Cole Shuler (4) and Caleb Fausnaught (6) of Williamsport celebrate after Shuler scored in the top of the fifth inning in Jersey Shore Wednesday March 29, 2023. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

JERSEY SHORE–After Jersey Shore turned a four-run deficit into a one-run, fifth-inning lead Williamsport’s pregame message still applied.

And at the perfect time, Williamsport lived those words as it erupted for 11 runs that inning and stormed back to win, 16-6 in five blustery innings, Wednesday at Jersey Shore.

“We play for each other. Everything we do, every practice and ever game, that’s we do,” senior first baseman Griffin Vollman said after reaching base three times and driving in four runs. “I preach it before every game. We play for each other. We’re a team. There’s no ‘I’s’ on this team, and I love it.”

There are no easy outs on that team either. Every Millionaire reached base at least once and Williamsport (2-0) won for the second time in as many days, highlighting both its depth and toughness in this comeback win against a long-time rival. The Millionaires scored 10 two-out runs yesterday, including seven in the 11-run, fifth-inning eruption.

Following Vollman’s go-ahead RBI walk, Quentin Mazzante hit a two-out, two-run single; Coen Britton a two-run double and Cayden Robertson a two-run single to help Williamsport break things open. Ethan Eckard shined in relief, throwing two innings of scoreless relief and center fielder Deacon Brown made a spectacular catch to help Williamsport close it out in the fifth inning.

Cayden Robertson of Williamsport can’t make the tag at home as Brady DePasqua of Jersey Shore slides safely across home plate to score a run in the first inning in Jersey Shore Wednesday March 29, 2023. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

“I was really happy with them,” Williamsport coach Kyle Schneider said. “After going down, for them to step up and answer the way they did was great to see.”

Jersey Shore (0-3) showed its grit as well after it scored five runs in the fourth and fifth innings to take a 6-5 lead. A Dixie Cup sized strike zone, combined with Williamsport’s patience and timely hitting, however, doomed the Bulldogs hopes as the Millionaires won the latest in a series of exciting games between two proud programs.

“They keep their heads and they stay focused and believe in each other,” Schneider said. “It’s a fun group to be around.”

Williamsport had its most fun in the second inning when it scored all 16 of its runs. The Millionaires scored five times in the second, erasing an early deficit and going ahead, 5-1. Deacon Brown (2 for 4) hit a go-ahead, two-run single before Vollman ignited the two-out thunder which, ultimately, helped Williamsport win this game.

A team leader, Vollman is one of the few seniors on this young roster, and he is setting a tone through words and actions. Vollman smashed a three-run double the opposite way to deep left field, clearing the bases and putting Williamsport up four runs. It was the second consecutive day in which Vollman hit a three-run double and he has seven RBIs in those games.

“The pressure is not on me, it’s on them. I love those situations. I embrace those opportunities,” Vollman said. “I love it. I have guys behind me that are even better, too, so I’m not worried about a thing.”

“Griff is very mature,” Schneider said. “He really leads through example.”

What Vollman likes most about this team is that his teammates share the same mentality. Whether ahead or behind yesterday, Williamsport remained upbeat and energetic. So, when Jersey Shore scored three runs in the bottom of the fourth and took a 6-5 lead, Williamsport did not flinch.

After the first out was recorded, 11 of the next 12 batters reached base. Britton (3 runs) ignited the rally with a one-out walk, stole second and went to third on Brown’s single. Cole Shuler, Robertson and Vollman then drew consecutive walks as Williamsport took a 7-6 advantage.

Showcasing the team’s balance, Mazzante continued raking from the No. 9 spot and helped Williamsport start landing the knockout blow with his two-run single before turning the lineup over and scoring on Britton’s double. Mazzante has three hits and five RBIs in his first two games, helping Williamsport score 27 runs.

Tariq Moore of Williamsport shows the ball to the umpire as Brady DePasqua of Jersey Shore is called safe at second base in Jersey Shore Wednesday March 29, 2023. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

“We saw some great pitchers today and we just pieced together runs,” Vollman said. “That’s all you can do, just keep battling.”

Both teams did that well and Jersey Shore fought back from the early four-run deficit, starting in the third inning when it scored three times. Following a walk and error, Gideon Dapp singled and Brady DePasqua (3 runs) scored when Mason Winter (1 for 2, 2 RBIs) grounded out. Jerron Loomis (2 for 3) then smashed a two-out double to deep left field and made it a one run game.

Connor Griffin led off the next inning with a leadoff single, DePasqua reached on an error and Tyler Bauder’s infield single tied it. Winter delivered again when he hit a sacrifice fly and Jersey Shore moved ahead, 6-5.

Just when it seemed like Jersey Shore had seized the momentum, Williamsport came storming back and produced a second straight five-inning win. On a day when the teams combined to throw 263 pitches, Williamsport drew 12 walks and pounced when the hitting opportunities came in key moments.

Six different players had hits against Jersey Shore and Williamsport has generated 16 in its first 10 innings. Just like the previous day against Shamokin, it was not one person doing the heavy lifting but all the Millionaires carrying equal weight.

Cayden Robertson of Williamsport delivers a pitch to Jersey Shore in Jersey Shore Wednesday March 29, 2023. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

That is what they like the most.

“There’s not a bad player on this team,” Vollman said. “Everybody works hard, I love everybody on this team.”

Williamsport 050 0(11)–16 7 2

Jersey Shore 103 20–6 8 2

Cayden Robertson, Ethan Eckard (4) and Adam Aldenderfer. Tyler Bauder, Gage Martzall (4), Preston Beatty (5), Watkins (5) and Gideon Dapp. W–Eckard. L–Martzall.

Quentin Mazzante of Williamsport celebrates after a 2 RBI single in the top of the fifth inning against Jersey Shore in Jersey Shore Wednesday March 29, 2023. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Top Williamsport hitters: Deacon Brown 2-4, 2 RBIs, 3R; Coen Britton 1-2 2B, 2 RBIs, 3R; Cole Shuler 1-3, 3R; Robertson 1-2, 2 RBIs, R; Griffin Vollman 1-3, 2B, 2 BB, 4 RBIs; Quentin Mazzante 1-2, 2 BB, 2 RBIs, 2R. Top Jersey Shore hitters: Jerrin Loomis 2-3, 2B, RBI; Brady DePasqua 1-3, 3R; Bauder 1-2, RBI; Dapp 1-2, RBI; Mason Winter 1-2, 2 RBIs; Watkins 1-1.

Records: Williamsport 2-0. Jersey Shore 0-3.