Jun 5, 2025
Jonah Caputo of South Williamsport is safe at third base as Madden Marcks of Faith Christian tries to make the play during the 6th inning at Central Columbia High School. Faith Christian won, 11-4 in 9 innings during the state Class A game at Central Columbia High School Thursday. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
ALMEDIA–South Williamsport repeatedly played hard all season. It do so for something more than just wins.
A tight-knit team from a tight-knit town, South enjoyed exciting its town. And the Mounties gave it more thrills than a Fourth of July fireworks display. The end of the road came Thursday at Central Columbia in the Class AA state quarterfinals, but what a ride South took its school and community on.
South erased a two-run, third inning deficit and took a one-run lead into the sixth but 2024 Class A state champion Faith Christian tied it in the sixth, erupted for eight runs in the ninth and won a nine-inning tour de force, 11-4. The Mounties (13-11) came so close to reaching the Final 4 for just the second time in program history after capturing a District 4 championship and taking out perennial District 3 power Camp Hill in the first round.
All this with just one senior, after graduating five starters and with eight freshmen and sophomores in yesterday’s lineup. It was the type of run which would make Scotty Smalls smile.
“You don’t see a lot of teams make a run like this. We are very proud of that,” center fielder Luke Stoetzel said after going 1 for 1, scoring twice and reaching base three times. “We take a lot pride in our history and wearing this jersey and having that name on the front and coming out and representing the school.”
Luke Stetzel of South Williamsport celebrates as he scores against Faith Christian during the 5th inning at Central Columbia High School. Faith Christian won, 11-4 in 9 innings during the state Class A game at Central Columbia High School Thursday. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
South did a fabulous job doing so, adding to the program’s storied tradition.
This was a team most wrote off before the season even started after five multi-year starting seniors graduated last May. The Mounties started 4-6, were a strike from not making the playoffs and ended up 90 feet from reaching the Final 4 after a runner was left on third in the bottom of the seventh.
South never doubted it could achieve all this. In fact, it thought it would do more and that is why the players hurt so much afterward. But as time goes by, those players also should reflect and smile about how far they came and all they did this season because this resilient, gritty team certainly raised the bar.
“Once we hit that 4-6 mark and were down a player, we just all got together and realized we have to start winning. After that, we knew we were going to make a run. We knew were going to get to states,” Stoetzel said. “Before that I don’t think anyone but us thought we were going to make it this far. We all believed we were going to make it this far; we all believed we were going to make the state championship.”
“If you would have said before the season that you get into playoffs, win a few games, beat Montgomery for the district championship, get a state playoff game at home, beating a Camp Hill team with five returning starting seniors from a two-time 3A district champion, then play in the quarterfinals and just fall short, I’d have said that sounds like a pretty darn good season,” South coach Chase Waller said. “It would have been tough to turn that down, but sitting here today, it hurts. They’ve had a great season and now you just let it fuel you into fall ball, preseason workouts and leading up to next year.”
Cade Lusk of South Williamsport is out at home as Logan Labs of Faith Christian makes the play at Central Columbia High School. Faith Christian won, 11-4 in 9 innings during the state Class A game at Central Columbia High School Thursday. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
As loaded as South appears with young players, none ever looked toward the future. It was all about seizing the moment and the Mounties nearly seized another big one. Again.
Facing Reid Miller, who earned the win in last year’s state final, South scored twice in the third inning to tie it, went ahead with two outs in the sixth and twice had go-ahead and winning runners on third in the sixth and seventh.
Even after Faith Christian, 40-2 the last two seasons, scored eight runs, South did not buckle. Following two weeks senior leader Tadd Lusk capped both a brilliant season and high school career, hitting an RBI single and making it, 11-4. Lusk also helped South go ahead in the fifth inning when he slammed a flyball to the right field warning track. When it was dropped, Stoetzel, who was hit by a pitch and went to second on Levi Butler’s grounder, scored and South was ahead, 3-2.
South tied the game in the third after Miller opened the game retiring the first six hitters and hitting a home run which made it, 2-0. Cole Gerber worked, Cade Lusk singled, Stoetzel dropped a bunt single and pinch runner Jax Miller scored on a wild pitch. Tadd Lusk then hit a sacrifice fly, tying it 2-2 and signaling that the Comeback Kids were doing it again.
