Simply put, the Williamsport center fielder is a quick learner.

Cannode continued acing her freshman softball course Friday at Millionaire Mountain, helping Williamsport move within a victory of earning a share of its first HAC-I championship. Cannode went 3 for 4 with an RBI and two runs, finished a home run shy of the cycle and hit a go-ahead fifth inning triple as Williamsport rallied past Jersey Shore, 6-3. Fellow freshman Zaelana Minor also hit an RBI triple, Brenna Beck was 2 for 3 with two RBIs and Ashlyn Robinson stymied Jersey Shore late, giving the Millionaires (13-5, 8-1) their eighth win in nine games.

The Millionaires play a doubleheader Saturday against Shamokin and Selinsgrove. A win against the Seals would give them a piece of the HAC-I crown, shared with Central Mountain.

“Up at the 2-hole my coaches have given me the opportunity and I’ve started to put the ball in play a lot more and be more consistent,” Cannode said. “We’re facing really good pitching every game, and I’m starting to put the bat to it.”

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Jersey Shore's Danielle Miller scores on a bunt to put Shore on the scoreboard during the second game of a high school softball doubleheader at Millionaire Mountain on Friday, May 16, 2025.

Williamsport coaches were impressed by Cannode from the get-go, so much so that they penciled her into the No. 2 slot by opening day. There she has stayed ever since, too. Cannode can be her toughest critic but she has been productive all season, while proving a weapon on the bases.

She showed it again Friday, delivering three hits in first three at-bats, all to different parts of the field. Cannode ripped a first inning RBI double which tied the game, 1-1, singled in her next at-bat and slammed her RBI triple the next time, putting Williamsport ahead to stay, 4-3.

“Throughout the season we’ve faced really good competition. She’s a freshman in there battling and she has high expectations for herself so she wasn’t always pleased maybe by her batting average even though it wasn’t bad, but it’s just her expectations are so high,” Williamsport coach Scott Stugart said. “We kept her in the same spot the whole season because we saw that she gets on base and what she can do there is impressive because she’s the fastest girl on the team. She’s been a big asset.”

Jersey Shore (10-6 took a 1-0 first inning lead when Dani Miller singled and scored on Lynna Clark’s RBI bunt single. Those two teamed up again in the third inning with Miller doubling and Clark (3 for 4) following with an RBI single. Annika Clark smashed a ground-rule double the following inning and Isabell Carrasquillo’s RBI single had Jersey Shore on top, 3-1.

Following a 20-minute rain delay, Williamsport responded in the bottom of the fourth with Robinson hitting a lead-off single and Minor scorching an RBI triple. Emily McAnelly (2 for 3, double) then beat out an RBI infield single, tying the game and setting the stage for Cannode.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Williamsport's Bailey Livermore (8) stretches for the throw to first as Jersey Shore's Annika Clark (22) arrives safe during the second game of a high school softball doubleheader at Millionaire Mountain on Friday, May 16, 2025.

Emma Vollman fought back from an 0-2 count to open the fifth inning with a walk and Cannode drilled her go-ahead triple into the right-center field gap. Beck came through again, scoring Cannode with an RBI single as Williamsport suddenly led, 5-3.

“I was just trying to do whatever I could to help my team. I was thinking either a bunt or I was going to attack,” Cannode said. “It was just one of those things where I saw the ball and I felt like I could hit it and I did it. It felt really good.”

The good times continued in the sixth inning. McAnelly laced a lead-off double and scored on Isabella Reddy’s RBI grounder. It continued a trend of Williamsport coming alive as games progress and figuring out how to attack strong pitchers.

A day after scoring three fifth inning runs against co-HAC-III champion Loyalsock, Williamsport scored five runs and collected five hits in its final three at-bats against the two-time defending District 4 Class AAAA champions. It also highlighted the team’s balance with seven players reaching base and five driving in runs.

“It feels good getting a win against a good team like that,” Cannode said. “We’re starting to play more as a team. Everyone is coming together and getting hits when we need them.”

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Williamsport's Zaelana Minor (5) is safe at third as Jersey Shore's Alexis Frey (13) attempts the tag during the second game of a high school softball doubleheader at Millionaire Mountain on Friday, May 16, 2025.

“It’s really been amazing this year that I can probably point out at least half a dozen times against really good pitchers where we’ve figured it out from the third or fourth on and gotten the majority of hits in those innings and finished the games off strong,” Stugart said. “It’s becoming a nice trait that I’m enjoying and I hope we can continue it.”

Lynna Clark capped her strong night by hitting a one-out double in the seventh inning but Robinson sealed the win, inducing consecutive groundouts. The junior right-hander closed with three scoreless innings and did not let a runner move past second during that stretch.

Jersey Shore left fielder Makayla Wrench excelled and made two impressive running catches, taking away possible hits. The Bulldogs close their regular season Saturday at Loyalsock and are trying to improve their playoff seeding.

This was the second time Williamsport overcame a two-run deficit against Jersey Shore this season. Doing so has given it a shot at making history Saturday.

“We’ve been preaching one inning at a time, winning the inning and one game at a time. They all mentioned here tonight that it’s not over with and it didn’t come from us, so I’m pleased with their mindset,” Stugart said. “I’m hoping they come out strong tomorrow and take care of business.”

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Jersey Shore's Danielle Miller celebrates a double during the second game of a high school softball doubleheader at Millionaire Mountain on Friday, May 16, 2025.

Jersey Shore 101 100 0–3 9 1

Williamsport 100 221 x–6 9 2

Lynna Clark, Isabelle Engel (5) and Annika Clark. Ashlyn Robinson and Emily McAnelly. W–Robinson, (6-2). L–Engel.

Top Jersey Shore hitters: L. Clark 3-4, 2B, 2 RBIs; Dani Miller 2-4, 2R; Engel 1-4; A. Clark 1-3, 2B, R; Isabell Carrasquillo 1-3, RBI; Kylie Schall 1-4. Top Williamsport hitters: Kinsley Cannode 3-4, 3B, 2B, 2 RBIs, 2R; Brenna Beck 2-3, 2 RBIs; McAnelly 2-3, 2B, RBI, R; Zaelana Minor 1-3, 3B, RBI, R; Robinson 1-3, R.

Records: Williamsport 13-5, 8-1 HAC-I. Jersey Shore 10-6, 6-4.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Lynna Clark throws for Jersey Shore during the second game of a high school softball doubleheader at Millionaire Mountain on Friday, May 16, 2025.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Williamsport's Emily McAnelly (3) is safe at first as Jersey Shore's Isabella Engel (41) attempts the tag during the second game of a high school softball doubleheader at Millionaire Mountain on Friday, May 16, 2025.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Ashlyn Robinson throws for Williamsport during the second game of a high school softball doubleheader at Millionaire Mountain on Friday, May 16, 2025.