DISTRICT 4 BASEBALL: MONTOURSVILLE TOPS ATHENS, 9-3, TO WIN CLASS 4A TITLE (24 PHOTOS) (May 21, 2026)

By TIM BIRNEY
Valley Sports Report
WILLIAMSPORT — Logan Kirby pitched 6 1/3 strong innings to lead Montoursville in a 9-3 win over Athens in the District 4, Class 4A championship baseball game at the Lycoming Valley Intermediate School field.

For Athens coach Charlie Havens, whose squad wraps up a 17-4 campaign, it's another season ending in frustration.

"Another year ending like this, it's rough," said Havens. 

"They play better competition all the time, and it shows when we get here. 

"We just have to figure out how to get over the hump," Havens added.

Havens pointed to a number of reasons for Montoursville, last year's District 4 champ and state runner-up, coming out on the winning end.

"The kid (Logan Kirby) is a good pitcher.

"They don't chase pitches; that was a huge thing," said Havens. "And, they got their guys in and we didn't."

Junior Duncan Thetga retired Montoursville in order in the top of the first inning, thanks in part to a nice play on a short hop by junior third baseman Kam Wheeler.

In the bottom of the first, senior Nick Grazul and junior Brady Flynn stroked one-out singles to put runners on first and second.

After Thetga grounded into a fielder's choice that wiped Flynn off the base paths, Kirby registered a strikeout to escape the jam unscathed.

In the top of the second, Jonah Heddings jacked a two-out, two-run home run over the left-field fence to put the Warriors on the board.

Noah Kirby ripped an RBI double off the left-field fence in the top of the third inning to make it 3-0, and Logan Kirby helped his own cause with a sacrifice fly to make it 4-0.

Athens got on the board in the home half of the third when junior Alex McQuay belted a lead-off triple over the right-fielder's head, then scored on an RBI single by junior Brendan Cooke to close the gap to 4-1.

After Grazul walked, Flynn's line drive was snared by the Warrior short stop, who stepped on second base for a double play to take the steam out of the Wildcat rally.

Montoursville added four unearned runs in the top of the fifth inning to extend its lead to 8-1.

Noah Kirby's RBI double in the top of the sixth inning made it 9-1.

McQuay singled to lead off the bottom of the seventh inning, and Logan Kirby ended his outing with a strikeout for the first out of the inning.

Grazul added a single for the Wildcats, and Thetga provided the final margin with a two-out, two-run single down the left-field line.

Havens was pleased with his team's effort in the loss.

"Even after falling behind early, I thought we stuck with our game," he said. "We just we left runners on. 

"I thought our approach at the plate was good all day, and the kids battled right to the end," Havens added.

McQuay doubled and singled, and scored two runs, and Grazul singled twice and scored one run to pace Athens' eight-hit attack.

Thetga singled and drove in two runs in the win, while Cooke singled and knocked in one run, and Flynn and Wheeler each added a single.

Thetga was tagged with the loss, allowing six runs — three earned — on four hits and two walks in four innings.

Flynn had the best turn on the mound, allowing three hits and striking out one in two shutout innings of relief.

After the loss, part of Havens' frustration has been a common source of frustration for years Athens and Sayre coaches.
 
"It has nothing to do with (Montoursville), they beat us," said Havens. "They were better than us ... but there has to be something, we were the number one seed, we shouldn't be driving two hours down here when they have to go 10 minutes.
 
"Something's got to change," said Havens. "Again, this takes nothing away from what they've accomplished, they're a very good team."

The Wildcats graduate three seniors in four-year starter Nick Grazul, as well as Eli Hobday and Karson Sipley.

"(Nick Grazul) has been unbelievable, a four-year starter with us," said Havens. "He's just a great teammate.

"It's been a joy to coach him," he noted. "He's another coach on the field, we're going to miss that kid, but Lackawanna (College) is lucky to have him.

"The kid loves baseball, works his tail off, and helps the other guys," said Havens. "I can't say enough about him.

"(Eli) Hobday is going to be playing at CCC next year," noted Havens. "He's just an unbelievable defender, he's so smooth out there at shortstop.

"We're going to miss him, too," he said.  "He's really grown up a ton. I love the kid.

"(Karson Sipley) is a good kid," said Havens. "He didn't get the playing time I know what he wanted this year, but he still was here every day working and giving us everything he had." 

"We're losing three really good kids," added Havens. "We will definitely miss them."

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PHOTO 1: Athens junior Brendan Cooke. IN TOP PHOTO: Athens freshman Shea Davidson. ... PHOTOS BY TIM BIRNEY.

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