DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Loyalsock competes in the PIAA Class AAA quarterfinals today. The Lancers are shown at right playing in the Williamsport Tournament in April.
More than two hours from home, the opposing fans yelling and facing a two-run deficit. Yup, Loyalsock felt quite comfortable.
Obviously, the Lancers hoped for a better start last Monday at defending Class AAA state champion Mid-Valley but falling behind by two runs hardly rattled them either. A team filled with fighters has been coming back all season and had fought off the ropes in the district semifinals, overcoming a two-run eighth inning deficit and edging Athens, 9-8 in nine innings.
Loyalsock maintained its poise and confidence, eight players produced hits, the defense played great and Sophia Miller threw a five-hit complete game as the Lancers won, 4-2, securing the program’s first state tournament victory since 2008. The Lancers will try carrying that fighting spirit into today’s state quarterfinals at Bloomsburg University against Juniata.
“I don’t think we get worried about that kind of stuff,” center fielder Katie Ryder said after going 2 for 3 with a double and run. “We have game left and know we can come back.”
Loyalsock (20-3) has done that a lot this season, including twice this postseason. The Lancers erased a multiple-run deficit in a 4-2 win against District 4 champion Midd-West to secure a second straight HAC-III title and rallied from seven runs down against Bloomsburg. They also scored three seventh inning runs in an exciting 4-2 comeback win at District 4 Class AAAA champion Jersey Shore, overcoming a one-run deficit.
The Lancers do not want to be in these positions. However, they have proven resilient and it takes more than a rough start to get this team down.
“Even the games we lost this year they never quit,” Loyalsock coach Mark Godfrey said. “They’ve fought hard in every game whether we’ve won or lost.”
Neither the opponent, the crowd or the deficit fazed Loyalsock at Mid Valley. Miller did not allow another run after the first inning and the Lancers scored three third-inning runs, taking a lead they never relinquished. Three players reached base in the third and Kathryn Ray hit a go-ahead sacrifice fly.
An inning later, Ryder doubled and pinch-hitter Alena Barone scorched an RBI single, making it 4-2. Miller and the defense took it from there and Loyalsock handed the reigning state champions just their third loss in two years.
“I knew that everyone was really into the game, and I knew we were going to score runs,” Miller said. “Everyone in the dugout was super excited and you could just tell everyone was focused. We were all talking to each other and letting each other know what was going on with the pitcher and the batters and we all worked really well together. That really helped us come back.”
Look at Loyalsock’s comeback wins this year and one finds different heroes throughout the roster. Lydia Kresock shined in relief against Midd-West, Sofia and Bella Mileto hit game-tying and go-ahead hits against Jersey Shore, and Anna Luxenberger hit a walk-off double against Athens after Shyla Fulp drew a lead-off walk.
Sofia Mileto sparked a game-tying rally against Athens when Loyalsock was three outs from elimination with a lead-off single before Ray doubled and Maddie Luxenberger hit a game-tying, two-run single. Loyalsock believes it can come back because it literally seen all its players do something to help it win such games all season.
“Wherever you come in, you hand it on to the next person. If one person can’t the next person can,” Ryder said. “We’re always positive about that. Everyone is positive and moving on to the next person.”
And Loyalsock has effectively moved onto the next at-bat, pitch or play. It also moved onto the next game after Midd-West captured the district championship and roared back against Mid-Valley. That Loyalsock had to fight back in that game seemed fitting since it had to fight back from the district final.
But fight on Loyalsock has all year, responding to three losses by winning the next game each time. The Lancers have learned a lot about themselves through the process and have not flinched when times have grown tough.
“It feels better having a game where you have to come back to win and have to try really hard to come back,” Ryder said. “You get more out of it when you really have to try and make it matter.”
“We focus on ourselves,” Barone said. “As long as we stay focused, I feel like everything will fall into place.”
It certainly did Monday at Mid Valley. Now it’s on to the next challenge. In that sense, each game is like a puzzle and Loyalsock is trying to put all the pieces together.
Whatever situation arises, the Lancers remain confident that they have the players who can solve those puzzles.
“We have a lot of talent. Our thing is all being in the game together and working together like (Monday) night,” Miller said. “If we do that, no matter who we play, we believe we can still get a win.”