoming College Wednesday.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montoursville catcher Avery Bolsar (4) tag out Keystone's Sienna Schneider (7) in the bottom of the fifth inning of game two of the Little League District 12 Majors Softball Championship at Lycoming College Wednesday.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Keystone's Sienna Schneider (7) connects for a triple in the fifth inning of game two of the Little League District 12 Majors Softball Championship at Lycoming College Wednesday.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Keystone second baseman Mia Barth (25) tosses to first base for an out in the third inning of game two of the Little League District 12 Majors Softball Championship at Lycoming College Wednesday.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montoursville's Avery Bolsar (4) safely steals second base as Keystone short stop Balke Houser (99) fields the throw in the fourth inning of game two of the Little League District 12 Majors Softball Championship at Lycoming College Wednesday.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Keystone's Blake Houser (99) safely steals second base as Montoursville short stop Nayomi Belle (2) waits for the throw in the first inning of the second game of the Little League District 12 Majors Softball Championship at Lycoming College Wednesday.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montoursville second baseman Alivia Frey (55) throws to first base for an out in the first inning of the second game of the Little League District 12 Majors Softball Championship at Lycoming College Wednesday.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montoursville's Averie Shelemen (22) scores on a passed pitch as Keystone pitcher Madison Edwards (13) waits for the throw in the first inning of the second game of the Little League District 12 Majors Softball Championship at Lycoming College Wednesday.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montoursville catcher Avery Bolsar throws to first base on a bunt in the first inning of the second game of the Little League District 12 Majors Softball Championship at Lycoming College Wednesday.