Monday at Giles Field, Eck’s current players provided him another moment which both coach and team can fondly remember. Every starter reached base, Logan Kirby and Jimmy Mussina combined on a two-hit shutout and Montoursville blanked Jersey Shore, 15-0 in four innings, giving Eck his 250th career victory.

Montoursville (9-1) played a well-rounded game, took advantage of mistakes and did not make an error as Eck became one of the quickest coaches in area baseball history to reach 250 wins, doing so in 15 ½ seasons.

“You see these guys and those memories never go away,” Eck said. “You remember those guys who played so hard for you and when you see them, nothing changes. You give them a hug and you’re still experiencing things together.”

Montoursville experienced a quality win against a potential playoff opponent Monday, scoring runs in all four innings. The Warriors won their fifth straight game, starting a busy five-game week on a high.

MARK NANCE/For The Express MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montoursville baseball coach Jeremy Eck earned his 250th career win on Monday as the Warriors beat Jersey Shore.

The most fun part for the players seemed to come after the game when they presented Eck a banner congratulating him on the milestone win.

Eck has enjoyed a storybook coaching career and this group is producing the latest chapter. Time will tell how it reads when finalized, but all are happy to be writing it together.

“Having one more year with him and getting him that win is nice,” senior shortstop Royce Bowes said. “He’s definitely one of the best coaches I’ve ever had, if not the best. He’s dedicated to the team and he always has been.”

That dedication started showing at Loyalsock where Eck took over in 2010 following a tremendous run by previous coach Casey Waller which included a 2008 state championship. It was a tough act to follow for any coach, let alone a rookie going against outstanding coaches throughout the area. Still, Eck and the Lancers kept the train going strong, reaching the state Final 4 that year before capturing state championships in 2013 and 2014.

Eck put together a fabulous eight-year run at Loyalsock before returning to his alma mater in 2018 and helping Montoursville repeat as district champions his first two years in addition to reaching another Final 4. In 15 ½ seasons, Eck’s teams have won two state titles, seven district championships, eight league titles and averaged 16 wins per year. None of those squads has won fewer than 13 games in a season as well and 13 of his teams have reached a district championship.

MARK NANCE/For The Express Jersey Shore's Carter Rhinehart (6) is tagged out by Montoursville first baseman Brayden McCourt (4) in the first inning.

“It’s all special but when you’re young, the mindset is you have to win everything and that’s not necessarily true. You want to win, but at the end of the day it’s not at all costs,” Eck said. “It’s more about teaching these guys life lessons. The wins are great, though, and it makes life a little easier. The older you get, I have to chill out a little bit and just enjoy it, too.”

Just don’t go thinking Eck is driving the team any less than he has the previous 15 years. One can have perspective and still seek the biggest goals and push the players so they can reach their potential. That is the goal each season and, while the work continues, Montoursville has improved throughout the season. It played a complete game against Jersey Shore (8-6), a team which had won three of its last four games.

“The expectations never change. The standards are super high here and I think that’s a part of our success,” Eck said. “We talk about it every year. Our expectations every year are to send our seniors out the right way and that’s playing for a district championship. Some people don’t agree with that mentality but it’s always been our mentality because the standards are high.”

Montoursville took another step toward reaching those standards, pouncing on every Jersey Shore mistake; taking advantage of 10 walks, five hit batters and four errors, while delivering timely hits.

Montoursville hit .333 with runners in scoring position, a good percentage, but that number is deceiving because it does not account for improved approaches and success in run-scoring opportunities. That included two sacrifice flies, two RBI ground outs and four RBI hits. Jimmy Mussina delivered a two-out, walk-off single, while Bowes, Kirby and Jonah Heddings drove in four runs with their hits.

MARK NANCE/For The Express Montoursville's Royce Bowes (9) safely steals second base as Jersey Shore second baseman Landon Welshans (5) waits for the throw in the first inning.

“That’s our best game working as a team,” Bowes said. “We all came together and we worked well.”

