(CHAMBERSBURG, Pa.) – Haden Hoff (Sr., Westminster, Md. / Westminster) and
Harry Middlebrooks (FY, Bel Air, Md. / Archbishop Curley) both recorded four hits to lead a potent Wilson offense over Cairn on Friday afternoon. The Phoenix pounded out a season-best 21 hits in the slugfest with the Highlanders who belted 13 in their own right.
The Basics
Scores: Wilson 13, Cairn 9
Venue: Henninger Field
Records: Wilson 12-3, 6-1 Skye; Cairn 8-11, 3-4 Skye
How It Happened
- The Highlanders were the first to light up the scoreboard and took a 4-0 lead through the first 2.5 innings. Nate Schurga gave the visitors a 1-0 lead with an RBI on a fielder's choice in the second while a pair of hits and an error led to three more in the third.
- Wilson's bats eventually caught fire in the bottom of the third. Hoff and Middlebrooks both singled up the middle to set up Kodi Deskins (FY, Tampa, Fla. / Clearwater Central Catholic) who repeated the effort to score Hoff. Deskins proceeded to steal second, and after an errant throw went into the outfield, Middlbrooks came home to cut the deficit in half.
- The Phoenix followed with a five-spot in the fourth to go in front. Peyton Taylor (Sr., Worton, Md. / Kent County) set the tone with a double to right and eventually scored on a Tyler Gibbons (FY, Forrest Hill, Md. / Calvert Hall) sacrifice fly. Kade Linton (So., Frederick, Md. / Tuscarora) followed with a single to left to bring in Tyler Smith (FY, Crofton, Md. / Archbishop Spalding) who tied the game. As Hoff singled to center, a bobble by the Highlanders' outfield allowed Linton to score from third. Hoff scored on a Middlebrooks fielder's choice and Deskins hit in Middlebrooks one batter later.
- The fifth inning saw a lot of offense as well. Cairn opened the inning by loading the bases and tied the game three consecutive at-bats concluding with a Sam Spadea double to center. Wilson was able to avoid further damage by getting out of the inning on a double play.
- The Blue and White jumped back ahead with four runs in the bottom of the frame. Gibbons singled to center to bring in Taylor for an 8-7 lead, and scored himself on a Hoff base hit two batters later. Middlebrooks brought in two more on a hard hit through the left side that allowed Hoff and Linton to score for an 11-7 advantage.
- Cairn attempted to rally with a run in the eighth, but the Phoenix added two insurance runs afterwards. Jordan McKenzie (Sr., White Plains, Md. / North Point) led off with a single to left and scored after another misplay by the Cairn outfield on a Jordan Daphney (Jr., Countryside, Fla. / Countryside) single. Daphney capped the Wilson scoring on a fielder's choice by Gibbons later in the inning. Cairn added one in the ninth, but left two stranded to end the game.
How It Happened
- Hoff and Middlebrooks went 4-for-6 and 4-for-5, respectively. Hoff scored thrice and hit in two RBI, while Middlebrooks scored twice and hit in three runs.
- Linton was strong as well with a three-hit game in five at-bats. He scored twice and added an RBI.
- Deskins, Daphney, Taylor and Smith also had multiple hit games.
- Hunter Griebel (Sr., Stevensville, Md. / Kent Island) recorded the win to improve to 2-0 on the season after he came on in relief and three 3.1 innings.
- Friday's game was the 15th time in program history (six seasons) that Wilson has recorded 20 or more hits in a single game.
Up Next
The Phoenix and Highlanders will do it again tomorrow afternoon with a doubleheader in Langhorne. First pitch is set for 12 p.m.
