(CHAMBERSBURG, Pa.) – The United East Championship will have its Skye Division tournament run through Wilson as it secured the top seed with a sweep of Cedar Crest on Sunday afternoon. Knowing they needed two wins to win the regular season divisional crown outright, the Phoenix took care of business with a shortened opener before holding off the Falcons late in the finale.
The Basics
Scores: Game 1 – Wilson 12, Cedar Crest 2 (5 Innings)
Game 2 – Wilson 5, Cedar Crest 2
Venue: Wilson Softball Field
Records: Wilson 24-10, 13-3 Skye; Cedar Crest 4-24, 4-12 Skye
How It Happened (Game 1)
- The bulk of the scoring took place in the first two innings with Cedar Crest lighting up the scoreboard first. The visitors led off with a base hit to right. After a steal of second, an infield error allowed the runner to score for the early lead.
- The Phoenix didn't fret and quickly answered in the bottom of the frame. Lindsey Dalenberg (FY, Niles, Mich. / Edwardsburg) got things started with a base hit up the middle and promptly stole second. Taylor Barker (Sr., Chehalis, Wash. / WF West) brought her in on a base hit to right and later scored on a Peyton Kendall (Jr., McConnellsburg, Pa. / Forbes Road) base hit to right as well.
- The Falcons were able to tie the game in the top of the second, but Wilson had the last word and broke the game open in the bottom half of the inning. After the Blue and White loaded the bases, Dalenberg brought in the first run on a bases loaded walk. Haiden Brookens (Sr., Fayetteville, Pa. / Chambersburg Magnet) then cleared the bases on a double to left center that also score Alyssa Wenger (Sr., Chambersburg, Pa. / Chambersburg) and Madison Heuer (Jr., Greencastle, Pa. / Boonsboro). Four batters later Haley Privett (Sr., Fayetteville, Pa. / Chambersburg Magnet) recorded her second hit of the frame and it resulted in Barker and Kendall scoring for an 8-2 lead. Kiera O'Brine (FY, Dillsburg, Pa. / Northern) followed with an RBI single to score Madison Briggs (So., Lock Haven, Pa. / Central Mountain). Heuer closed the scoring with a double to left to score Privett and O'Brine for an 11-2 lead.
- Brookens put the final offensive touches on the game with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the third. That allowed Dalenberg to score for the third time in as many innings after she led off with her second walk of the game.
How It Happened (Game 2)
- The regular season finale proved to be a different story. Wilson benefited from another fast start, however, with three runs scored in the second. Heuer sparked some excitement with a triple to left center to score Emma-Leigh Gillingham (FY, Gettysburg, Pa. / Gettysburg) for the first run and later scored on a base hit by Brookens that also scored Dalenberg for a 3-0 lead.
- Briggs made it 4-0 for the Phoenix with another extra-base hit as she doubled to right center to score Jenna Dwyer (FY, Bel Air, Md. / C. Mlton Wright). Cedar Crest answered by plating a run in the top of the fourth with a bases-loaded ground out, but the Phoenix got out of the rest of the jam unscathed.
- Privett added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth as a base hit to center brought in Brookens. Brookens led off the from with a single to right and moved over on a sacrifice bunt and a wild pitch. Cedar Crest threatened in the seventh and added another run, but what appeared to be a sacrifice fly turned into a double play to end the game as the runner was called for leaving the base early.
Inside The Numbers
- Rylee Piper (FY, Newville, Pa. / Big Spring) had a busy day as she picked up the win in both contests. She started Game 1 and allowed two runs, one earned on three hits with five strikeouts in 3.0 innings of play. Game 2 saw her enter in a relief effort and pitch the final 3.2 innings and add another three strikeouts. She is now 14-3 on the season.
- Brookens was nearly unstoppable at the plate as she went a combined 4-for-5 with six RBI and a run scored. Privett and Heuer added three RBI each across both games.
Up Next
Wilson will be the top see in the Skye Division tournament where it will await the winner of No. 5 Clarks Summit and No. 4 Keystone's single elimination game on Wednesday. The four remaining teams will then play in a double-elimination backet starting on Friday. The first game for the Phoenix will take place at approximately noon on Friday following the conclusion of No. 3 Notre Dame and No. 2 Rosemont.
