One of those runs came right before Chilson went up to bat with an RBI single into left field by Abby Robertson. And after two batters, it was pinch-hitter Bailey Livermore who came up clutch.

Livermore hit a shallow single into left field that brought in Robertson and gave Williamsport a mercy-rule win over Wilkes-Barre Area in five innings, 11-1. With the win, the Millionaires are heading back to the District 2-4 Class 6A championship game.

“We won it last year, so I think this is really big for us,” Chilson said of going back to the final. “We have three freshmen that start every game, that’s going to be big for them. They never experienced anything like this. Us coming back, we’re ready for it.”

The third-seeded Millionaires will face top-seeded Hazleton for the district title on Tuesday, May 30, at a time and site to be determined. It will be the tenth meeting in the last 13 seasons between the two programs as the Millionaires beat Hazelton last year.

Williamsport didn’t waste time putting runs on the board. After holding Wilkes-Barre Area scoreless in the top of the first, Williamsport batted through the lineup and put up five runs for a fast 5-0 lead. An error, bunt and walk loaded the bases before Chilson delivered a two-RBI single into left field. Ashlyn Robinson and Kendall McAnelly delivered back-to-back RBIs as the Millionaires went ahead, 4-0.

“It definitely set the tone. We didn’t know anything about this team, so we knew we just had to come out and play our best,” Chilson said. “We started out with that and it just built momentum for the rest of the game.”

The Millionaires scored five runs on three hits in that first inning, taking advantage of two Wilkes-Barre Area errors as well.

“That’s the complete opposite of how we played all year, so that was a breath of fresh air. We go through our lineup once always without putting any runs on the board, so it puts pressure on us. So it took some pressure off,” Williamsport coach Chase Smith said. “We felt this was a game we should win from the beginning, but we had to release that pressure right away.”

Chilson proved to be a weapon that the Wolfpack couldn’t slow down. She finished the game going 2 for 3 with a home run, four RBIs, scored twice and was walked in the fifth inning when Williamsport had a runner on second.

“The second half (of the season) she has been dominant. I hate to give away our secret to success, but she’s been the main source of our offense for sure,” Smith said. “Can’t ask for much more. She hit leadoff last three games and was on like 12 times or something in those three games. That’s pretty impressive.”

Williamsport collected 12 hits as Abby Robertson hit a double with two RBIs and three runs scored, Taryn Reed went 3 for 4 with a double, two stolen bases and two runs scored, Aubri Blair was 1 for 4 with two runs scored, Robinson was 1 for 3 with an RBI and stolen base, Lili Cox went 1 for 1, Livermore went 1 for 1 with the game-winning RBI, McAnelly was 2 for 3 with an RBI and run scored and Brenna Beck was walked twice.

“We did a few changes around the past few games (in the lineup), but we got back to our core lineup that we had at beginning of season,” Chilson said. “Everyone’s bats are hot right now. Anybody at any point in time can get a hit.”

Wilkes-Barre Area scored its lone run in the top of the third inning to break up the shutout. After Dainely Franco was walked to start the inning, she advanced on a grounder and stole third. Katie Keatling then brought her in with an RBI single into right field.

But that would be the only run the Wolfpack would score as Williamsport’s defense came up with big plays when needed. In the fourth inning, Madalyn McGuinness led the inning off with a double down the right-field line. Williamsport would then force three straight outs to strand her in scoring position at third. In the fifth inning, it was more of the same. With one out and Caitlyn Sekelsky and Hope Burke on second and first, respectively, Williamsport’s Taryn Reed induced two grounders to get out of the inning without a run allowed.

The Wolfpack ended the game going 1 for 7 with runners in scoring position and had just one extra-base hit: a double by McGuinness.

“That’s really our key thing. We always say defensive effort wins games for us,” Chilson said. “Our defense is always pretty strong and that’s what wins us most games.”

“Solid defense is what we try to pride ourselves on. We usually have a couple blips on the radar, but not today. We were pretty solid. It was level of focus we brought today. I think playoffs bring a level of focus,” Smith said. “A lot of times our defense has bad hops and things that get on us. Not any unfortunate plays today, they were all clean hops.

“I think it let us show how good we really are because sometimes funky things happen out there that makes it seem like your defense is weak. But we know we’re pretty solid on defense,” Smith concluded.

Williamsport scored four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to further increase their lead and put the game out of reach.

Aubri Blair opened the inning with a walk and stole second. Robertson would drive her in after reaching thanks to an error. Chilson then came up big with a 210-foot home run over the left-field fence that brought both Robertson and herself home for an 8-1 lead. Robinson then had a single and would steal second, advance to third on a passed ball and score on a wild pitch for the 9-1 lead.

“It felt pretty good (to hit a home run). It was definitely a team effort. I think it definitely built momentum, but we all came out ready to play,” Chilson said.

Up next is a rematch against Hazleton for the district title, and Chilson and the rest of her teammates are excited to be back in the title game.

“These girls won the district championship last year, so they know how cool it is,” Smith said. “They want to experience that again for sure. In the postgame huddle they were saying how neat of an experience it is to go.”

Williamsport 11, Wilkes-Barre Area 1

(5 INNINGS)

Wilkes-Barre 001 00 – 1 6 3

Williamsport 500 42 – 11 12 0

Alivia Mazurek and Madalyn McGuinness. Taryn Reed and Abby Mahon. W: Reed. L: Mazurek.

Top Wilkes-Barre Area hitters: Caitlyn Sekelsky 1-3; Hope Burke 1-3; Katie Keating 2-3, RBI; Madalyn McGuinness 2-2, 2B; Dainely Franco BB, SB, run. Top Williamsport hitters: Ally Chilson 2-3, HR, 4 RBIs, BB, 2 runs; Abby Robertson 1-3, 2B, 2 RBIs, 3 runs, BB; Taryn Reed 3-4, 2B, 2 SB, 2 runs; Aubri Blair 1-4, 1B, 2 runs; Ashlyn Robinson 1-3, RBI, SB, run; Lili Cox 1-1; Bailey Livermore 1-1, RBI; Kendall McAnelly 2-3, RBI, run; Brenna Beck 2 BB.