Undefeated Mountain Top All Stars Crowned District 16 Champions
By: Danielle Petros | SportzWire | June 27, 2026 | Photo courtesy Danielle Petros
Mountain Top Major Softball All Stars celebrated a fantastic achievement on Friday, capturing the District 16 championship with an 11-2 victory over the Nanticoke-Hazleton Majors All Stars at Rinehimer Field. This win marked the culmination of an impressive undefeated 5-0 run through the tournament for Mountain Top. The championship game itself was a notable contest, as Nanticoke-Hazleton displayed tremendous spirit, becoming the first team in the tournament to go the full six innings against the strong Mountain Top squad.
The Mountain Top team, with a core group of players who have been developing together for four years under manager Chris Dohman, reached a significant milestone with this banner. For many players nearing the end of their Little League journey, this championship was a truly special moment. The Nanticoke-Hazleton team showcased incredible resilience and teamwork, having come together as a combined squad due to lower participation numbers, with half the team getting to know each other during the tournament. Under the guidance of Manager Shannon Bonham and assistant coaches Nicole Velasquez and Gabby Paisley from Hazleton, the team played with great heart and kept the game close in the early innings.
Mountain Top’s offense got off to a quick start in the top of the first inning. Emily Wenner led the charge with an exciting inside the park home run, and Mya Belanchik followed up with a single that brought another run across the plate. Nanticoke-Hazleton showed their determination right away in the bottom of the first, with two runs scoring to tie the game, including a run driven in by Kelsey Chitswara.
The game remained a tight contest until the top of the second inning when Brynley McShea stepped up with a triple, driving in a run that gave Mountain Top a 3-2 lead. Mountain Top continued to build their advantage in the third inning, with Emily Wenner hitting a single that scored a run and Brielle Dohman drawing a walk, bringing in another.
The Mountain Top offense continued to find its rhythm in the fifth inning, adding five runs with four well-placed hits. Audrey McShea started with a double, Lizzie Brozowski added a single, and Mya Belanchik contributed a big triple that scored two runs.
Emily Wenner was a standout performer for Mountain Top, connecting for three hits in four at bats, including an inside the park home run in the first inning, a single in the third, and a double in the fifth. On the pitching mound, Emily delivered an outstanding performance, recording 16 strikeouts over six innings. Her remarkable streak of not allowing a hit through Mountain Top’s first four tournament games was a highlight, and it was Mckenzie Velazquez of Nanticoke-Hazleton who broke through with a well-hit double, marking the only hit against Emily in the entire tournament, a testament to both players' impressive play.
For Nanticoke-Hazleton, Kayleigh McGlynn showed great determination on the mound, pitching a complete game and securing eight strikeouts. She faced a very strong Mountain Top lineup that generated 11 runs on 14 hits. Mckenzie Velazquez provided an exciting moment with the team's only hit, a strong double, and Kelsey Chitswara skillfully drove in a run.
Mountain Top finished the game with a collective 14 hits. Mya Belanchik was a key offensive force, leading the team with three runs batted in on her two hits, which included a powerful triple. Ryleigh Guzenski, Audrey McShea, Brynley McShea, and Emily Wenner each contributed multiple hits to the team's effort. Brielle Dohman displayed excellent patience at the plate, drawing two walks. The team also showcased great speed on the base paths, stealing 12 bases, with Ryleigh Guzenski, Audrey McShea, and Emily Wenner each successfully stealing multiple bases.
Mountain Top Major Softball All Stars
Emily Wenner: 3 Hits, 1 Home Run, 1 Double
Mya Belanchik: 2 Hits, 1 Triple, 3 Runs Batted In
Ryleigh Guzenski: Multiple Hits, Multiple Stolen Bases
Audrey McShea: Multiple Hits, 1 Double, Multiple Stolen Bases
Brynley McShea: Multiple Hits, 1 Triple, 1 Run Batted In
Nanticoke-Hazleton Majors All Stars
Mckenzie Velazquez: 1 Hit, 1 Double
Kelsey Chitswara: 1 Run Batted In
Kayleigh McGlynn: 6 Innings Pitched
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