Then, with two runners on, it was Maverick Garman who crushed a shot over the right-field fence for a three-run home run. Hot temperatures or not, Loyalsock came to play on Friday at Hepburn Lycoming’s field.

Loylasock scored three runs in the first inning and scored at least one each of the next three innings to secure a close 7-4 win against East Lycoming on Friday in the District 12 major baseball winners’ bracket.

The win advances Loyalsock to Tuesday’s winners’ bracket final at home against Williamsport Area at 8 p.m. while East Lycoming drops into the losers’ bracket and plays in a win-or-go-home game on Sunday night at 8 p.m. against South Williamsport at Beech Creek.

“That definitely set the tone,” Loyalsock manager Jake King said of Garman’s home run. “Maverick Garman did a great job of setting the tone for us today. His hitting has been top notch all year for us. I can’t ask anything more from that kid.”

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent East Lycoming's Cael Smith starts on the mound during a Little League Majors tournament game against Loyalsock on Friday at the Hepburn-Lycoming field. Loyalsock won 7-4

That three-run first inning helped Loyalsock take control and while East Lycoming battled, Loyalsock never let them tie the game or take a lead at any point.

“That’s kind of what we’ve been preaching to our kids (is keep battling). It’s a long game and to stay in the game the whole time. We preached that we’re going to get our chances and we just have to stay level and keep our focus,” East Lycoming manager Kyle Daugherty said. “We got a couple at the end there. It would have been nice not to give up the big couple of runs in the first couple of innings and be in the game a little bit more, but we fought until the end and gave it a shot. That’s all you can ask from these guys.”

Loyalsock never had an inning where it sent less than five batters to the plate and was able to get guys on base routinely. In the second inning, Aiden Kiessling hit a single to reach base and a walk put Jack Confer on. After a strikeout, Brennan Comerford hit a single into left for an RBI, bringing in Kiessling. In the third, Loyalsock’s top of the lineup was due up as Antonio Valentine reached on a bunt single, but was thrown out at second on a fielder’s choice a batter later. Jackson King hit a double and drove in Ben Gusick before scoring himself on an error shortly thereafter. 

“I mean our lineup, these guys have been together for a while,” King said. “They kind of were apart and came back together. We knew these kids really well. So, it’s putting them in the right spots, pushing the right buttons and you get the result you get tonight.”

Both innings, however, East Lycoming forced Loyalsock to strand two on base and not allow the innings to get out of hand. 

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Loyalsock's pitcher Jackson King and catcher Blake Richardson meet on the mound at the beginning of a Little League Majors tournament game against East Lycoming on Friday at the Hepburn-Lycoming field. Loyalsock won 7-4

“That’s why we pitched Cael (Smith). He had a tremendous game in his first game (where) he threw six innings of two-hit ball with no walks. That’s why we went with him again. We felt he gave us the best chance to win,” Daugherty said. “Besides that big hit there (in first), he did what he needed to do. We just got ourselves behind too early and just made it tough for us to claw back.”

Smith went 2 1/3 innings before he was pulled at 65 pitches. Jase Spring came in during the fourth before he was relieved by Wyatt Group.

Loyalsock played well from both a pitching and defensive perspective on Friday. The combination of Jackson King and Lucas Frey combined to allow just five hits and limited East Lycoming to one run through the game’s first five innings. King was relieved after 3 1/3 innings of work with five strikeouts after reaching 50 pitches.

“Jackson King threw really well; he wanted the ball. It was his turn to go and did exactly what I asked him to do. It was about 55 pitches into the fourth, then Lucas Frey did stellar as well,” King said. “It’s only our second game, so we’re kind of feeling our way through this as well. First game we threw two guys, this game we threw two games. Next game, we’ll see what we’re going to need.”

The sixth inning saw East Lycoming attempt to rally back. Kyler Daugherty reached on an error to right and headed to second on a passed ball before Hank Hunley was walked. Parker Gatsche then hit a single to load the bases with no outs.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Loyalsock's Jackson King starts on the mound during a Little League Majors tournament game against East Lycoming on Friday at the Hepburn-Lycoming field. Loyalsock won 7-4

Bryce Messner grounded out, but managed to drive in Daugherty to make it a 7-2 deficit. After a strikeout, Smith then delivered a big two-RBI double into right-center to cut the deficit further, making it a 7-4 game with two outs.

