A few days ago, Montgomery coach Chris Glenn told his players he would buy them banana splits if they won a district title. So, his wallet took a big hit Thursday evening.

It may be the best money he’s ever spent.

At the perfect time, Montgomery has played its best softball. And Thursday at Elm Park it became District 4’s best Class A team. Blast the Queen, Montgomery because your Red Raiders are district champions.

Ava Harmtan threw a brilliant six-hitter, Zoe Furman, Chloe Gordner and Madisyn Miller combined for seven hits and Montgomery defeated Bucktail, 8-2, capturing its first district championship since 2022. Montgomery (16-6) outscored two district playoff opponents, 22-2, never trailed after building a 3-0 third inning lead and earned a home game against the District 2 champion when the state tournament opens Monday, June 1.

Montgomery celebrate after defeating Bucktail at Elm Park in Williamsport Thursday afternoon. Montgomery won the District IV Class A championship. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

“I have to man up and buy them all banana splits and I’m happy to do it,” Glenn said after winning his fifth district championship, two at Jersey Shore and three at Montgomery. “This whole group is wonderful. We played really well as a team today, and I’m looking forward to seeing what comes next.”

“It is really awesome. It’s just something really big and I love the team,” Gordner said. “The way we’ve come together, especially at the end of the season, is amazing.”

So, too, was Montgomery’s district run the past three days. The Red Raiders (16-6) outscored Cowanesque Valley and the top-seeded Bucks, 22-2. Combine that with a regular-season finale 13-0 win against Canton and Montgomery has surged when it matters most.

Winning the program’s fourth district championship earns it a home state tournament game Monday, June 1 against District 2’s champion which is yet to be determined. Bucktail (15-5) also is state tournament-bound, advancing for a fourth straight year, and will play at District 3’s champion, either Greenwood or York Catholic. The Bucks will try and make history there and become the program’s first team to win in states as a new journey begins.

Montgomery-Bucktail has come District 4’s top Class A rivalry and this was the fourth straight year in which two teams who have combined to win six district championships since 2019 collided in the postseason. Makenna Stone continued her fabulous playoff run and produced her 100th career hit, while going 2 for 3 with a double and RBI. Lola English and Keslie Wagner added two hits.

Montgomery celebrate after defeating Bucktail at Elm Park in Williamsport Thursday afternoon. Montgomery won the District IV Class A championship. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Ultimately, it was not what Bucktail did wrong, simply what Montgomery did right. That included clutch hitting throughout the order, Hartman’s stellar pitching and outstanding defense fueled by Furman in center field and right fielder Amelia Shrimp.

“We beat them once, and they beat us once, so we knew it wasn’t going to be an easy game. I think we all came in and played to the best of our ability,” Miller said. “We came in energized and ready to hit and I think we settled down really nicely after that and we started to get on base.”

Miller is part of a senior group which faced the unenviable task of coming in after eight starters graduated from the 2022 state champions. Still, that 2023 reached districts and Montgomery improved its win total the next two seasons before suffering frustrating semifinal losses.

This time, Montgomery would not be denied. The Raiders broke down a wall with a 14-0 semifinal win against CV and kept flourishing Thursday, completing a four-year climb in impressive fashion.

“Knowing we lost the last three years in the semifinals, it feels good knowing we got the district title this year, especially in my senior year,” Miller said. “It’s the whole team. Everyone is contributing.”

Montgomery celebrate after defeating Bucktail at Elm Park in Williamsport Thursday afternoon. Montgomery won the District IV Class A championship. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

“The 2022 year we won the state title and we lost every starter but one and I’m pretty proud of the fact that we were competitive and played in the playoffs every year since then,” Glenn said after becoming one of the few coaches in District 4 history to have won gold on all three Elm Park fields. “We had some good teams that fell short in the semifinal games and the other day we changed that and carried a lot of momentum into this game.”

Bucktail pitcher Carrie Ditty started strong, throwing two perfect innings and striking out three. Still, as was the case against CV, the bottom of Montgomery’s order played fire starters, turning the lineup over as the top then fanned the flames.

