RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montgomery softball players are paraded through town after winning the PIAA Class A championship this past spring season.

After losing in the state quarterfinals to eventual champion Tri-Valley of District 11 in the spring of 2021, people around Montgomery talked to one another and there was a general consensus: the Red Raiders have the talent to make a run in 2022, perhaps even deeper than in 2021.

There was pitching in ace Faith Persing. The team defensively was solid and hitting wise, there was a lineup that could hit throughout.

It was just a matter of if Montgomery could spark when needed and get through districts and states.

Fast forward to this past spring season throughout May and June, and that dream became a reality for Montgomery’s softball players, coaches and fans. Montgomery won its first ever state championship in any sport at Penn State, beating DuBois Central Catholic, 5-1, on June 16, to take home the the state championship in Class A.

The remarkable run for Montgomery was voted as the Sun-Gazette Story of the Year for 2022.

“It’s incredible. We have our entire community here supporting us and just that alone is so emotional,” first baseman Taylor McRae told the Sun-Gazette after winning gold. “Those little girls really look up to us and we’re able to be role models for them.”

Persing performed outstanding when the games mattered the most throughout the District 4 and PIAA Class A tournaments. Offensively, she ended her career with 106 hits in three years and batted .475 her senior year. But it was Persing’s arm that was the most dangerous weapon for the Red Raiders.

Persing had an incredible ERA of 0.68 in 2022 and went 37-6 over her final two years, striking out 500. She had 24 shutouts and 10 no-hitters and in the playoffs, went a remarkable 10-1 combined her junior and senior years.

In the postseason, Montgomery outscored its opponents 44-2 and that defensive dominance was sparked by Persing in the circle and her outstanding infield.

“We stress our defense so much. A lot of people know I can throw, but a lot of people can hit too,” Persing said. “It’s just huge to have a pitcher and a defense and when you add the offensive side to it, it’s just unbeatable.”

The Montgomery players and coach Chris Glenn and his staff got a welcomed celebratory return that day in June in Montgomery as residents lined the streets through town.

For the first time in school history, Montgomery had a state champions, and Persing, Glenn and the Red Raiders made it an unbelievable ride in 2022.

“I just took it in. It’s our last game as a team. With the eight starting seniors that we have, it’s such a close bond,” Persing said. “It’s sad it’s all over, but it’s the perfect way to go out. Just go out, have fun, enjoy the moment, keep a good mindset and leave it all out on the field.”

2022 SUN-GAZETTE STORIES OF THE YEAR

1–Montgomery’s softball team wins the PIAA Class A championship, the first state title in school history.

2–St. John Neumann’s boys basketball team reaches the PIAA Class A championship game in Hershey, coming just shy of winning a state title.

3–Loyalsock boys basketball coach Ron Insinger records his 1,000th career win as a Lancer in a rout against Warrior Run.

4–South Williamsport’s girls soccer team reaches the PIAA Class A semifinals for a second straight year, the first time in program history the Mounties appeared in back-to-back state semifinals.

5–Williamsport legend Gary Brown, who played at Penn State and in the NFL before coaching the Dallas Cowboys as a running backs coach, passes away. A memorial was held for him at Williamsport High School.

6–Montgomery’s Conner Harer and Montoursville’s Isaac Cory both claim gold in Hershey at the PIAA Class AA wrestling championships.

7–Williamsport has three medalists in wrestling at the PIAA Class AAA championships, claims the Top Hat and King of the Mountain titles, and coach Brian Nasdeo is named the Pennsylvania Coach of the Year.

8–Keystone’s minor, 9-11, major and junior baseball teams all win District 12 titles in Little League. The major team reaches the state tournament, and the juniors reach the World Series.

9–Austin and Scott Johnson of Muncy both reach the finals of their respective weights, taking silver (285) and gold (126), respectively, at the PIAA Class AA championships.

10–St. John Neumann’s Davion Hill and Loyalsock’s Saraj Ali earn Class A and Class AAA Player of the Year honors, respectively, in boys basketball.