READY TO GO: Loyalsock majors set for Section 3 tournament in Berwick
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Loyalsock hasn't panicked at all in any games it has played this year in the District 12 major baseball tournament.
Loyalsock didn't worry when Muncy scored three six-inning runs in the winners' bracket quarterfinals and tried to rally. Loyalsock didn't worry when Williamsport Area had a chance to beat them in the bottom of the sixth in the winners' bracket final in a close game.
And against East Lycoming, there was no stress when Loyalsock found itself go from leading 6-2 to just 6-5 with one out in the bottom of the sixth in the final.
Each time, Loyalsock's players dial in, get the job done and get out of harm's way. It's resulted in Loyalsock going undefeated through districts and having claimed the league's first District 12 title since 2008.
"A win's a win, a title's a title. We knew coming into this game whether we had WALL or Hughesville, they'd come in and they were going to battle," Loyalsock manager Jake King said. "That's what Hughesville did. I tip my hat to those guys. That's a really good team. They gave it everything they could obviously to make it a 6-5 game at the end. They gave it their all."
Teams have given it their all against Loyalsock this entire tournament, but no one's been able to beat them yet. And Loyalsock will take that confidence into the Section 3 tournament in Berwick. Loyalsock opens sectionals on Saturday with a 5:30 p.m. game against the District 13 champion.
The Section 3 tournament in Berwick concludes on Tuesday with the championship game, with the if game possibly on Wednesday if necessary.
Loyalsock will stay focused and play exactly the way they have been this entire summer.
"Play the same baseball we have," King said. "Pitch, play defense, timely hitting and we'll see what happens in sectionals. We're excited to get there."
Loyalsock's been able to score runs in different ways, such as using key base running and passed balls to beat Williamsport Area and also can hit well throughout the lineup. Against East Lycoming in the district final, Loyalsock collected 10 hits as Ben Gusick went 2 for 3 with a triple and two RBIs, Jackson King went 2 for 3 with an RBI, Brennan Comerford went 2 for 2 with a double and RBI and Antonio Valentine was 2 for 2 with two RBIs. From leadoff to the bottom of the order, Loyalsock can hit and move around teammates for runs.
"Very much so (we can hit top to bottom). We've worked hard in practices from top to bottom, bunting, sneaking other way, situational hitting, we've preached a lot of that to the guys," King said. "We've got some very smart baseball players on our team that have some high baseball IQs. That leads over to some of other guys and flips the whole team."
King noted that he was more than proud of how his players competed this year, especially in claiming the league's first title in nearly 20 years.
"I told boys before I'm uber proud of those guys," King said. "They've been grinding for almost two months now and to have this as the ending for it, to win a district title here at (Volunteer)? You can't ask for anything more."
While Loyalsock's offense has been solid, its pitching and defense is just as good.
Gusick has proven himself as a top ace in games he's thrown in, such as against Williamsport Area and again against East Lycoming. And relivers like Maverick Garman and Jackson King, among others, can help get the job done when called upon.
"Pitching and defense have been the two things we've really preached getting prepared. We pitched very, very well," King said. "Ben Gusick has been outstanding this whole tournament for us and Maverick Garman has thrown well too, he just didn't have it today (in the final). The nice thing for us is we have plenty of pitching in the bullpen that we can bring out."
And teams in sectionals who face Loyalsock will get a first-hand look at that pitching depth, solid defense and great hitting Loyalsock can produce.
The last two times Loyalsock had a major baseball team reach sectionals in 2008 and 2000, Loyalsock escaped with a title and berth to states. This year's Loyalsock team is hoping to follow their success and do that as well.