And the Spartans are soaring pretty high these days.

Coming off a dramatic comeback win against Montoursville two days earlier, Hughesville kept building momentum Thursday, defeating Warrior Run, 6-2 and winning its fourth straight game. Ella Breneisen and Maddie Smith combined on a six-hitter, Breneisen added two hits and the Spartans (4-1, 2-0 HAC-III) are picking up where they left off a year ago when they tied the program’s single-season wins record.

“Obviously, winning is fun and losing is not. When you win, I feel like it creates a buzz,” Smith said after working a perfect seventh inning. “You can tell more people are coming to our games and more people are hearing about us and the baseball team is cheering us on. It’s nice to have a good community around us to see us go out there and do what we can do.

“The last game, how hyped it got and seeing how much people were cheering for us felt really good.”

Ashlynn Barlett of Hughesville catches a ball his by Mackenzie Litchard of Warrior Run in Hughesville. Hughesville won, 6-2. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

The good times continued in a battle of early-season league unbeatens Thursday. Jayla Koser hit an RBI fielder’s choice in the first inning and Hughesville scored five runs in the fourth inning, going up, 6-1.

Breneisen and Smith were brilliant as was a defense which made no errors. It was the latest strong collective performance by a team which has won 14 of its last 16 regular season games going back to last season. And for a senior like Breneisen, seeing the team dramatically turn things around provides quite a positive jolt.

“I feel like it’s awesome knowing these are the people I grew up with. We’re finally here and feeling like we can do this and we are doing this,” Breneisen said. “It’s amazing to see how much some of the girls have grown since we were 11 and 12 years old.”

Breneisen has grown a lot these past four seasons and is excelling offensively and defensively. Her lead-off single ignited the five run fourth inning and she was masterful in the circle, striking out six, walking none and going to a three-ball count just once. Breneisen moved her pitches well, drilled spots and threw a whopping 50 of 65 pitches for strikes.

The senior leader was backed by an outstanding defense anchored by center fielder Ashlynn Barlett. The speedy sophomore caught six flyballs and made the play of the game in the third inning, sprinting into the right-center gap, diving and making an incredible catch which robbed Mackenzie Litchard of a lead-off single.

Ella Breneisen of Hughesville pitches in the first inning against Warrior Run in Hughesville. Hughesville won, 6-2. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

“With Ashlynn in the outfield catching everything left and right that really helps,” Breneisen said. “Knowing my defense is behind me I can just kind of relax on the pitcher’s mound and let them play.”

Smith continued the pitching mastery in the seventh inning, retiring the side on 12 pitches and striking out one.

“I know even if I miss a spot the defense will be there to back me up,” Smith said. “I was just confident going in there and doing what I had to do in order to help us get the win.”

Hughesville has found lots of ways to win since opening last season 2-6. From there, the Spartans thundered down the stretch, winning 10 of 11 games while changing the program’s culture. The team went from hoping things go well to believing and expecting that they will.

That has fostered a determined belief in this team, helping it defeat two-time defending District 4 Class A champion Bucktail, 2024 Class AAAA semifinalist Shamokin and 2023-2024 AAAA finalist Montoursville during its streak. Hughesville rallied from down four runs in the fifth, erasing deficits in the seventh and eighth innings to edge the Warriors, 8-7 Tuesday.

Ashlynn Barlett of Hughesville catches a fly ball hit by Sienna Wise of Warrior Run to end the game in Hughesville. Hughesville won, 6-2. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Instead of letting down against Warrior Run, Hughesville kept moving forward and played one of its most complete games while remaining tied for first in league play.

“Last year we tied for the most wins in school history and feeling like we can do that gives us momentum for this year,” Smith said after collecting a hit, RBI and two steals. “We’re trying to take another step and go farther.”

“We were trying to compete last year and now we feel like we’re in a better position,” Hughesville coach Dave Dimoff said. “We wanted to be in games last year. This year we want to win games.”

They continue doing so and fought off a quality outing from Warrior Run pitcher Mackenzie Litchard who scattered six hits. Maura Woland and Caitlin Waltman both produced two hits and Sienna Wise launched a fifth inning home run which pulled Warrior Run within, 6-2.

Woland’s two-out RBI single tied the game, 1-1 in the third inning. In years past, a situation like that might rattle Hughesville but not anymore. This team just moves onto the next pitch; next play and Breneisen left the go-ahead runner on second base. Take away Wise’s home run and no other Defender advanced past second base again.

Ella Breneisen of Hughesville is safe at second base as Maura Woland of Warrior Run loses the ball on this play from the 5th inning in Hughesville. Hughesville won, 6-2. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Hughesville came alive offensively in the fourth inning with McKenna Sones following Breneisen’s lead-off single with a perfectly placed bunt single. Addison Henninger followed with an infield single an an error on the throw brought Breneisen home. Lyla Kinney drew an RBI walk, Smith hit a sacrifice fly and Barlett capped the flurry with a two-out RBI single.

Breneisen, Smith and the defense took it from there.

Many challenges remain, but Hughesville continues trending up and the crowds continue growing larger.

“It’s a lot of fun,” Breneisen said. “Knowing whatever we do, we can always fight back and bounce back is big for us.”

“They’re a coachable group, they’re fun to be around and they enjoy playing ball,” Dimoff said. “So, we will just continue to take one game at a time and see where we end up.”

Adelyn Knight of Hughesville is safe at home as Mckenna Forman of Warrior Run tries to make the play in Hughesville. Hughesville won, 6-2. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Warrior Run 001 010 0–2 6 2

Hughesville 100 500 x–6 6 0

Mackenzie Litchard and McKenna Forman. Ella Breneisen, Maddie Smith (7) and Kiana Peck. W–Breneisen, (3-1). L–Litchard.

Top Warrior Run hitters: Maura Woland 2-3, RBI; Caitlin Waltman 2-3; Sienna Wise 1-3, HR, RBI; Ella Printzenhoff 1-3, R. Top Hughesville hitters: Breneisen 2-3, R; Smith 1-3, RBI, 2 SB; Ashlynn Barlett 1-3, BB, RBI; McKenna Sones 1-3, R; Addison Henninger 1-2, R; Kiana Peck 2 BB; Lyla Kinner RBI; Jayla Koser RBI.

Records: Hughesville 4-1, 2-0 HAC-III. Warrior Run 2-3, 2-1.

Rylee Reeder of Hughesville scores in the 4th inning against Warrior Run in Hughesville. Hughesville won, 6-2. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Kiana Peck of Hughesville waits for the pitch to be given to her by the coaches against Warrior Run in Hughesville. Hughesville won, 6-2. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Maddie Smith of Hughesville pitches to Warrior Run in Hughesville. Hughesville won, 6-2. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Adelyn Knight of Hughesville throws out Millie Gelnett of Warrior Run at first base in Hughesville. Hughesville won, 6-2. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

McKenna Jones of Hughesville catches a fly ball hit by Lakesha Hauck of Warrior Run to end the third inning in Hughesville. Hughesville won, 6-2. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Ella Breneisen of Hughesville runs to third base as Maura Woland of Warrior Run throws to first during the 4th inning in Hughesville. Hughesville won, 6-2. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette