(CHAMBERSBURG, Pa.) – A tale of two games took place between Wilson and Valley Forge as the two split a doubleheader in Skye Division action on Saturday afternoon. The Patriots opened the day with a pitchers' duel win before the Phoenix overcame an eight-run deficit in a slugfest sequel.
The Basics
Scores: Game 1 – Wilson 1, Valley Forge 4
Game 2 – Wilson 14, Valley Forge 12
Venue: Henninger Field
Records: Wilson 14-6, 8-4 Skye; Valley Forge 6-18, 1-8 Skye
How It Happened (Game 1)
- There wasn't much scoring through five innings save for one run by the visitors in the third. The Patriots' lead off runner reached on a walk, stole second, and scored on a double to right. The score remained dormant until the sixth when Valley Forge added three more. A passed ball allowed the first of those to score before a sacrifice fly made it 3-0. A wild pitch later made it 4-0.
- Wilson was able to answer in the bottom of the sixth, but only got one run out of the deal. Kodi Deskins led off with a double and moved to third on a single by Jack Pachella. Peyton Taylor brought him home on a ground out. That was as close as the Phoenix could get, however, as they left a pair stranded in the sixth and seventh.
How It Happened (Game 2)
- Valley Forge had the upper hand early and scored two runs to start the game. Wilson tied it up with solo runs in the first and second before the Patriots added eight more runs with five in the top of the fifth alone to take a 10-2 lead.
- The comeback started in the bottom of the sixth when Wilson scored a pair of runs. Jordan McKenzie led off with a triple to right and scored on a sacrifice fly by Tyler Gibbons. Three batters later Deskins lined one up the middle to score Haden Hoff.
- Valley Forge added two in the top of the seventh, but the Phoenix kept the bats' fresh with seven runs in the bottom of the frame. McKenzie opened the scoring with a base hit to left to score Jack Pachella and Kade Linton took one for the team as he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to score Taylor. Harry Middlebrooks doubled in McKenzie and Gibbons while Jordan Daphney hit in Middlebrooks and Linton to make the score 12-10. In his second at-bat of the inning, McKenzie hit in another run as Deskins scored on a single up the middle.
- The comeback was made complete as Wilson scored three in the bottom of the eighth. Linton led off with a walk and eventually scored on a wild pitch to tie the game. Middlebrooks immediately followed with a base hit to right field to score Hoff for the go-ahead run. Daphney added an insurance run with a base hit up the middle to score Middlebrooks.
Inside The Numbers
- Emilio Rodriguez was the tough luck loser of Game 1 despite a solid outing as the starter. He struck out six and allowed two runs, one earned on three hits and a walk in 5.1 innings of work.
- Logan Frazier got the win for the Phoenix in Game 2. He tossed the final two frames for the Blue and White with no runs scored on two hits and a walk.
- Daphney crushed the ball in Game 2 by going 5-for-6 with four RBI.
- McKenzie was also strong in the nightcap by going 3-for-5 with two RBI and three runs scored.
- Middlebrooks was 2-for-5 with three RBI and two runs scored.
Up Next
Wilson heads up I-81 to take on Penn State Harrisburg for a non-conference contest.
