Wolfpack Strike Late Again: Wilkes-Barre Stuns Williamsport In Extra-Inning Classic, Returns To District Final
By: SportzWire | SportzWire | May 23, 2026 | Photo courtesy Sportzwire
WILLIAMSPORT — For the second consecutive season, Wilkes-Barre went into Millionaire Mountain and spoiled Williamsport’s postseason plans.
And just like last year, Nathan Fritz made sure of it.
Fritz delivered one of the biggest performances of the District 2-4 Class 6A playoffs Friday, battling through 8⅔ innings on the mound before stepping to the plate in the ninth and ripping a go-ahead three-run triple that lifted the Wolfpack to a 5-2 extra-inning victory over the top-seeded Millionaires.
With the win, Wilkes-Barre Area advances to a second consecutive District 2-4 Class 6A championship game and will now meet six-time defending district champion Hazleton Area on Thursday at Wilkes University.
The victory also marked the second straight year Wilkes-Barre knocked Williamsport out of the postseason after eliminating the Millionaires last spring.
Friday’s battle, however, took nearly everything the Wolfpack had.
Williamsport managed traffic on the bases throughout the afternoon and out-hit Wilkes-Barre 8-7, but the Millionaires repeatedly came up empty in key situations, finishing 0-for-12 with runners in scoring position.
Wilkes-Barre struck first in the third inning after Alex Hufford delivered a sacrifice fly to score a run and tie the game.
Williamsport answered and eventually grabbed a 2-1 advantage, carrying the lead deep into the game.
But the Wolfpack had seen this script before.
Trailing entering the seventh inning, Jacob Chupka started the rally with a leadoff single. A throwing error on a bunt advanced Chupka to third before Hufford lifted another sacrifice fly, knotting the game at 2-2.
Williamsport appeared to have opportunities to end it.
In the eighth inning, the Millionaires put runners aboard and looked poised for a walk-off moment, but a baserunning mistake erased the lead runner at third during a rundown. Moments later, Giovanni White delivered what could have been the game-winning hit, but instead of ending the game, it simply loaded the bases.
Fritz responded again.
After an intentional walk loaded the bases, the Wilkes-Barre left-hander worked out of danger with an inning-ending strikeout to keep the game tied.
Then came the ninth.
With the Wolfpack threatening, Fritz stepped into the box and delivered the swing that changed everything, driving a three-run triple to left field to put Wilkes-Barre ahead 5-2.
Fritz finished the afternoon with two hits and two RBIs while also earning the win after allowing two runs on eight hits over 8⅔ innings.
Ben Thomas came on in relief and closed the door with a game-ending strikeout despite inheriting a tense bases-loaded situation.
Wilkes-Barre drew eight walks and got multi-hit performances from Fritz and Chupka. Hufford scored twice and drove in a run, while Chupka collected two hits and scored once.
For Williamsport, Deshaun White and Giovanni White each recorded two hits, while Camden March, Jaxson March, Lucas Naughton, and Ty Damschroder also contributed offensively.
But in the end, the missed opportunities proved costly.
The Millionaires left chance after chance on the field, while Wilkes-Barre delivered in the biggest moment of the day.
Again.
Now another challenge awaits.
Standing between the Wolfpack and a district title is six-time defending champion Hazleton Area.
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter / X
YouTube
