Her daughter Lexi Frey plays for Jersey Shore, but three future Wildcats line the Williamsport infield. All three are decorated four-year starters and all three made major impacts again. The future continues looking bright at Penn College, but the present certainly is glowing at Williamsport.

Emma Vollman went 4 for 4 with a home run and four runs; Ashlyn Robinson threw a four-hitter, adding three hits, and Beck drove in two runs as Williamsport routed Jersey Shore, 13-1 in five innings at Millionaire Mountain. The trio of Penn College recruits combined to go 7 for 10 with seven RBIs and seven runs; every Millionaire did her part well and the Millionaires (11-1, 7-0) gained a two-game lead on Jersey Shore in the HAC-I with three league contests remaining.

“We’ve been playing with each other for seven, eight years,” Robinson said. “It’s just having that strong bond between us three and knowing what we’re capable of.”

They and their teammates appear capable of a lot. Williamsport proved it again, as every starter produced a hit and/or RBI. Kate Solomon went 3 for 3; Kinsely Cannode 2 for 2 with two walks, Bella Reddy 2 for 3 and the Millionaires scored multiple runs in all four at-bats. Doing so enabled them to build a 13-0 lead after four innings.

Ashlyn Robinson (11) of Williamsport celebrates after she gets the last out against Jersey Shore in Williamsport Thursday evening. Williamsport won 13-1. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Jersey Shore (9-4, 5-2) is an outstanding team with a storied tradition. They were coming off an impressive win against Central Mountain, so it speaks volumes about Williamsport that it outscored the Bulldogs, 33-1 in two games this year. It’s a remarkable statistic, but shines a light on Williamsport’s determination as instead of easing into this game thinking it might be like last time, the Millionaires thundered out from the dugout.

“I think we had something to prove tonight. I think with that win we proved it,” Vollman said. “Everyone wanted this game a lot. Everyone wanted to dominate.”

Mission accomplished.

Vollman turned motivation into action when she led off the bottom of the first and tattooed a home run over the left-center field fence. A five-tool third baseman, Vollman thought about bunting, but opted to swing and it paid off the best way possible, her home run being a no doubter which landed well over the fence.

“I think it set the tone for us; it set the tone for everyone,” Vollman said. “My goal is always to get on base that first time, usually as a single. I don’t know how that (home run) happened. I saw it come off the bat and went, ‘Whew! That went high.’ The best thing to be right now is consistent.”

Zaelana Minor of Williamsport tags out Amelia Thomas of Jersey Shore at second base during the first inning in Williamsport Thursday evening. Williamsport won 13-1. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Vollman being so provided a thunderbolt-like jolt and it reverberated throughout the lineup as Williamsport scored four runs in each of the first two innings, taking an 8-0 lead. The Millionaires added five runs the next two innings, going up 13-0 and making it 33 straight runs scored against the District 4 Class AAAA title contenders.

“Emma can set the tone either way with small ball or swinging away,” Williamsport coach Scott Stugart said. “There are not a lot of lead-off hitters that can drive it to the fence, bunt or put it over the fence.”

Highlighting that point, Vollman smoked singles in her next three at-bats and used her speed to beat out an infield hit when leading off the third. That essentially became a triple when Vollman stole second and third before scoring on Cannode’s RBI double. Beck followed with an RBI grounder and the lead grew to, 10-0.

Williamsport already led 3-0 before an out was recorded in that first inning as Cannode followed Vollman’s home run with a single, Beck reaching on an error and Robinson belting an opposite field two-run triple. Robinson delivered again an inning later, taking an 0-2 pitch the other way and bringing home Vollman.

Williamsport hit well, period, but especially with runners in scoring position. Even when outs were recorded in those situations, the Millionaires made them productive outs with four bringing home runs, including Beck’s sacrifice fly to deep center field. Solomon and Zaelana Minor hit RBI singles and Williamsport collected 15 hits, delivering at least two every inning. It was a combination of Williamsport doing little things, like bunting and running the bases well, and big hits coming together at perfect times.

Emma Vollman of Williamsport connects on a solo home run in the first inning against Jersey Shore in Williamsport Thursday evening. Williamsport won 13-1. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

“They were rockets. Everything was hit so hard. We’ve done a lot of that this year,” Stugart said. “As a coach, you’re always worried that they look at the past to see what the future is going to be and it rarely is. Their mindset was really good at practice (Wednesday) night. Teams come back and Jersey Shore is a good team, so I was really pleased that they kept pushing inning after inning.”

“Hits are contagious. Every hit motivates each other, so if someone gets a hit, that’s what is going to make the next girl say, ‘I want to get a hit, too,'” Robinson said. “It’s almost like a chemical reaction. It’s a continuing flow.”

That flowed swept out toward the field as well. Robinson provided her usual stellar pitching and the defense backed her with a flawless performance. That included Cannode making two terrific catches, including running back toward the left-center fence and robbing Maddi Thomas of a two-out, third-inning double.

That essentially was the night for Jersey Shore. The Bulldogs hit the ball hard throughout the game, but either right at defenders or only to have those fielders make highlight-type plays. Jersey Shore dealt itself several self-inflicted wounds the first time these rivals played but the rematch was mostly about what Williamsport did right and not what it did wrong.

Amelia Thomas continued her strong season and went 2 for 2 and Jersey Shore did not quietly. Sophia Wrench walked, Mya Lehman and Annika Clark hit fourth inning singles and Maddi Thomas hit an RBI grounder to get Jersey Shore on the board in the fifth inning. Robinson, however, ended the game a batter later with a strikeout.

Lexi Frey of Jersey Shore pitches to Williamsport in Williamsport Thursday evening. Williamsport won 13-1. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Robinson, Vollman and Beck have played multiple positions during their scholastic careers but have settled in at pitcher/first base, third base and shortstop, respectively, the last two seasons. They are not sure where they will play at Penn College, but are happy they will be playing together.

The future, however, can wait. All three remain focused on making their final high school season memorable for themselves and their teammates who they have led so well, especially these past two years.

“They have been great leaders and they mean so much to the team,” Stugart said. “We’re going to miss them, but we’ve got a lot of work to do here before they leave.”

Jersey Shore 000 01–1 4 2

Williamsport 442 3x–13 15 0

Brenna Beck of Williamsport is safe at first base in the first inning as Lynna Clark of Jersey Shore can’t make the play at first in Williamsport Thursday evening. Williamsport won 13-1. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Lexi Frey, Lynna Clark (2) and Annika Clark. Ashlyn Robinson and Payton Pennycoff. W–Robinson, (10-1). L–Frey.

Top Jersey Shore hitters: Amelia Thomas 2-2; Mya Lehman 1-2; A. Clark 1-2. Top Williamsport hitters: Emma Vollman 4-4, 2 RBIs, 4R, 2 SB; Robinson 3-4, 3B, 3 RBIs, 2R, 2 SB; Kate Solomon 3-3, RBI, R; Kinsley Cannode 2-2, 2B, 2 BB, RBI, 2R; Isabella Reddy 2-3, R; Zaelana Minor 1-3, RBI, R; Brenna Beck 2 RBIs, R.

Records: Williamsport 11-1, 7-0 HAC-I. Jersey Shore 9-4, 5-2.

Ashlyn Robinson (11) of Williamsport scores as Annika Clark of Jersey Shore tries to make the play during the first inning in Williamsport Thursday evening. Williamsport won 13-1. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette