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Williamsport 9-11 Softball state champs

SUBMITTED PHOTO The Williamsport 9-11 softball team bottom, Left to right: Kaelyn Sennett, Natalie Huggins, Emlyn Kinley, Kendall McAnelly, Natayah Abdul-Hakim. Back Left to right: coach Jared Mahon, Trinity Robinson, Alexandria Chilson, Abby Mahon, Laila Robertson, Manager Rick Robertson, Maria Montoya, Abby Robertson, Aubrianna Blair, Coach Bill McAnelly

From staff reports

In the 9-11 softball state championship Monday evening at Fairchance Lit­tle League, Williams­port came away with the win and the state title as it defeated DuBois, 18-1 in four innings.

The road ends for Williamsport, as this is the farthest a 9-11 softball team can go. So as far as the Williamsport Area Little League softball team is concerned, it’s World Series champions.

“This was our World Series,” Williamsport manager Rick Robertson said with a laugh. “We knew what we were playing for when we started. We set goals and it was a neat experience watching these kids grow. I’ve watched them from when they were eight-year-olds and to watch them win as 11-year-olds is just neat. The sky’s the limit and next year we can get our major title. It was a blessing and an honor to coach these girls.”

It was the second straight day that Williams­port defeated DuBois in impressive fashion as Williamsport won 18-8 on Sunday in the semifinals. For the second straight game, Williamsport put up a monstrous inning as it put up 15 runs in the fourth inning after it put up 12 runs in the second inning on Sunday.

In that fourth inning, the first two batters struck out and then Williamsport batted around while scoring all 15 runs with two outs. Aubri Blair (2 for 4 home run, three runs, six RBIs) hit a grand slam home run for the second straight day when she went deep in the fourth. Ally Chilson (2 for 4 home run, two runs, three RBIs) also had a home run in the inning as Williamsport put the game away in the fourth.

“You could tell this was the state championship. We had a little nerves. We just turned it on in the fourth,” Robertson said. “Our 3-4-5 hitters just see the ball well and Aubri took advantage of another pitch and Chilson did the same.”

Natayah Abdul-Hakim (2 for 3 RBI, three runs), Kendall McAnelly (2 for 4 two RBIs, two runs) and Maria Montoya (3 for 3 run, two RBIs) all had multi-hit games while Emlyn Kinley went 1 for 1 with two runs and two RBIs.

After throwing a no-hitter in her first game of the tournament, Abby Robertson got the start last night and threw a five-hitter while striking out seven. She was backed by a defense that played error-less softball for the second straight game.

“Her first outing she threw a no-hitter and it was kind of neat to watch that,” Rick Robertson said. “It’s a credit to the great defense behind her and she was hitting her spots. Abby and Kendall have been an absolute pleasure to coach. Abby’s my daughter and Kendall is our assistant Bill McAnelly’s daughter. It’s so neat to watch our kids play together They took everything we told them and it was neat to watch them do it in the field. My assistant coaches, Bill and Jared Mahon have put in a lot of hours and I applaud their efforts. It was a team of coaches and a true team effort that got them here.”

Williamsport 102 (15)- 18 13 0

DuBois 001 0- 1 5 3

Abby Robertson and Natayah Abdul-Hakim.

Frank and Estrada. W- Robertson. L- Frank.

Top Williamsport hitters: Natayah Abdul-Hakim 2-3 3B, 3 R, RBI; Kendall McAnelly 2-4 2 RBI, 2 R; Aubri Blair 2-4 grand slam HR, 6 RBI, 3 R; Ally Chilson 2-4 HR, 3 RBI, 2 R; Abby Robertson 1-3 RBI, R; Maria Montoya 3-3 2 R, RBI; Emlyn Kinley 1-1 2 R, 2 RBI.

Top DuBois hitters: Mitskavich 1-2 2B, R; Estrada 1-2 2B, RBI.

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