Jun 7, 2025
Jimmy Mussina of Montoursville throws during the third inning against Fleetwood at Central Columbia High School. Montoursville won 6 to 4 over Fleetwood during the 4A state quarterfinal at Central Columbia High School Thursday. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
A few hours before he graduated Thursday, Jimmy Mussina produced a memory which he likely will remember much more than receiving his high school diploma.
Presented the kind of opportunity athletes dream about, Mussina delivered the most clutch performance of his scholastic career. And that says a lot because the senior has repeatedly come through all season.
This time it could have been his last game, but Mussina refused to let it be. The left-hander threw five dominant innings of relief, hit a go-ahead two-run double and helped Montoursville defeat Fleetwood, 6-4 in the Class AAAA state quarterfinals. Mussina produced a game-ending strikeout with the bases loaded, allowed just two hits and helped the Warriors (19-4) earn a spot in Monday’s semifinals against Pope John II.
“That’s what (coach Jeremy) Eck always says senior year is all about. It’s about being in big spots and seeing if you can perform,” Mussina said. “It’s sink or swim or swim at that point, step up or step aside and I feel like I stepped up.”
Oh, how he did. Mussina started the game in right field, had no warm-up pitching time before the game and entered with the bases loaded and no outs in the third inning. From there, he generated the first of six strikeouts, fanned another and induced a pop out, limiting the damage and keeping Montoursville within striking distance, down, 3-0.
It was just the boost Montoursville needed and Michael Reeder’s two-out single in the bottom of the inning fueled a five-run rally. Mussina took it from there, allowing just a seventh inning run and earning his sixth victory this season.
“We talk about this all the time that when it’s your senior year, there is no tomorrow,” Eck said. “You have to find a way to get it done and Jimmy just keeps on getting it done for us. It’s pretty impressive.”
“Jimmy has been throwing well all season for us,” center fielder Brody Aldenderfer said after going 1 for 2 with an RBI and two runs. “He’s been pitching great for us.”
Mussina basically has become a second ace on a staff which includes Logan Kirby who earned consecutive playoff wins against Danville and Crestwood. He is 6-1 with a sparkling 0.79 ERA, striking out 46 in 40 1/3 innings. Mussina is not a power pitcher, but he is a pitcher’s pitcher, hitting spots, moving the ball and keeping hitters guessing.
All that was on display against Fleetwood, a team seeking a second straight Final 4 appearance. Mussina threw four no-hit innings entering the seventh and only one of the two hits he surrendered left the infield. It was a performance similar to earlier in the year when he threw a five-inning shutout against 2024 state semifinalist Danville and when he struck out eight in five excelling innings at the Backyard Brawl against Williamsport.
Really, it was like most if Mussina performances this season. It also was a call back to 2023 when a sophomore Mussina came up huge in relief as Montoursville rallied from five runs down and defeated Blue Mountain in the state tournament’s first round.
“He’s not going to go out and throw 95 but he’s going to throw strikes. He always has done that,” third baseman Zack Neill said after going 1 for 3 with an RBI. “He’s been coming up clutch the whole season.”
That includes at the plate. Mussina has enjoyed a renaissance year there, shooting his average up like a rocket. After collecting just four hits last season, Mussina has flourished, hitting .453, compiling a .534 on-base percentage and driving in 23 runs, while scoring 20 times.
Mussina often has excelled with runners on base and did so at the perfect time against Crestwood. With runners on second and third and two outs in a tie game, Mussina kept his approach simple. He took a two-strike pitch the opposite way for a two-run double which put Montoursville ahead to stay, 5-3. It also gave Mussina his fourth and fifth RBIs in two state tournament games.
“He’s not going to overpower anybody but he digs in in the box and gets it done,” Eck said. “Sometimes his swinging doesn’t even look pretty, but he gets the ball out there.”
That’s all that matters and that is all Mussina focuses on. Those moments are not too big for him because Mussina enjoys them. Playing baseball is fun and Mussina keeps that in mind no matter the situation.
It’s a combination of hard work and play which has helped Mussina excel throughout the season. Opportunities like these are hard to come by, so might as well embrace them.
“Baseball, you have to play with a smile on your face; you have to be loose and have fun,” Mussina said. “I always pride myself on keeping myself cool. I think that’s my best trait, that no matter what is going on, I always can keep my head.”
Mussina proved it again in the seventh inning. Fleetwood turned up the heat, scoring a two-out run and loading the bases. The tying runners were in scoring position and the go-ahead runner on first. Still, on a day when the temperature approached 90, Mussina did not sweat.
He worked ahead in the count, then induced a third pitch swinging strike before being engulfed by ecstatic teammates. Diplomas are great, but that senior moment there is tough to beat.
“It’s just how you have to play the game,” Mussina said. “You have to keep your head, keep battling and eventually good things might happen.”
Mussina has helped Montoursville achieve some great things this season and the work continues as the Warriors set their sights on Monday’s semifinals. Mussina becomes the fourth from his family to reach the Final 4, joining his uncle Mike, father Mark and cousin Peyton.
The Mussina name is steeped in baseball tradition. But Mussina is not labeled as Mike’s nephew or Mark’s son. He’s his own player and quite a good one. Like his cousins Brycen and Peyton, Jimmy has created a name for himself.
He also has created some moments he and his teammates will never forget.
“Jimmy did a fantastic job,” Eck said. “The way he’s gone about his business, he’s one of those guys that you’re going to look back and say he was a special one.”
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