{"id":204026,"date":"2026-05-28T00:33:11","date_gmt":"2026-05-28T00:33:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/204026\/"},"modified":"2026-05-28T00:33:11","modified_gmt":"2026-05-28T00:33:11","slug":"three-peat-williamsport-softball-beats-west-scranton-for-third-straight-title-news-sports-jobs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/204026\/","title":{"rendered":"THREE-PEAT: Williamsport softball beats West Scranton for third straight title | News, Sports, Jobs"},"content":{"rendered":"

Williamsport celebrates after a home run by Emma Vollman in the PIAA District 2-4 Class 6A Championship game in Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday, May 27, 2026.
\nJASON ARDAN\/Special to the Sun-Gazette<\/p>\n

WILKES-BARRE \u2014 Pitcher Ashlyn Robinson tossed her glove skyward as infielders Emma Vollman, Brenna Beck and Katelyn Solomon sprinted her way. All the Millionaires joined in seconds later and several bounced as joy permeated throughout the huddle.<\/p>\n

Winning any district championship is special. But this one was especially unique and that moment, as well as the championship picture at home plate which soon followed, will now be frozen in time. It is a moment all will cherish as they remember helping a proud program reach lofty heights.<\/p>\n

Robinson threw a dazzling six-hitter, Vollman and Kinsley Cannode slammed home runs and Beck drove in two runs as Williamsport thumped West Scranton, 9-1, Wednesday at the Ralston Softball Complex and captured a third straight District 2-4 Class 6A championship.<\/p>\n

Vollman\u2019s home run broke a scoreless tie in the third inning, Cannode\u2019s three-run blast three innings later provided the exclamation point and the Millionaires (18-3) became Williamsport\u2019s first three-peat champion this century.<\/p>\n

\u201cNothing can replace special memories like these,\u201d Robinson said. \u201cIt\u2019s pretty special for me. That\u2019s one more medal that I\u2019ve got under my belt; one more medal I\u2019ve earned with this great team I\u2019m a part of.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Williamsport’s Zaelana Minor (5) looks to make a double play in the PIAA District 2-4 Class 6A Championship game in Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday, May 27, 2026.
\nJASON ARDAN\/Special to the Sun-Gazette<\/p>\n

\u201cI love playing with these girls and to win it again with them is so great,\u201d Vollman said after going 2 for 3 with a double and three RBIs. \u201cIt\u2019s really a surreal feeling.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a feeling which is the culmination of months of work when so few were watching. A team with a tireless work ethic, Williamsport attacked the offseason hard and has never taken its foot off the gas once the season began last March.<\/p>\n

A team which has won four games in its final at-bat has proven resilient but its latest championship run shined a light again upon its skill and will. The Millionaires, who will host District 3\u2019s third-place finisher Monday in the state tournament, outscored two district opponents, 19-1 and received their usual well-rounded production against West Scranton.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey put in so much work, and I\u2019m just so proud of them. They don\u2019t take anything for granted,\u201d Williamsport coach Scott Stugart said. \u201cThey don\u2019t get fazed by getting down or making an error or things like that. It shows that when you play as a team it shows out in the championships and the accolades.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot a lot of teams can say they have gone back-to-back-to-back. It\u2019s awesome,\u201d Cannode said after homering for a second straight game. \u201cIt\u2019s just such a great group of girls, and I\u2019m so happy that we did this, this year again.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Williamsport’s Zaelana Minor (5) connects with a swing in the PIAA District 2-4 Class 6A Championship game in Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday, May 27, 2026.
\nJASON ARDAN\/Special to the Sun-Gazette<\/p>\n

Vollman homered, Cannode reached on an error and Beck hit an RBI single in that ice-breaking third inning. Vollman\u2019s two-run double highlighted a three-run fifth and Williamsport blew things open with four two-out runs in the sixth.<\/p>\n

The way Robinson was throwing that lead might as well have been 28 runs instead of eight. So, as she patrolled shortstop, Beck could feel the excitement brewing. Seconds later, Vollman fielded a grounder at third, threw to Solomon for the final out and Williamsport cemented its place in program lore, champions again.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was thinking about it right before the play. I was like, \u2018This is really going to happen,’\u201d Beck said. \u201cI\u2019m so excited. There\u2019s no feeling like it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Initially, this game played out like last year\u2019s district semifinal which Williamsport won, 5-1. That day, the Millionaires were no-hit through three innings before coming alive and collecting eight hits over their final three at-bats. This time, Kaleiah Connor again was an out from starting with three no-hit innings, retiring eight straight batters before Vollman came up.<\/p>\n

And changed everything with one powerful swing.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Williamsport’s Kinsley Cannode (1) follows through with a home run swing in the PIAA District 2-4 Class 6A Championship game in Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday, May 27, 2026.
\nJASON ARDAN\/Special to the Sun-Gazette<\/p>\n

