They won in different fashions, but Williamsport and Montoursville did their part under the Elm Park lights and completed the field which turned the annual eight-team Williamsport Tournament into the Backyard Brawl.

Ashlyn Robinson and Abby Robertson shut down Delaware Valley and 10 players reached base as Williamsport routed Delaware Valley, 13-1 in five innings. On the other field, Jordan Chamberlain delivered a clutch two-out triple and scored on the ensuing throwing error to break a tie, while Julie Friel pitched her best high school game as Montoursville edged, Union-Endicott, 2-1. Now the Millionaires and Warriors will square off in Saturday’s semifinals at 10 a.m.

With Loyalsock and South playing in the other semifinal at 10, this tournament has become a riveting battle for area bragging rights.

“A lot of us know each other and have played softball with each other before,” Williamsport second baseman Chelsey Harrison said after going 2 for 3 with two RBIs. “It’s going to be nice to see who comes out on top.”

Chelsey Harrison (12) of Williamsport scores in the 3rd inning against Delaware Valley at Elm Park Friday evening. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

“I’m really excited. We’re playing Williamsport, and I think that will be a really good game,” Chamberlain said. “It’s going to be pretty fun.”

Williamsport broke out in a big way and enjoyed the fun it had been hoping to experience following an 0-5 start which included three close losses in the last week. Robinson and Robertson scattered four hits and struck out nine, while production came throughout the lineup and off the bench.

The Millionaires did all this against a team currently ahead of them in the District 2-4 Class AAAAAA standings. Put it all together and it was a glimpse into what a team with every starter in new positions can do this season as the pieces start coming together.

“We’ve been talking about how our record doesn’t show the team that we are,” Harrison said. “We’re talking about leaving those losses behind us and moving forward from here.”

Williamsport did just that against Delaware Valley. Robinson struck out the first two batters she faced, and Williamsport scored four first inning runs with Emma Vollman (1 for 1, two walks), hitting a two-out RBI single. The Millionaires scored at least one run in every at-bat and broke it open with eight runs in the third and fourth innings.

Haley Stahl of Williamsport fields a ball hit by Holly Olcott of Delaware Valley at Elm Park Friday evening. Stahl threw Olcott out at first base. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

A day after pitching well in her first varsity start in the circle, Harrison flexed her offensive muscle and collected her second multi-hit performance in three games. The junior second baseman nearly hit her first home run in the fourth inning, tattooing a two-run double off the center field fence which sparked a five-run burst and put Williamsport up, 13-1.

“In our circle right before the inning we were talking about how a home run would win the game,” Harrison said. “It was a little inconvenient that it came up a little short, but it was a hard, solid hit to the outfield.”

Williamsport generated many of those with seven players producing hits. Robertson (5 strikeouts in 2 innings of relief pitching) sparked the fourth inning rally with a double and Addison Engel drilled an RBI double off the center field fence later that inning.

Haley Stahl added two hits and Williamsport played error-less defense while effectively running the bases. The Millionaires did not start the season how they wanted but each game offers a new opportunity, and they cashed in Friday.

“We’ve had hard hits before, but they just have been right to people,” Harrison said. “Seeing each other have hits get down motivated us to all do the same thing.”

Haley Stahl of Williamsport singles in the 2nd inning against Delaware Valley at Elm Park Friday evening. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Union-Endicott provided Chamberlain all the motivation she needed by how it positioned its outfield prior to her sixth inning at-bat. Specifically, they brought those fielders in.

Bad move.

Chamberlain delivered the biggest hit of her high school career, smashing her triple deep into right fielder, over the defender’s head. When the throw to third got away, Chamberlain came sprinting home and Montoursville went ahead, 2-1.

“It was pretty awesome because they kept telling their girls to come in and I was like, ‘Well, maybe you shouldn’t do that,’ and then I hit it over their heads,” Chamberlain said. “It was pretty awesome because lately I haven’t been playing much. I felt like that was a big confidence booster.”

Chamberlain did not start the game but jumped on her opportunity when it came, going 2 for 2. The right fielder hit a single in her first at-bat. More important than the hit was the knowledge it gave Chamberlain.

Chelsey Harrison of Williamsport fields a ball hit by Shannon Eby of Delaware Valley in the first inning at Elm Park Friday evening. Harrison threw out Eby on the play. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Her second time up, Chamberlain felt dialed in. She jumped on the pitch which came her way and Montoursville (5-3) had the breakthrough hit it had been searching for since Union-Endicott tied the game 1-1 in the fourth inning.

“My first at-bat she threw me two balls and then the first strike I fouled and then I hit one in front of right field,” Chamberlain said. “Right then, I said, ‘I’m definitely on this girl.'”

Friel sure was on as well. The sophomore pitcher excelled against a dangerous lineup and came up especially big in the seventh inning after a two-out double put the tying run in scoring position. As she did all game, Friel stayed composed and induced the game-ending out, capping her excellent six-hit performance.

Friel allowed just that fourth inning run, and the seventh inning double was the only hit which went for extra bases. She also pounded the strike zone, throwing 68 % of her pitches for strikes. Emily George helped ignite the offense and went 3 for 4. She scored the game’s first run in the third inning when Kayleigh Sheleman (2 for 4) laced an RBI single.

Montoursville won its third consecutive game and its third this week, building momentum entering Saturday’s Backyard Brawl.

Ashlyn Robinson (11) of Williamsport pitches against Delaware Valley in the first inning at Elm Park Friday evening. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Williamsport 13, Delaware Valley 1, 5 innings

Del Valley 001 0―1 5 5

Williamsport 413 5x―13 9 0

Holly Olcott, Emily Sullivan (4) and Shannon Eby. Ashlyn Robinson, Abby Robertson (4) and Emily McAnelly. W―Robinson. L―Olcott.

Top Del Valley hitters: Eby 1-3, 2B; Dickerson 1-1, 2B. Top Williamsport hitters: Chelsey Harrison 2-3 2B, 2 RBIs, 2R; Haley Stahl 2-2, RBI, 2R; Addison Engel 1-2, 2B, RBI; Emma Vollman 1-1, 2 BB, 2R; Bri Hakes 1-1, RBI; Robertson 1-3, 2B; Brenna Beck 1-4, RBI;

Records: Williamsport 1-5.

Montoursville 2, Union-Endiott 1

Union-Endicott 000 100 0–1 6 2

Montoursville 001 001 x–2 9 3

McManus and Bowman. Julie Friel and Nevaeh Montoya. W–Friel, (3-2). L–McManus.

Top U-E hitters: Frantz 1-4, 2B. Top Montoursville hitters: Emily George 3-4, R; Jordan Chamberlain 2-2, 3B, R; Kayleigh Sheleman 2-4, RBI; Natalie Bennett 1-3; Alexa Stahl 1-3.

Records: Montoursville 5-3.