“The little things add up to the big things in the grand scheme,” Noah Kirby said. “Do simple better, that’s his motto and that’s what we’re trying to do.”

Kirby effectively did it when he highlighted a game-breaking nine-run third inning rally by belting a pitch the opposite way for a two-run single. Heddings added an opposite field RBI single two batters later. The Warriors hit when they could but did not force the issue and patient approaches led to four walks and a hit batter that inning.

“Guys were wearing pitches and working counts and doing situational stuff well,” Noah Kirby said after driving in his 16th and 17th runs this year. “I was looking for something flat and let it rip. I kind of petered out last week, so I’m trying to get hot again.”

Noah’s brother Logan and Mussina doused any potential Jersey Shore flames. Kirby improved to 4-0, throwing three scoreless innings and Mussina struck out both batters he faced, adding a pick off after two runners reached with no outs. Together, Kirby and Mussina stranded six runners, struck out seven and held Jersey Shore without a hit in seven chances with runners in scoring position.

MARK NANCE/For The Express Montoursville's Brody Aldenderfer (1) heads to third base on a steal in the first inning.

Kirby also induced a second inning fielder’s choice which left the bases loaded, preserving a two-run lead. After Brayden McCourt, who reached three times, was hit by a pitch and Michael Reeder (2 RBIs) reached on a sacrifice bunt and error, Bowes started a run of three consecutive strong situational hitting at-bats. Bowes scorched an RBI single, Zack Neill (2 RBIs) hit an RBI grounder and Noah Kirby a sacrifice fly, making it, 5-0. An inning later, Brody Aldenderfer drew his third walk and Heddings followed with his RBI single.

“That’s what he (Eck) is looking for,” Bowes said. “We’re obviously not a home run hitting team, but for us to be situational and get timely hits when we need them, that’s huge.”

Call it the latest fun memory for Eck during a coaching career filled with so many.

Montoursville 15,

Jersey Shore 0

MARK NANCE/For The Express Montoursville pitcher Logan Kirby delivers a pitch against Jersey Shore Monday.

(4 INNINGS)

Jersey Shore 000 0–0 2 4

Montoursville 239 1–15 4 0

Zach Myers, Greyson Confair (2), Landon Lathan (3), Tucker Hanna (3) and Hunter Enders. Logan Kirby, Jimmy Mussina (4) and Noah Kirby. W–Kirby (4-0). L–Myers.

Top Jersey Shore hitters: Mason Winter 1-2; Carter Rhinehart 1-3. Top Montoursville hitters: Royce Bowes 1-2, 2 BB, 2 RBIs, 3 runs; Jimmy Mussina 1-2, 2 BB, RBI, 2 runs; N. Kirby 1-3, 3 RBIs; Jonah Heddings 1-4, RBI, run; Zack Neill 2 BB, 2 RBIs, run; Brody Aldenderfer 3 BB, Michael Reeder 2 RBIs, 2 runs; Kane Moore RBI.

Records: Montoursville (9-1), Jersey Shore (8-6).

MARK NANCE/For The Express Montoursville's Brody Alderderfer (1) safely steals second base as Jersey Shore second baseman Landon Welshans (5) fields the throw in the second inning.

MARK NANCE/For The Express Montoursville's second baseman Kane Moore (7) fields a ground ball for an out at first base in the third inning.

MARK NANCE/For The Express Montoursville's Michael Reeder (22) rounds third base on his way home on a double by Royce Bowes in the second inning.

MARK NANCE/For The Express Montoursville's Brody Aldenderfer (1) safely steals third base as Jersey Shore third baseman (6) waits for the throw in the first inning.

MARK NANCE/For The Express Montoursville's Brayden McCourt (4) lays down a bunts for a single loading the bases the third inning.

MARK NANCE/For The Express Montoursville's second baseman Elijah Eck (25) rounds third base on his way home on a single by Jonah Heddings in the third inning.