Williamsport third baseman Emma Vollman had no doubt she would pitch great this spring. She witnessed why throughout the offseason.

Like a scientist working in the lab, Robinson kept working until she found the right formula. A little spin there, a little rise here. A whole lot of toughness on mixed in. Put it together and Robinson doing what she did Wednesday has become the norm throughout a memorable senior year.

Still, there is nothing normal about what Robinson accomplished. Because allowing just one run and earning a district championship is extremely hard. She just made it look easy.

Robinson threw a six-hitter, struck out eight and stranded seven runners, helping Williamsport rout West Scranton, 9-1, and capture a third straight District 2-4 Class 6A championship.

DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette Ashlyn Robinson of Williamsport celebrates after she gets the last out against Jersey Shore during a game this year.

“Ashlyn has been ridiculous this season. This season she has completely worked so incredibly hard,” Vollman said after going 2 for 3 with a home run, double and three RBIs. “It’s been such a cool thing to watch as a teammate, seeing her work so hard in the offseason and get the results she has.”

Robinson improved to 16-3 this year and helped Williamsport (18-3) earn a home first-round state tournament game Monday against District 3’s third-place finisher. She was at her best during districts allowing just one run and eight hits, while striking out 17 in 12 innings.

Considering the opponent and the ramifications, however, Robinson might have thrown her best game yet against West Scranton. She did not let a runner reach second base until the fifth inning, surrendered no earned runs and threw 71 of 97 pitches for strikes.

“I think I had a little more adrenaline pumping through me just because of how big this game was for my team and I,” Robinson said. “I was definitely on my A game tonight. Everyone was pretty much on their A game.”

She’s being modest because any softball teacher would give Robinson an A+ following Wednesday’s performance. She brilliantly located, mixed pitches and kept a potent offense which scored 11 runs in the semifinals off-balance all afternoon.

So effective was Robinson that she did not go to a three-ball count until the fifth inning. She retired eight straight between the second and fourth innings and fanned six different batters. Robinson also threw first-pitch strikes to 22 of 29 batters.

“She definitely dominated pitching,” center fielder Kinsley Cannode said after launching a three-run, sixth inning home run. “It’s really good to have a good defense behind you but it’s an even better feeling to know she’s going to help us a lot out there as well.”

Robinson is not an overpowering pitcher, but she is a pitcher’s pitcher. Others may be more Nolan Ryan, but Robinson is more Greg Maddux. There are a lot of ways to get batters out without relying on blazing speed and Robinson proved it again Wednesday.

Effectively using all the pitches in her arsenal, Robinson induced 18 swings and misses, including 11 in the first two innings when she struck out five. She offered a glimpse of things to come, striking out the side in that first inning.

That set the tone and once the offense settled in following Vollman’s third inning home run, Williamsport was on its way to a three-peat.

“She’s worked so hard on her pitches. You can only do so much with speed. Everyone can hit fast pitching because speed is only one factor,” Vollman said. “If I went in there against her I might not have as much confidence.”

Vollman and all the Millionaires are much happier having Robinson as a teammate. One of four consummate senior leaders, Robinson possesses an iron will. A player who fights fires when not playing softball, Robinson often is at her best when given the opportunity to douse the proverbial flames.

That was the case against West Scranton. The Invaders threatened in the fifth inning when it was, 4-0, putting runners on the corners with one out. Robinson turned that moment of hope into another validation of her mettle, producing her seventh strikeout and inducing a groundout to second baseman Zaelana Minor.

Williamsport was up, 5-0 in the sixth when Mia Tello hit a lead-off double and went to third on an error a batter later. When situations are sometimes too tough for some, Robinson feels right at home, and allowed just an unearned run, stranding two more runners.

Teams might score off Robinson; three have wins against Williamsport. Regardless of what the scoreboard says, though, no one can break her.

“I’m not worried about what the runners are doing,” Robinson said. “It’s my job to throw the ball; the hitter’s job to hit it, so I’m working my count and I know I have a defense behind me to back me up.”

“The way Ashlyn is able to dig down when she gets into a tight spot and elevate her play in the moment is amazing,” Williamsport coach Scott Stugart said. “You don’t see that in too many young players.”

Robinson long has displayed a maturity which belies her youth. One could say the same about fellow seniors Vollman, Brenna Beck and Bella Reddy. And that trickles down throughout the roster as well.

In that way, Williamsport features a lot of Robinson’s. That is reflected in the team’s achievements.

“She’s great. She never lets anything affect her.” Vollman said. “She’s never been a person to lose her composure or yell at anyone. You can see her attitude always staying up.”

Now all in District 2 again are looking up at Williamsport. Together, Robinson and her teammates stand atop the District 2-4 summit.

Again.