MUNCY — The home plate umpire frequently ran low on softballs Tuesday afternoon. Muncy kept hitting them over the fence.

And when Muncy wasn’t launching home runs, his hitters were spraying the ball all over the field. The Indians wasted no time showing their offensive prowess in their season opener as they produced 26 runs and 17 hits in just two at-bats.

Nolah Moyer and Casey Fry combined for three home runs, all nine starters reached base multiple times and Moyer and Chevelle Bauman combined on a three-inning no-hitter as Muncy blanked Sugar Valley, 26-0 in its season opener. Moyer homered twice and drove in five runs while Fry also produced five RBIs. Izzy Gush went 4 for 4 and Muncy appeared eager to build off last year’s finish which culminated in a District 4 Class AA semifinal run.

“We have a young team, but we’re pretty good,” Gush said. “We’re very excited.”

Muncy has good reason to be. Yes, the Indians were expected to roll against Sugar Valley but this team has a strong core back from last year as well as some impressive freshmen. Coach Craig Weaver Sr. has taken the reins and has had success at other stops, leading Montgomery to the 2010 Class A state final and Loyalsock to the 2016 HAC-II championship.

Put it all together and Muncy looks like a team which could be a major player in a tough district field which includes defending state champion Line Mountain. The Indians were heavy favorites yesterday and did what good teams do, staying focused and landing an early knockout blow with 13 first-inning runs.

“We’ve been working hard all season,” Moyer said. “It’s nice to get out here and play finally.”

Moyer produced a super freshman season a year ago and picked up where she left off, throwing two no-hit innings and striking out six. She is equally dangerous offensively and proved it again, going 3 for 3 and slamming her two home runs. She was one of eight starters who produced hits and the only reason Nicolette Johnson did not is because she walked both times up and scored twice.

Moyer homered in both the first and second innings. Her 3-run blast in the first inning carried over the fence in the deepest part of center field and made it 13-0. An inning later, Moyer tattooed the first pitch she saw on a line well over the left-center field fence. Moyer capped her day with a single later that inning.

“It felt good,” Moyer said. “I’m just waiting for my pitch and swinging if it’s there.”

All the Muncy hitters used a similar approach and hit everything they saw hard. That included Fry who went 3 for 3 with five RBIs and four runs. Fry helped spark the 13-run second-inning eruption when she crushed a 3-run home run well over the left-field fence. The sophomore shortstop was one of six Muncy players who delivered at least two hits.

The Indians pounded out 10 hits in the first inning and seven in the second. Gush, Fry and Bauman all scored four runs and both Taylor Shannon and Lily Frederick had two hits and doubles. Alaina Brelsford fueled the first-inning burst when she drilled a two-run single.

“Since Day 1 of practice, these kids have really worked hard. They’re a great bunch of kids to coach. They’ll try; they’ll change things,” Weaver said. “Their attitudes are just great. It’s a really nice group of girls to work with and it’s showing.”

Muncy hit the ball hard, with Moyer and Fry playing longball, but it also effectively played smallball. Muncy dropped four bunt singles with Callie Gentzyel bringing home with a perfectly-placed first-inning bunt single. It is early, but the Indians showed both power and speed, and that could be a potent combination as the season progresses.

“They’re working hard and I’m pleased with our speed,” Weaver said. “We’ve really worked on the bunting because bunting is just as important as being able to hit the ball. It’s a real important part of the game that sometimes maybe gets overlooked.”

There was no overlooking Gush who was the catalyst from the leadoff position. After missing her freshman year because of the pandemic and most of her sophomore season with a broken jaw, the junior second baseman could be poised for a breakout season. She set the tone early, leading off the game with a double, adding a two-run single later in the first inning and added an RBI single in the second.

“I think I’m seeing things really good,” Gush said.

Moyer and Bauman went a combined 5 for 7 and also struck out eight hitters in nine innings. Both stranded baserunners in each inning. Those two lefties combine with Gush to potentially give Muncy one of the area’s pitching staffs.

It’s only one game and tough challenges will be coming but Muncy certainly revealed its potential yesterday.

“We hit all the way up and down the lineup today,” Weaver said. “But as I tell the girls you’re only as good as your last game so it’s back to the drawing board (Wednesday) and get ready for Friday.”

Sugar Valley 000-0 0 7

Muncy (13)(13)x–26 17 1

Bryn Swanger and Trinity McKeague. Nolah Moyer, Chevelle Bauman (3) and Taylor Shannon. W: Moyer, (1-0). L: Pregnant.

Top Muncy hitters: Izzy Gush 4-4, 3 RBIs, 4 runs; Casey Fry 3-3, HR, 5 RBIs, 3 runs; Moyer 3-3, 2 HRs, 5 RBIs, 3 runs; Bauman 2-4, 4 runs; Shannon 2-3, 2B, 2 RBIs; Lily Frederick 2-2, 2B, run; Alaina Brelsford 1-2, 2 RBIs; Callie Gentzyel 1-3, RBI, 2 runs; Nicolette Johnson 2 runs.

Records: Muncy (1-0, 1-0 Mid-Penn), Sugar Valley (0-1, 0-1).

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