(CHAMBERSBURG, Pa.) – Day 1 on the United East Championship Skye Division Tournament is in the books and top-seed Wilson remains in the mix after opening the day with a win against Clarks Summit. However the Phoenix dropped their second game of the day and will be forced to play Notre Dame in an elimination game on Saturday morning.
The Basics
Scores: Game 1 – No. 1 Wilson 9, No. 5 Clarks Summit 0 (5 Innings)
Game 2 – No. 1 Wilson 5, No. 2 Rosemont 14
Venue: Wilson Softball Field
Records: No. 1 Wilson 25-11
No. 2 Rosemont 16-16
No. 5 Clarks Summit 21-17-1
How It Happened (Game 1 vs. Clarks Summit)
- Wilson's offense showed up early in the opener and remained a factor for the rest of the game. Alyssa Wenger (Sr. Chambersburg, Pa. / Chambersburg) lit the fuse with a leadoff walk and promptly stole second to get in scoring position. Her speed proved pivotal as after a bunt single by Haiden Brookens (Sr., Fayetteville, Pa. / Chambersburg Magnet), Wenger was able to get home with ease after an infield error. In the second inning Wenger added to the Phoenix lead as a base hit up the middle brought in Caitlin Oliviero (FY, Wernersville, Pa. / Conrad Weiser). One batter later Lindsey Dalenberg (FY, Niles, Mich. / Edwardsburg) made it 3-0 as her fielder's choice allowed Maddy Heuer (Jr., Greencastle, Pa. / Boonsboro) to score.
- Three more runs followed in the third which started with a Taylor Barker (Sr., Chehalis, Wash. / WF West) line drive up the middle. After the next two batters were hit by pitches, Haley Privett (Sr., Fayetteville, Pa. / Chambersburg Magnet) singled to right center to bring in Barker and Payton Kendall (XXX). Two batters later Heuer hit in Madison Briggs (So. Lock Haven, Pa. / Central Mountain) for a 6-0 lead.
- Barker and Briggs added to the lead in the fourth with a pair of extra base hits. Barker belted a triple to right center to score Brookens and Briggs later brought her in on a double to left that also scored Waverly Moffett (FY, Westminster, Md. / Winter Mill). A quick 1-2-3 inning in the top of the fifth then closed out the game.
How It Happened (Game 2 vs. Rosemont)
- The offense carried over at the start of the winners' bracket game against No. 2 Rosemont who just finished up a game with No. 3 Notre Dame. Although the Ravens scored a run in the opening frame, Wilson pulled even on a Briggs RBI double that scored Kendall from first. Brookens then put the Blue and White in front on a triple to right that scored Heuer and Dalenberg. Barker and Kendall both followed up with RBI's to put the Phoenix up 5-1 after three.
- Unfortunately for the Phoenix, the Ravens' offense started to generate momentum in a big way. Three runs in the fourth put them within one before the floodgates opened with a seven-run fifth made it an 11-5 game. Rosemont set up the final score with three runs in the seventh.
Inside The Numbers
- Barker and Heuer highlighted the offense on Day 1 as they both had three-hit days. The runs came with them as Barker scored thrice with two RBI and Heuer scored two times with an RBI.
- Rylee Piper (FY, Newville, Pa. / Big Spring) was the pitcher of record in both contests as she moved her record to 15-4 on the season. Game 1 was the highlight as she opened the day with a four-hit blanking of the Defenders.
Up Next
The Phoenix will fight to keep the season alive on Saturday morning as they square off with No. 3 Notre Dame at 9 a.m. in an elimination game.
