(CHAMBERSBURG, Pa.) – After going through a gauntlet of three games on Monday, Wilson is your 2024 United East Skye Division champion. The Phoenix opened the day by resuming Game 5 of the tournament with Notre Dame and were able to eliminate the Gators in five innings. Needing to defeat the Ravens twice, the Blue and White received a pair of home runs from
Taylor Barker (Sr., Chehalis, Wash. / WF West) to help force another winner-take-all contest where
Payton Kendall (Jr., McConnellsburg, Pa. / Forbes Road) and
Haley Privett (Sr., Fayetteville, Pa. / Chambersburg Magnet) drove in four runs each to secure the championship.
The Basics
Scores: Game 1 – No. 1 Wilson 9, No. 3 Notre Dame 1 (5 Innings)
Game 2 – No. 1 Wilson 8, No. 2 Rosemont 5
Game 3 – No. 1 Wilson 12, No. 2 Rosemont 4
Venue: WC Softball Field
Records: Wilson 28-11, Rosemont 16-18, Notre Dame 20-18
How It Happened (Game 1 vs. Notre Dame)
- This game originally started on Saturday, but the two teams couldn't get through a full inning before weather forced its hand and delayed action until Monday. On Saturday, the Phoenix were able to retire the Gators in order before loading the bases to set up Barker who promptly cleared them with a double. An error allowed Kendall to score to make it 4-0 before the rains came and delayed the game for four hours.
- Once play resumed Madison Heuer (Jr., Greencastle, Pa. / Boonsboro) was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded once again to make the score 5-0 before rain halted the game until Monday. When the game resumed Alyssa Wenger (FY, Newville, Pa. / Big Spring) was able to bring in Caitlin Oliviero (FY, Wernersville, Pa. / Conrad Weiser) on a ground out to make it 6-0 after one.
- The Gators eventually got on the scoreboard in the top of the third. Julianna Leatherwood was responsible for the score as she sparked the Gators with a triple to left and completed the circle around the bases on a Bethani Newbold single.
- Wilson was able to get that run back in the bottom of the fourth as Lindsey Dalenberg (FY, Niles, Mich. / Edwardsburg) scored on a base hit up the middle by Kendall. One inning later Wilson enforced the mercy rule as Haiden Brookens (Sr., Fayetteville, Pa. / Chambersburg Magnet) received a bases loaded walk and Barker hit a single through the left side that scored Wenger.
How It Happened (Game 2 vs. Rosemont)
- Brookens got the ball rolling for the Phoenix in the first game against the Ravens as a base hit up the middle scored Dalenberg and Wenger. Rosemont, who were the designated home team on the scoreboard as a result of advancing to the final via the winners' bracket, answered with a run in the bottom of the first. Wilson was able to quickly regain momentum as Barker sent a laser over the left field fence for a two-run homer.
- Barker wasn't done. After a Brookens RBI single made the score 5-2 in the sixth, Barker nailed her second two-run round trip of the game with a shot to dead center to make the score 7-2.
- After Wenger scored in the top of the seventh, the Ravens made a rally late to try and come back. Rosemont was able to generate three runs on a two-RBI single and a sacrifice fly before the Phoenix closed out the game.
How It Happened (Game 3 vs. Rosemont)
- Rosemont struck first and carried a 2-1 lead into the third before Wilson broke the game wide open. With two outs in the top of the third – Wilson was once again the visiting team on the scoreboard – the Blue and White posted six runs to take a 6-2 lead. The go-ahead blow came when Kendall hit a bases-loaded double to score three of the runs. A bases-loaded walk to Wenger then made it 7-2.
- The Ravens didn't go away quietly and added two runs to get back within three, but Wilson also kept the foot on the gas with three more runs in the fourth. Privett walked with the bases loaded to open the scoring before Kendall scored on a muffed throw by the infield. Another bases-loaded walk, this time to Wenger, made it a 10-4 contest.
- Privett walked in another run in the fifth and hit in another run as her base knock to left scored Barker to set up the final scored.
Inside The Numbers
- Rylee Piper (FY, Newville, Pa. / Big Spring) was the pitcher of record in all three contests as she improved to 18-4 with the trifecta. Against the Gators she allowed one run on five hits with a pair of strikeouts. The first game against the Ravens Piper went the distance with three more punch outs. The deciding game saw Piper come on in relief and toss 4.0 innings and allowed just three hits and two walks the rest of the way.
- Barker had herself quite the day as she went a combined 7-for11 with eight RBI and five runs scored. Along with the two dingers, two hits were doubles and she added a pair of walks as well.
- Privett was a perfect 4-for-4 with four RBI and a walk in the final game of the day.
- Kendall may have only went 1-for-1 in the final game of the day, but she still managed four RBI thanks to a pair of walks.
Up Next
A trip to the NCAA tournament will be on the line as the Phoenix head to Williamsport to take on Penn this weekend. Two games are currently scheduled for Friday with a third game set for Saturday if needed.
