It had nothing to do with the ice water bath his players gave him during the post-game celebration either. Instead, it came about was when he started reflecting on his players, coaches and the dedication all display each day.

“We get off the bus and (catcher) Trace (Wertz) is yelling, ‘Wooo, let’s go, baby!’ They’re ready to play. I get chills talking about it because you know you’re going to get 100 percent out of those guys,” Waller said. “It doesn’t matter what the situation is, these guys know they are going to come out and put their best foot forward.”

That commitment is at the heart of South’s success. The Mounties repeated as district champions, becoming just the second team to do so in a storied program’s history, and today head to Halifax and play the District 3 champions in the opening round of the state tournament.

It’s another challenge in a season filled with them. The way South (14-7) has attacked those challenges is what inspires Waller so much. He addressed the players above, but the chills returned when focusing on his coaching staff.

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

“I’ve got to thank my coaches: Kurt Wertz, Adam Hook, Joe Engel, Steve Sennett. These guys are baseball guys and they keep me in the game. They’re truly leaders,” Waller said. “I get chills talking about those guys because they do so much for this team; helping us in every capacity.

“I have a great group of guys around me and it makes it fun coming out there. I look forward to coming out there to baseball practice and working with these guys.”

That worked started long before the games did with South players hitting the offseason hard. That is where the championship seeds were planted. Each player and coach has done his part since practices opened last March in making sure those seeds bloomed into something special.

Look at the statistics and they do not blow one away. South does not feature any mashers slugging a bunch of home runs or posting video game numbers. But there are a lot of ways to win and South has proven it again this year.

This is a group as selfless as it is talented. It’s one which understands it’s the mastering of so many little things which allows the big things to happen. The district playoffs proved it, as South pitched well, played stellar defense and skillfully moved runners.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent South Williamsport’s Torin Haug (11) is safe at third base as Southern Columbia third baseman Kole Myers waits on the throw during the District 4 Class AA baseball championship.

The Mounties collected 13 hits against fantastic Montgomery and Southern Columbia teams, but it was the bunts; the flyballs moving runners to third, the sacrifice flies which made such huge differences as well. Each was celebrated from the dugout as much as a home run would be because this team knows how vital each contribution is.

“We’re playing team baseball,” second baseman/pitcher Chance Quimby said following the district final. “We had sac flies, bunts, guys hitting the ball to right field. We were moving guys and that’s great to see.”

“We work hard on that at practice: situational ball. It takes us far in the season,” Wertz said. “Bunting, sac flies, working the counts; it all pays off. It’s just doing our job. That’s all we can do; just come into the box with the mindset of figuring out what we have to do and making it happen.”

Every starter reached base and/or drove in a run against Southern. Jax Miller came off the bench and made two big catches in right field after Cole Gerber and Chance Quimby worked out of a sixth inning jam. Center fielder Jonah Caputo did not bat during districts, but made repeated key catches.

It’s all embracing their roles and the moment which has carried South to consecutive district championships and back to the state tournament. As individuals, they are good players, but together the Mounties again are among the state’s top 16 teams.

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

“Guys bought in. They know doing the little things is what matters,” Waller said. “There are a lot of selfless attitudes on the team. They’re a true team. When they buy in and play together, good things happen and it shows. These guys have a lot of great chemistry. These guys have been playing ball with each other since when they were little, and it’s a tight group.”

That fosters trust and confidence that whoever is up, pitching or has the ball hit at him will deliver. Look at the roster and one sees that each player has done so this season. That really has shined through in close games with South winning six in its final at-bat, including three in extra innings.

Kamdyn Bubb and Andrew Walter combined on a four-hitter in an eight-inning, 2-1 win against 4A Hanover; Levi Butler hit a walk-off single against 4A North Schuylkill, Marc Molina ignited a game-winning rally against Loyalsock and Gerber and Quimby both have thrown brilliant postseason baseball.

In short, South has reached this point because it is a team in every sense of the word.

“We’re out here to play. That’s all we want to do is play,” Quimby said. “I know Cole wants to play. That’s what he’s all about and all of us are the same way. It’s a great feeling.”

So, heading to Halifax, South will not rely on a few players, but on everyone. Again, it’s not about a big opportunity as much about embracing the small steps and trying to build a winning formula step by step.

“We just play hard and stick together and go one inning at a time,” Gerber said. “We break the game down that way and play to the best of our ability.”

The results sometimes change, but the effort does not. That is what Waller likes most about this team. Whether it’s the first game in March or a state tournament game in June, he knows his Mounties will approach it the same way and stay dedicated at all times.

No wonder he gets so many chills.

“We have a lot of guys that just play baseball how the game should be played,” Waller said. “They play it all out, and they love this game.”