Vollman drove a 1-0 pitch deep toward the left-center field fence. The senior flirted with home runs the last two years at Wilkes, so she was unsure if this one had the distance. What a ecstatic rush it was then for both she and the entire team when the ball cleared the fence and Williamsport took a 1-0 lead.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was awesome. The last two years I had doubles hit off the fence, so I\u2019ve been so close. Especially with it being my senior year, I wouldn\u2019t have it any other way. This is the best feeling ever,\u201d Vollman said. \u201cLast year, we thought I had a home run but it slipped between the tarp and fence and I was like, \u2018Please don\u2019t let that happen.\u2019 Everyone started screaming and everyone was up, and I was like, \u2018Oh my gosh, I get to keep running.’\u201d<\/p>\n

From there, Williamsport was off and running, scoring nine runs in its final four at-bats. After Cannode\u2019s flyball down the right field was dropped a batter later, Beck kept the momentum going and belted an RBI single.<\/p>\n

Two innings later, Solomon singled and Bella Reddy dropped a well-placed bunt that resulted in a throwing error before Vollman scorched her two-run double to center field. Cannode moved Vollman to third with a deep flyout and Beck delivered again, lofting a sacrifice fly which put Williamsport ahead, 5-0.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll do anything to get the team started,\u201d Beck said. \u201cI think with Emma\u2019s home run and my RBI single, that\u2019s kind of what got everything going.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Williamsport’s Isabella Reddy (16) runs home in the PIAA District 2-4 Class 6A Championship game in Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday, May 27, 2026.
\nJASON ARDAN\/Special to the Sun-Gazette<\/p>\n

West Scranton scored an unearned run in the sixth inning, but Robinson stranded two runners and Williamsport went back to work. Brielle Thornton and Zaelana Minor opened the bottom half with singles and a two-out error opened the door. Three pitches later, Cannode kicked it down.<\/p>\n

The center fielder continued her super sophomore year, driving a laser-like line drive well over the center field fence for a three-run home run which made it, 9-1. Williamsport built a sundae throughout the game and Cannode\u2019s blast was the cherry on top, giving it six two-out runs.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat was a dagger right there,\u201d Stugart who has led Williamsport to league and district championships in his first two seasons on the hill. \u201cI don\u2019t think it got more than 25 feet in the air. It was a line drive the whole way.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI initially went into the game with an open mind. I saw a lot of outside the whole game and my last at-bat I got on the plate to adjust to the outside and I got out in front of it and drove it,\u201d Cannode said. \u201cIt was such a great feeling. It felt like a really good hit. It was awesome.\u201d<\/p>\n

So was Robinson who let a runner move past first base until the fifth inning. She struck out eight and was backed by a strong defense which helped her strand seven runners.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Williamsport’s Ashlyn Robinson pitches in the PIAA District 2-4 Class 6A Championship game in Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday, May 27, 2026.
\nJASON ARDAN\/Special to the Sun-Gazette<\/p>\n

Couple that with eight players reaching base and catcher Payton Pennycoff never letting a ball get past her and Williamsport had an unbeatable district championship blend. Again.<\/p>\n

The work continues, but this championship and the memories generated while achieving it will last forever.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s awesome,\u201d Beck said. \u201cComing in freshmen season (three years ago), we knew we had a good team coming up and every single year we add someone knew, so it\u2019s really awesome to see how everyone has flourished.\u201d<\/p>\n

Williamsport 9,<\/p>\n

West Scranton 1<\/p>\n

West Scranton\t\t000 001 0\u20131 6 3<\/p>\n

Williamsport\t\t002 034 x\u20139 8 0<\/p>\n

Kaleiah Connor and Mia Tallo. Ashlyn Robinson and Payton Pennycoff. W\u2013Robinson (16-3). L\u2013Connor.<\/p>\n

Top West Scranton hitters: Brianna Connor 3-3, RBI; Mia Tallo 2-3, 2B, run. Top Williamsport hitters: Emma Vollman 2-3, HR, 2B, 3 RBIs, 2 runs; Kinsley Cannode 1-4, HR, 3 RBIs, 2 runs; Brenna Beck 1-3, RBI; Robinson 1-3; Pennycoff 1-3, run; Zaelana Minor 1-3, run; Kate Solomon 1-3, run.<\/p>\n

Records: Williamsport (18-3), West Scranton (12-10).<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Williamsport’s Zaelana Minor (5) makes a throw in the PIAA District 2-4 Class 6A Championship game in Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday, May 27, 2026.
\nJASON ARDAN\/Special to the Sun-Gazette<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Williamsport’s Kinsley Cannode (1) advances to third on an error in the PIAA District 2-4 Class 6A Championship game in Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday, May 27, 2026.
\nJASON ARDAN\/Special to the Sun-Gazette<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Williamsport celebrates after winning the PIAA District 2-4 Class 6A Championship game in Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday, May 27, 2026.
\nJASON ARDAN\/Special to the Sun-Gazette<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Williamsport celebrates after Kinsley Cannode hits a home run in the PIAA District 2-4 Class 6A Championship game in Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday, May 27, 2026.
\nJASON ARDAN\/Special to the Sun-Gazette<\/p>\n

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