“We’ve been through so much adversity throughout the year playing all these big schools and losing a great player,” Stoetzel said. “We barely made it in, so no matter what we’re always going to try and find a way to win. We’re always going to find a way to scratch some runs across.”
Cole Gerber of South Williamsport catches a fly bag against Faith Christian during the 5th inning at Central Columbia High School. Faith Christian won, 11-4 in 9 innings during the state Class A game at Central Columbia High School Thursday. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Chance Quimby found a way to limit runs against a potent offense, which had pummeled its last two opponents, 22-1. The sophomore kept thundering back whenever Faith Christian did put something together and threw consecutive scoreless innings following Miller’s home run. He did not buckle in the sixth either, coming up clutch and stranding a runner on third with no outs, producing two strikeouts and a groundout.
Quimby reached his pitch limit that inning, scattering five hits and striking out five. The right-hander frequently delivered in big moments as did freshman reliever Kamdyn Bubb who worked scoreless innings in the seventh and eighth, fanning the team’s No. 3 hitter with two on for the third out in the seventh.
“Chance pitched great. Chance pitched a heck of a game. He did everything I and the coaches and the team could ask of him,” Waller said. “He hit his spots and we made plays behind him. He was really efficient. Then Bubb was Bubb and pitched two nice innings in big spots.”
Those two put South in position to win and it looked it might in the sixth and seventh innings. Jaymes Carpenter drew a sixth inning lead-off walk before Jonah Caputo turned Rickey Henderson and went from first to third on a Marc Molina bunt. Miller, however, recorded his seventh strikeout and induced a pop out to keep it tied.
An inning later, Stoetzel drew a one-out walk and Buter reached on an error. Following a strikeout Trace Wertz, who repeatedly made super stops on balls in the dirt to prevent runs from scoring, walked and loaded the bases. A pick off, however, ended that threat and did so in the eighth as well.
Marc Molina (13)of South Williamsport gets Cayden Celone of Faith Christian out at first base in the first inning at Central Columbia High School. Faith Christian won, 11-4 in 9 innings during the state Class A game at Central Columbia High School Thursday. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Faith Christian then erupted in the ninth, putting together six hits and scoring eight times. Jude Clymer put the Lions ahead to stay with an RBI single and Logan Labs’ three-run home run highlighted the binge.
A few minutes later the game, and a remarkable season, were over. The memories created will stay with the players, coaches and families forever. And now the goal is to turn the final emotion Thursday into something bigger for next year. Maybe what looks like an ending could only be the beginning.
“Were young and we have guys coming back. I said, ‘Remember this feeling,’” Waller said. “All we can do is prepare and try and make this feeling not happen again.”
“We’re already ready for next year. We’re losing Tadd and he’s a great player but we still have a lot of great players,” Stoetzel said. “I think we have a good shot next year, so put fuel in the fire and come back next year and try and win it.”
F Christian 011 001 008–11 12 2
Chance Quimby of South Williamsport waits for play to resume as Reid Miller of Faith Christian rounds the bases on a solo home run during the third inning at Central Columbia High School. Faith Christian won, 11-4 in 9 innings during the state Class A game at Central Columbia High School Thursday. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
South 002 010 001–4 4 4
Reid Miller, Chase Gieser (7), Jude Clymer (9) and Logan Labs, Collin Kim (7). Chance Quimby, Kamdyn Bubb (7), Marc Molina (9) and Trace Wertz. W–Gieser. L–Bubb.
Top Faith Christian hitters: L. Labs 3-5, HR, 4 RBIs, 2R; Miller 2-4, HR, RBI; Brandon Labs 1-5, 2 RBIs. Top South hitters: Luke Stoetzel 1-1, BB, 2R; Cade Lusk 1-3, R.; Wertz 1-3, BB; Tadd Lusk 1-4, 2 RBIs.
Records: Faith Christian 20-2. South 13-11.
Chance Quimby of South Williamsport pitches in the third inning to Faith Christian at Central Columbia High School. Faith Christian won, 11-4 in 9 innings during the state Class A game at Central Columbia High School Thursday. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
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