Brooke Dietrich hit a lead-off single opening the third inning before Arianna Snyder added an infield single. Both scored a batter later when Furman scorched a two-run double to center field. Following a well-placed Jenna Houseknecht bunt and Addison Greger walk, Miller ripped a two-out RBI single and capped a three-run flurry.

Bucktail made it a one-run game in the fourth inning when Wagner and Stone singled and Rebekah Conway dropped an RBI bunt. As she did against CV, however, Greger made another super throw from behind the plate, cutting down the lead runner at third and helping squash the rally.

Montgomery kept going from there, scoring three in the fifth as Furman singled and Houseknecht doubled. Greger’s flyball was dropped, Miller walked and Gordner smashed a two-run single which made it, 6-1.

Montgomery celebrate after defeating Bucktail at Elm Park in Williamsport Thursday afternoon. Montgomery won the District IV Class A championship. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Gordner delivered again two innings later, hitting an RBI single before Ramona Kroll followed with an RBI single and made it, 8-2. Gordner drove in three runs; Furman two and Miller one as different players kept taking their moments in the spotlight. Montgomery finished with 10 hits Thursday and 21 in two district playoff wins.

“We are all amazing hitters,” Gordner said. “Every time you see a girl get down, we’ll come in, boost their confidence and whoever is the next one, she is ripping the ball and it’s awesome.”

That’s a good way to describe Hartman’s late-season pitching.

The senior is pitching the best softball of her life, allowing just two runs the last three games. Hartman was both outstanding and economical against Bucktail, throwing just 74 pitches, walking none and throwing 59 of her pitches for strikes.

Hartman retired eight straight batters between the first and third innings, and continued surging as the game progressed. She retired the side in order three times and sealed the championship with a perfect seventh inning, closing with her sixth strikeout.

Montgomery celebrate after defeating Bucktail at Elm Park in Williamsport Thursday afternoon. Montgomery won the District IV Class A championship. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

“She did really great today,” Miller said. “She usually does a phenomenal job anyway, but today I was really impressed.”

“When I lived here the first time (before moving to Texas in 2022 and returning in 2025) I played travel ball with Ava and I used to catch for her,” Gordner said. “I loved watching her pitch. Especially with how far she’s come, it’s awesome.”

Although what Montgomery achieved Thursday is tremendous, the celebration was subdued. There was no dog pile, just a lot smiles. Still, the players and coaches understand they produced a moment they will never forget. The pictures so many parents and fans snapped following the game may last forever.

The memories created definitely will.

“I’m so happy this is the team I’m moving on with,” Gordner said. “We mesh so well.”

Montgomery 003 030 2–8 10 0

Bucktail 000 101 0–2 6 1

Ava Hartman and Addison Greger. Carrie Ditty, Kelsie Wagner (5) and Eva Sockman. W–Hartman. L–Ditty.

Top Montgomery hitters: Zoe Furman 3-5, 2B, 2 RBIs, 2R; Madisyn Miller 2-3, RBI, R, BB; Chloe Gordner 2-4, 3 RBIs; Arianna Snyder 1-3, R; Ramona Kroll 1-4, RBI; Brooke Dietrich 1-4, R. Top Bucktail hitters: Makenna Stone 2-3, 2B, RBI; Lola English 2-3; Wagner 2-3, 2R.

Records: Montgomery 16-6. Bucktail 15-5.

Madisyn Miller of Montgomery slides under the ball as Eva Sockman of Bucktail tries to make the tag in the 7th inning at Elm Park in Williamsport Thursday afternoon. Montgomery won the District IV Class A championship. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Chloe Gordner of Montgomery gives the thumbs up after getting an RBI single in the 7th inning against Bucktail at Elm Park in Williamsport Thursday afternoon. Montgomery won the District IV Class A championship. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Addison Greger of Montgomery dives safely back to first base on a pick off attempt as Kendall Wagner of Bucktail tries to make the play at Elm Park in Williamsport Thursday afternoon. Montgomery won the District IV Class A championship. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Kelsie Wagner, left, and Rebekah Conway of Bucktail slap hands after Wagner scored against Montgomery at Elm Park in Williamsport Thursday afternoon. Montgomery won the District IV Class A championship. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette