Williamsport again won big Monday at Millionaire Mountain but did so in a much different fashion. This time, its speed and athletic ability took center stage. Different styles, same result.

And equally effective.

Trey Damschroder and Lucas Naughton stole five bases, multiple players effectively executed hit and runs, even more used smart baserunning to take extra bases and Williamsport thumped Shamokin, 16-6 in five innings. Damschroder went 3 for 3, Cole Deitrick and Wyatt Bair 2 for 2 and every starter reached base.

“We have a lot of athletes,” Naughton said after going 1 for 2 with two walks, three runs and an RBI. “We have a lot of guys who can move and make things happen.”

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Williamsport's Nathan Crowe takes over on the mound during a high school baseball game against Shamokin on Monday.

“That was something coach (Tyler) Albert was talking about, that not a lot of teams around here can hang with us in terms of athleticism,” Damschroder said. “I think that’s something that elevates our team and can put us up over the top of some teams.”

That certainly was the case Monday.

Williamsport used its speed and hitting acumen, delivering 12 hits, to score every inning. That included a seven-run first inning eruption which put the Millionaires (2-0, 2-0 HAC-I) ahead to stay. Deitrick belted a two-run triple and Bair and Damschroder RBI singles, highlighting that rally.

Nearly everyone in the lineup is a base stealing threat and that also mounted added pressure on Shamokin pitchers. Combine that with Williamsport featuring several dangerous hitters and it was a lethal combination as the lead grew to 15-3 entering the fifth inning.

“I think it definitely effects them (pitchers),” Damschroder said. “It takes away their attention from the batter onto us, so I think it helps the entire team because it messes with the pitcher.”

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Williamsport head coach Tyler Albert meets with his assistant coaches during a high school baseball game against Shamokin on Monday.

“We have a team full of athletes. That’s something we’ve been preaching to these guys a lot–Just let your athleticism take over,” Albert said. “There are a lot of options with these guys. When you’re looking later into the season if some things aren’t working, we can play a lot of different ways which is nice.”

Damschroder and Deshaun White used their blazing speed to turn what looked like sure groundouts into infield singles. And when Damschroder beat out a fourth inning infield single, he soon essentially turned it into a triple, stealing second and third.

The junior right field drew a lead-off walk in the fifth inning, stole second and took third on a wild pitch. He then scored the game-clinching run, coming home on a balk.

“I felt pretty good,” Damschroder said. “My second hit was hit and run. That’s something we work on, knowing the game. I saw the ball well today and the wheels helped me on my third hit.”

Naughton is back after missing last season with a torn rotator cuff and has reached base in all but one of his seven plate appearances this season. And even the out was a productive one, driving in a fourth inning run.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Williamsport's Giovanni White gets out of a run-down situation during a high school baseball game against Shamokin on Monday.

He opened the bottom of the first with a walk and continued passing the bat as Williamsport sent 12 batters to the plate. That includes Naughton’s younger brother James who also is off to a strong start, going 2 for 3 with an RBI and two runs.

“It’s fun getting on first and stealing second and letting the other guys do the rest,” Lucas Naughton said. “I know if I get to second, I’m going to get hit in within the next two or three batters. It’s nice to be out there again.”

Ethan Chilson is another player grateful to be back. The senior pitcher also missed his junior year, but made his first varsity start and struck out four in two innings. That included freezing a batter on the outside corner and leaving the bases loaded in the first.

Nate Crowe earned the win in relief and combined with Brayden Wolfhope to strikeout six, Wolfhope leaving the bases loaded in the fifth.

“It was really cool to see Ethan Chilson come out and pitch. We’re taking it slow with him to get him back to full speed, but he looked good,” Albert said. “Ethan has a good mindset. He has a lot of confidence.”

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Williamsport's Giovanni White scores on a wild pitch during a high school baseball game against Shamokin on Monday.

That team belief flows through the dugout. Williamsport overcame a rash of costly injuries last year to win 14 games and reach the district semifinals. Now, Naughton and Chilson are among the players back. Camden March made his season debut Monday, drawing a walk and scoring a run, adding another weapon.

Camron Spanger roped a pinch-hit RBI single; Nolan Brelsford walked twice and White drove in two runs, giving him five the first two games. Zane Rogers also added an RBI and Williamsport excelled not just in moving runners, but scoring them, going 8 for 13 with runners in scoring position.

“Even when we go to pinch-hitters, we have guys that can come up and swing it no problem,” Lucas Naughton said. “Our bats are definitely not going to be a problem this year.”

Williamsport has generated 22 hits its first two games and seven collected at least one against Shamokin. Deitrick, Damschroder and Bair all singled in the second inning when Williamsport went up, 9-1 and James Naughton, Lucas Naughton and Zane Rogers all drove in runs during a five-run fourth inning.

More challenges are coming, starting Wednesday with a big game against defending HAC-I champion Central Mountain. Still, Williamsport is off to a strong start and its chameleon-like offense is adding excitement moving forward.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Williamsport's Lucas Naughton reaches second during a high school baseball game against Shamokin on Monday.

“They’ve really bought into that this year. They’re having fun with it and it’s good to see them execute the way they are,” Albert said. “I can’t say enough about this group. They work their butts off and it shows. It’s very evident that they’re very passionate about every aspect of the game.”

Shamokin 102 03–6 7 2

Williamsport 721 51–16 12 2

Lenny Bellis, Brandt Krieger (2), Dakota Gilbert (4) and Dylan Fenix. Ethan Chilson, Nate Crowe (3), Brayden Wolfhope (5) and Lucas Naughton, Cole Shirey (5). W–Crowe. L–Bellis.

Top Shamokin hitters: Zayden Bellis 3-3, 2B, 3 RBIs; Marcus Kinsley 1-1, 2 RBIs; Logan Pensyl 2-4, 2B, R. Top Williamsport hitters: Trey Damschroder 3-3, BB, RBI, 3 R, 3 SB; Cole Deitrick 2-2, 3B, 2 RBIs, R;Wyatt Bair 2-2, BB, 2 RBIs, 2R; James Naughton 2-3, RBI, 2R; Camron Spangler 1-1; Lucas Naughton 1-2, 2 BB, RBI, 3R, 2 SB; Deshaun White 1-2, BB, 2 RBIs, 2R; Zane Rogers 2 RBIs, R; Nolan Brelsford 2 BB.

Records: Williamsport 2-0, 2-0 HAC-I. Shamokin 0-3, 0-1.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Williamsport's Deshaun White is hit in the face as he reaches for third during a high school baseball game against Shamokin on Monday.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Williamsport head coach Tyler Albert bumps fists with Deshaun White during a high school baseball game against Shamokin on Monday.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Williamsport's Deshaun White scores on a wild pitch during a high school baseball game against Shamokin on Monday.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Williamsport's Trey Damschroder connects with the ball during a high school baseball game against Shamokin on Monday.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Williamsport's Zane Rogers connects with the ball during a high school baseball game against Shamokin on Monday.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Williamsport's Deshaun White rounds the bases after hitting a triple during a high school baseball game against Shamokin on Monday.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Williamsport's Ethan Chillson starts out on the mound during a high school baseball game against Shamokin on Monday.