But that’s where East Lycoming’s rally was put out as a ground out to third base ended the game for the final out, securing Loyalsock’s berth in Tuesday’s winners’ bracket final and sending East Lycoming to the losers’ bracket.

Parker Gatsche was East Lycoming’s only player with multiple hits as he finished 2 for 3 with two runs. Smith went 1 for 2 with a double, two RBIs and a walk, Willy Ochs went 1 for 2 and Daugherty was 1 for 2 with a run. Hunley and Messner each were walked. 

Loyalsock collected eight hits in the win by Antonio Valentine (2 for 3), Ben Gusick (1 for 2, walk, two runs), King (1 for 2, double, RBI, stolen base, two runs), Garman (home run, three RBIs, run, walk), Rhett Datres (two walks), Silas Smith (1 for 2), Blake Richardson (walk), Aiden Kiessling (1 for 2), Brennan Comerford (1 for 1, RBI, walk), Jake Confer (two walks) and Frey (run).

Loyalsock 7, East Lycoming 4

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent East Lycoming's Cael Smith starts on the mound during a Little League Majors tournament game against Loyalsock on Friday at the Hepburn-Lycoming field. Loyalsock won 7-4

East Lycoming 000 103 — 4 5 1

Loyalsock 312 10x — 7 8 0

Cael Smith, Jase Spring (4), Wyatt Group (4) and Wyatt Group, Willy Ochs (4). Jackson King, Lucas Frey (4) and Blake Richardson. W: King. L: Smith. SV: Frey.

Top East Lycoming hitters: Parker Gatsche 2-3, 2 runs; Cael Smith 1-2, 2B, 2 RBIs, BB; Willy Ochs 1-2; Kyler Daugherty 1-2, run; Hank Hunley BB, run; Wyatt Group RBI; Bryce Messner BB, RBI. Top Loyalsock hitters: Antonio Valentine 2-3; Ben Gusick 1-2, BB, 2 runs, SB; Jackson King 1-2, 2B, RBI, SB, 2 runs; Maverick Garman HR, 3 RBIs, run, BB; Rhett Datres 2 BBs; Silas Smith 1-2; Blake Richardson BB; Aiden Kiessling 1-2; run; Jack Confer 2 BBs; Lucas Frey run; Brennan Comerford 1-1, RBI, BB.

Next game: East Lycoming vs. South Williamsport at Beech Creek, Sunday, 8 p.m. (elimination game); Williamsport Area at Loyalsock, Tuesday, 8 p.m. (winners’ bracket final).

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent East Lycoming's Kiptyn Holmes makes the tag on Loyalsock's Antonio Valentine during a Little League Majors tournament game on Friday at the Hepburn-Lycoming field. Loyalsock won 7-4

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Loyalsock's Jackson King starts on the mound during a Little League Majors tournament game against East Lycoming on Friday at the Hepburn-Lycoming field. Loyalsock won 7-4

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Loyalsock's Jaxton Rupert fields a fly ball to right field during a Little League Majors tournament game against East Lycoming on Friday at the Hepburn-Lycoming field. Loyalsock won 7-4

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent East Lycoming's Jase Spring beats the tag at first attempted by Loyalsock's Silas Smith during a Little League Majors tournament game on Friday at the Hepburn-Lycoming field. Loyalsock won 7-4

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Loyalsock's Ben Gusick is tagged out in a rundown between third and home during a Little League Majors tournament game against East Lycoming on Friday at the Hepburn-Lycoming field. Loyalsock won 7-4

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Loyalsock's Antonio Valentine crosses the plate safely as East Lycoming's Jase Spring attempts the tag during a Little League Majors tournament game on Friday at the Hepburn-Lycoming field. Loyalsock won 7-4

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Loyalsock's Ben Gusick beats the play at second as East Lycoming's Bryce Messner reaches for the ball during a Little League Majors tournament game on Friday at the Hepburn-Lycoming field. Loyalsock won 7-4

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Loyalsock's Maverick Garman slides into third as East Lycoming's Kiptyn Holmes attempts the tag during a Little League Majors tournament game on Friday at the Hepburn-Lycoming field. Loyalsock won 7-4