Montoursville celebrates its victory over WALL at Lycoming College. Montoursville won 5-4. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
After watching the Montoursville Major League softball players compete throughout the regular season, manager Robyn Hagemeyer and assistant Teri Woodling knew in late June that potential was there.
Lots of potential.
With a wealth of talented players from Montoursville’s teams to choose from, Hagemeyer and Woodling, who watched the team play throughout the regular season, knew from the first day of All-Star practice that their team could make a hell of a run.
Now, as mid-July approaches, her team is doing just that.
“I won’t lie, from day one we knew we had something special,” said Hagemeyer. “These girls have really grown up playing together and it shows. I think we all knew before this year even started that it was going to be something special for us.”
Montoursville won the Section 3 championship just four days ago and is now in Wellsboro to advance to the next stage: states. Montoursville begins the state tournament with a first-round matchup against the Section 2 champion.
Win or lose, Montoursville is guaranteed a second game, either in the winners’ or losers’ bracket. The field consists of eight teams.
“I think we all knew before we got together that it was something special. Each team had a lot of great girls. It was very difficult to decide who would make it to this team because everyone deserved it so much,” said Woodling. “But once we put the team together and saw how well they fit together and supported each other, we knew immediately that we had something special.”
Montoursville has continued its winning streak at the region’s highest level of softball. This is the third straight summer that a District 12 team has advanced to the state tournament. Jersey Shore did so in 2023 and Clinton the year before that.
This group of players also becomes the fourth team in the last five summers of tournament play to make it to the state level, joining South Williamsport’s 2019 Outstanding Team of the Year on its way to the Little League Softball World Series that same summer.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there was no All-Star season in 2020.
This talented team from Montoursville represents a growing trend of talented youth softball teams coming out of the area.
“Things are looking up. Softball is getting really competitive here and I think all these local teams that make it somewhere every year really speak for it.” said Hagemeyer.
“I think that says a lot. It says that the sport is fun all around and people like to take part.” Woodling added. “We even have a player on our all-star team who has never played softball before and still made the all-star team. Everyone is involved, not just the coaches, but the parents and the community. Knowing that they’re going to get into the sport and have a good time and experience is really important.”
Montoursville easily got through the first two games of the District 12 tournament before facing Williamsport Area in the final. Montoursville then fell behind a few times in the sectionals. This was new territory for Montoursville, but these situations helped the girls learn how to grit and fight.
“It showed us that small mistakes add up and cost us big games, and I think after we lost that game (in the sectionals), we realized that these teams will take advantage of mistakes,” Said Montoursville pitcher Harlee Hagemeyer. “That’s why we need to be as sealed off as possible.”
“It just helped us work even harder because we knew that if we lost again, we would have to go home,” Said Trinity Belle of Montoursville.
Montoursville fell in the elimination round and fought back, beating a very good Minersville team twice to win the Section 3 title and secure a spot in the state tournament.
“It was an incredible feeling all summer long. We really worked on growing back together as a team and really tried to create that team cohesion,” said Managing Director Hagemeyer.
Montoursville has a great mix of talent all around. With Hagemeyer and Emma Sunderland in the circle, they have a great combination and their defense has played excellently in both tournaments.
And as for the offense? There are no weak spots in Montoursville’s lineup. Every batter who steps up has the ability to hit the ball and start a comeback at any time, from the first pitch to the bottom of the field. This makes Montoursville a team that is difficult for opponents to stop.
“It’s the best feeling to stand there on third base and know that we have a chance at something, no matter who is at bat,” said Managing Director Hagemeyer. “We’re only working on hitting here today, and whether it’s the short game or the long game, we’re prepared.”
Montoursville scored 32 runs in three district games alone, a testament to this power.
“We all enjoy playing together and get along well on the field,” Said Belle.
“It’s really helpful when we’re behind in a game and we can rely on everyone in our lineup,” Montoursville catcher Kenzi Lundy said.
It’s been a busy summer for the players on the Montoursville team, with practices on hot days and lots of batting and fielding practice. But the team has made it to this point and is excited to continue this summer run.
“There was a lot going on, we practiced almost every day,” Lundy said: “but the work really pays off.”
It certainly is.
