Williamsport seniors Isabella Reddy and Ashlyn Robinson both experienced some frustrating times Friday at blustery Millionaire Mountain, but both stayed focused on something important–the next pitch. Doing so, helped Williamsport continue its early-season walk-off magic.

Reddy belted a ninth-inning walk-off single which scored Brenna Beck; Robinson wiggled out of enough tense situations to make Houdini envious and Williamsport rallied from a six-run deficit, defeating Mifflin County in nine dramatic innings, 9-8. The Millionaires (2-0) won in their final at-bat for the second time in two days after Katelyn Solomon hit a walk-off single Wednesday against Loyalsock.

“I don’t really think when I’m in the batter’s box. I just kind of do my own thing and focus,” Reddy said. “We know what it’s like to battle.”

They certainly do.

Kinsley Cannode of Williamsport fields a ball hit by Mya Felmlee of Mifflin County in Williamsport Friday afternoon. Williamsport won 9-8 in 9 innings. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Williamsport never flinched after Mifflin County scored six fourth inning runs and built a 6-0 advantage. The Millionaires thundered back, scored five runs in the bottom of the fourth and went ahead, 7-6 on Robinson’s two-run, fifth-inning single. Mifflin County went up again in the sixth, but a Kinsley Cannode double and Beck RBI single tied it in the seventh and forced extra innings.

There, Zaelana Minor threw a perfect strike from shallow right field and catcher Payton Pennycoff made a quick tag to cut down the go-ahead eighth-inning runner before Robinson left a runner on third in the ninth.

That set the stage for Williamsport’s latest game-winning rally. Beck (3 for 5) delivered again, leading off the bottom half with a single before Robinson smoked her fourth hit, a single which made it first and second. Beck moved to third on a fielder’s choice and Williamsport attempted a squeeze.

Reddy pushed the first two pitches foul. Again, that was insignificant. She just cared about the next one. And in a replay of Wednesday when Solomon won the game on an 0-2 count, Reddy did the same.

The senior leader hit a deep fly ball into the right-center field gap. Off the bat, it looked like a sure game-winner even if it was caught with the speedy Beck ready to tag up. It fell between the two fielders, however, and Williamsport celebrated its latest gutsy, exhilarating win.

Kinsley Cannode of Williamsport is hit by a pitch in the first inning against Mifflin County in Williamsport Friday afternoon. Williamsport won 9-8 in 9 innings. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

“That center fielder was all over us all game, so I didn’t know where it was going to go but either way I knew Brenna was going to score because she’s really fast,” Reddy said. “It felt great to win, especially after the Loyalsock game.”

“She’s been hitting well this year. She’s worked hard at it and it’s starting to show so far,” Williamsport coach Scott Stugart said. “That was opposite field, too. They’re doing the little things that we’re working on. They’re buying in and applying it in the games which is great to see.”

Mifflin County didn’t see much success against Robinson after that fourth inning, as the senior right-hander repeatedly stifled it in key moments. Robinson works with the Woodward Township Fire Department and received her emergency medical technician certification at just 16. Just recently, she finished her firefighting classes, another impressive milestone.

Robinson sees so much on the job and understands what real pressure looks and feels like. So, when it comes to the softball field, she is about as calm as can be. And figuratively, she continues putting out fires.

She did so a lot the last three innings, stranding four runners in scoring position and three on third each time. Robinson was throwing as hard, if not harder, in those final innings than at the game’s start and again conquered a daunting challenge.

Payton Pennycoff of Williamsport tags out Ava Baker of Mifflin County at home plate in the 8th inning in Williamsport Friday afternoon. Williamsport won 9-8 in 9 innings. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

“You always have to keep the same mentality in the fire department, just like you have to keep the same mentality out here,” Robinson said. “You can’t let the tiny things get into your mind because that alters your performance if you let those tiny things get to you.”

Seemingly nothing gets to Robinson whether in the circle, nor at the plate. She pulled Williamsport within 6-5 in the fourth inning, hitting a two-run single after Beck roped an RBI single before repeating that scene an inning later. She then struck out four batters over the final four innings and induced an inning-ending grounder to Minor at second base to strand another runner at third in the ninth.

“That’s where I do my best,” Robinson said. “When there’s always adrenaline and there’s always someone who can score on base, I feel like I’m at my best.”

“Sometimes a pitcher doesn’t get the calls they expect and they get their spirits down but she goes the opposite direction,” Stugart said. “It’s just more motivation for her and she just attacks. You could see it the last two innings. She was bringing it.”

So was Minor, albeit in a different way.

Williamsport throws out Chelsea Anewalt (3) of Mifflin County at home plate in the 4th inning in Williamsport Friday afternoon. Williamsport won 9-8 in 9 innings. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Ava Baker looked like she would score from second in the eighth inning when Carly Dickson scorched a single into the right-center field gap. Instead, Reddy hustled and made a quick cut-off throw to Minor who wheeled and unleashed a missile.

Minor’s snap throw hit Pennycoff chest-high and she immediately made the tag as the two combined on the game’s biggest defensive play. Robinson induced a groundout and produced a strikeout from there as it stayed tied.

“What an arm. Not only is it powerful, but it’s accurate,” Stugart said. “She just turns and fires. She’s a weapon on that relay to home. She did that a couple times last year. That’s one reason why she’s there.”

That Williamsport would be in extra innings seemed unlikely when Mifflin County scored six fourth inning runs, taking advantage of three errors that inning. Again, though, Williamsport showcased its resilience.

The bottom of the order ignited a five-run flurry with Emma Vollman and Beck drawing RBI walks before Robinson hit her two-run single. All parts came together from there and different players kept delivering in big spots. In fact, every starter reached base.

Emma Vollman of Williamsport rounds the bases and scores in the 5th inning against Mifflin County in Williamsport Friday afternoon. Williamsport won 9-8 in 9 innings. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

“We knew we just had to fight as hard as we could,” Reddy said. “We did the same thing against Loyalsock and it worked out in our favor.”

It did so again this time. Williamsport left 15 runners on base through the first eight innings, but there was no frustration, no panic. There was just belief in every player in the dugout.

“We don’t things for the I, we do things for the we,” Robinson said. “Every single play we make is for the team, every hit is for the team, every strikeout is for the team. We just have to keep that team mentality.”

Mifflin County 000 602 000–8 10 1

Williamsport 000 520 101–9 12 4

Macy Pietzsch, Piper Specht (4) and Ava Baker. Ashlyn Robinson and Payton Pennycoff. W–Robinson, (2-0). L–Specht.

Top Mifflin County hitters: Specht 3-5, HR, 3 RBIs; Bailey Wyland 2-4, RBI, R; Carly Dickson 2-4, 2B, RBI, R. Top Williamsport hitters: Robinson 4-5, BB, 4 RBIs, Brenna Beck 3-4, 2 BB, 2 RBIs, 2R; Isabella Reddy 2-6, RBI; Aubree Shaylor 1-2, 3 BB, R; Pennycoff 1-3, BB, R; Kinsley Cannode 1-5, 2B, 2R; Katelyn Solomon 2 BB, 2R; Emma Vollman 2 BB, 2R, RBI.

Records: Williamsport 2-0.

Ashlyn Robinson of Williamsport pitches in the 9th inning against Mifflin County in Williamsport Friday afternoon. Williamsport won 9-8 in 9 innings. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Ashlyn Robinson of Williamsport celebrates as she retires the Mifflin County to end the top of the 8th inning in Williamsport Friday afternoon. Williamsport won 9-8 in 9 innings. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette