(TEANECK, N.J.) – The season will continue as No. 9 Wilson eliminated No. 8 St. Elizabeth in the first round of the United East Championship on Tuesday.
Jordan Daphney (Sr., Countryside, Fla. / Countryside) and
Harry Middlebrooks (So., Bel Air, Md. / Archbishop Curley) paved the way as the duo went a combined 7-for-11 with six RBIs and two runs scored.
The Basics
Score: No. 9 Wilson 9, No. 8 Saint Elizabeth 5
Venue: Naimoli Family Baseball Complex
Records: Wilson 9-25, Saint Elizabeth 16-23
How It Happened
- The Phoenix took an early lead as Daphney drove in Samuel Martin (So., Maugansville, Md. / North Hagerstown / Hagerstown C.C.) from second with a base hit to right center in the first inning. After a 1-2-3 bottom half, Wilson added a four-spot in the second. Three of the first four batters got on to load the bases and set up Middlebrooks who doubled down the left field line to score Seth Bivens (Jr., Hancock, Md. / Hancock / Hagerstown C.C.) and Brade Bakner (5th, Waynesboro, Pa. / Scotland Campus). Tyler Smith (So., Crofton, Md. / Archbishop Spalding) followed up with a two-bagger to the same location that brought in Martin and Middlebrooks.
- Middlebrooks wasn't done as he repeated his efforts with another double that was down the left field line once again in the fifth inning. This time Martin and Bivens scored to put Wilson up 7-0.
- The long ball started to come into play for both sides starting with Wilson in the sixth. Daphney drilled a solo shot over the right field fence to make it 8-0, while Ryan Torres (Sr., Baltimore, Md. / Archbishop Curley) did the same to lead off the top of the eighth. The bottom half of the eighth saw the Eagles start to rally and, following a run scored on a fielder's choice, hit a three-run homer to left to bring the score to 9-4.
- Saint Elizabeth threatened again in the ninth with three of the first four batters getting on with Smith retiring the odd man out on strikes. A ground out to third plated one run, but Smith was able to get the next batter to do the same and Torres was able to connect with Daphney to end the threat and advance the Phoenix to the second round this weekend.
Inside The Numbers
- Chase Supensky (Jr., Baltimore, Md. / Towson) started on the bump for the Phoenix and had arguably his best game of the season. The southpaw threw seven shutout innings of four-hit ball while punching out four with no walks to improve to 3-2 on the season. He has recorded wins in three of his last four appearances. The 7.0 innings of work are a season high.
- Middlebrooks continues to have an outstanding season with a 3-for-5 day with two doubles. He leads the league in overall hits with 41, doubles with 15, and RBIs with 38.
- Middlebrooks put together an 11-game hit streak earlier this season for the longest on the team. He is currently on a seven-game streak after today which is the second-longest. On top of that, currently on a 25-game streak in which he has reached base safely.
- Torres' homer was his second of the season. He is now on a five-game hit streak with multiple hits in three of his past five games.
- Daphney's four-hit game was his second of the season.
- Today's game was the first time that Wilson and Saint Elizabeth have met in the postseason. Wilson leads the all-time series 10-1.
Up Next
A familiar foe is next up on the docket as the Phoenix return to La Plume to take on top seed and defending champion Keystone. It will be a best-of-three series with a doubleheader scheduled for Friday with the first pitch set for 12 p.m. A third game will be played Saturday at 1 p.m. if necessary.
