Then another single by Capri Moser.

It was a quick jolt for the Selinsgrove major softball team against Montoursville at South Williamsport that may have caught Montoursville a little off guard to open the game. And unfortunately for Montoursville, the District 12 champions fell behind and weren’t able to rally back. Montoursville played its third straight Section 3 tournament game on Thursday — in 90-degree weather each day — and suffered a tough 7-3 loss to Selinsgrove to end its all-star run as the third-best team in Section 3.

Selinsgrove advances to face Athens on Friday in the Section 3 championship game, a rematch of the winners’ bracket final. Selinsgrove would need to win two games to claim the title.

“This is our third straight day in 90-degree weather. They were all a little quiet when we got here today, so just took them a little to get moving,” Montoursville manager Travis Sheleman said.

JUSTIN HAKES/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montoursville's Avery Bolsar takes an at bat against Selinsgrove during Thursday's Section 3 all-star game in South Williamsport.

“I told them before the game started ‘hey, we got to start hot.’ The problem is we start hot then we get cold and we get a lead then we relax a little bit,” Selinsgrove manager Dale Barge said. 

Brianna Gray reached on a walk with one out for Selinsgrove in the top of the first inning before a big hit by Taylor Trotto dropped in right field on an error, allowing two runs to come in and gave Selinsgrove a quick 4-0 lead.

Montoursville would respond with a run of its own in the bottom of the first inning. Averie Sheleman led off with a single into left field and stole second base. A fielder’s choice by Sophie Hoffman drove in Sheleman to make it a 4-1 deficit. 

Montoursville seemed to have unlucky breaks when runners were on base and couldn’t quite get runners home. Montoursville stranded a total of seven batters through six innings, leaving two on base in both the first and sixth innings. 

Montoursville scored twice in the bottom of the fourth inning to make it a 5-2 deficit. Avery Bolsar and Sunny Robson both reached base thanks to a single and walk, respectively. And, a few batters later, two passed balls allowed the pair to score runs. Alivia Frey had a single into left field with one out, but Hoffman would be tagged out heading home for a costly second out before a grounder ended the inning.

JUSTIN HAKES/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montoursville's Myla Carey swings at a pitch against Selinsgrove during Thursday's Section 3 all-star game in South Williamsport.

“Some of that’s my fault. I was trying to push a little too hard,” Sheleman said. “We got down early and I knew they were a little bit out of it, tried to push them to wake them up but didn’t quite work out.”

In the fifth inning, Frankie Finicle reached after being hit and got to third after a grounder and passed ball moved her, but back-to-back strikeouts prevented her from being able to score. And in the sixth inning, Montoursville’s Bolsar and Carey were stranded at second and first base, respectively, after a strikeout swinging ended the game.

“Just give it their all,” Sheleman said about what he told the girls in the final two innings. “I said this is win or go home, so I just told them do your best, whatever happens, happens.”

“I had to light a little fire under their rear ends there and do a little hollering,” Barge said. “They didn’t quit after that; they know when Coach Dale yells it’s time to go. I don’t holler at them much because they’re very well coached, they know I believe in them. I just told them hey I can’t want it more than you want it, if you don’t want it, we can go home now. It turned them around and they played well.”

Montoursville has a talented lineup up and down the roster but their bats were held somewhat quiet as Montoursville managed just five hits, all singles, as Brianna Gray relieved Carri Moser in the second inning and limited Montoursville from there. 

JUSTIN HAKES/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montoursville's Nayomi Belle catches a pop up against Selinsgrove during Thursday's Section 3 all-star game in South Williamsport.

“When we went out in the sixth, I said three outs and a hand shake. Those couple runs in the top (of sixth) were big,” Barge said. “We knew we had a four-run lead to play with there. Bri wasn’t feeling the best tonight, we had to put all the weight on her. Bri’s Bri and we’re going to get Bri and when it comes down to it, she’s a gamer and she’s gonna get it. She went in there, took charge and we got (the win).”

In the sixth inning, Selinsgrove tacked on two insurance runs for some breathing room. Taylor Trotto reached base by being hit by a pitch and was safe at second on a fielder’s choice by Alayna Beier-Smith when Montoursville tried to get her out but pulled off the bag on the play. With bases loaded when Rozalyn Fern was walked with just one out, Hailey Kurtz came through with a big two-RBI single on a hard hit into left field to make it a 7-3 lead going into the bottom of the inning.

The game may not have ended how Montoursville had hoped for, but the major softball all-stars from District 12 made it to sectionals and came shy of reaching the final, but still had a great summer together after capturing the league’s second District 12 title in three years.

“I’m very proud of them. We’re the youngest team probably in our district and sectionals,” Sheleman said. “I have eight out of the 12 girls can come back next year. I’m really proud and I look forward to next year to see how far we can go.”

For Selinsgrove, they get a rematch with Athens, who knocked them into the elimination bracket a day prior. And Barge knows his team is confident in their abilities and can play well against Athens.”

JUSTIN HAKES/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montoursville's Sophie Hoffman awaits a throw at first base against Selinsgrove during Thursday's Section 3 all-star game in South Williamsport.

“Regardless of who’s on the mound, we have a solid 11 girls here, minus the one who’s hurt. We’re not afraid to let them hit the ball. We know our defense can make the plays as long as their heads are in it and not in the clouds,” Barge said. “We had our heads in the clouds a little it in the box here, half swinging. I wasn’t happy with that. But we said at end of day hey, there’s seven girls behind you. You pitch the ball, let them hit it and they’ll pick you up. 

“They pick them up every time. Two years ago, we were here, we won sectionals and they wanted to run it back this year and I said hey this is it; this is all you can do,” Barge continued. “Now we have to do it the hard way and beat Athens twice, but we’re up for the challenge.”

Selinsgrove 7, Montoursville 3

Selinsgrove 410 002 — 7 10 0

Montoursville 100 200 — 3 5 1

JUSTIN HAKES/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montoursville's Avery Bolsar looks to take off from second base against Selinsgrove during Thursday's Section 3 all-star game in South Williamsport.

Carri Moser, Brianna Gray (2) and Chloe Shemory. Averie Sheleman and Avery Bolsar. W: Moser. L: Sheleman.

Top Selinsgrove hitters: Drew Pagana 2-2, run; Mya Callender 3-3, RBI, run; Chloe Shemory 1-3, 2B; Brianna Gray BB, SB, run; Taylor Trotto HBP, 2 RBIs, run; Alayna Beier-Smith BB; Rozalyn Fern 1-2, BB, SB; Hailey Kurtz 1-3, 2 RBIs; Elle Pagana 1-3, run. Top Montoursville hitters: Averie Sheleman 1-3, SB, run; Avery Bolsar 1-1, 2 BB, SB, run; Sunny Robson 2 BBs, run; Myla Carey 1-3; Sophie Hoffman RBI, BB; Alivia Frey 1-2; Frankie Finacle HBP; Carley Smith HBP; Blakely Ings 1-2; Audrina Watson BB.

JUSTIN HAKES/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Selinsgrove's Drew Pagana slides into second base as Montoursville's Nayomi Belle makes a play during Thursday's Section 3 all-star game in South Williamsport.

JUSTIN HAKES/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montoursville competes against Selinsgrove during Thursday's Section 3 all-star game in South Williamsport.

JUSTIN HAKES/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montoursville's Avery Bolsar slides into second base against Selinsgrove during Thursday's Section 3 all-star game in South Williamsport.

JUSTIN HAKES/Sun-Gazette Correspondent A Montoursville runner tries to slide home as Selinsgrove catcher Chloe Shemory makes play during Thursday's Section 3 all-star game in South Williamsport.