CHAMBERSBURG, PA - Cairn drops both games of the CSAC semifinal series against the Wilson College Phoenix on walk-off singles to bow out of the CSAC postseason tournament.

After postponing the start of the series due to weather, the Highlanders took the field in Chambersburg on Saturday as the three seed, facing the host school, #2 seeded Wilson College. During the regular season, the Highlanders split their doubleheader matchup with the Phoenix, setting the stage for a tough battle in the semifinals. In the best-of-three series, the teams were set to play twice on Saturday; if needed, the winner-take-all third game would take place Sunday morning. 

GAME ONE: Neither team could get their offense going early, as both teams stayed scoreless through the first three innings. Cairn opened the scoring in the top of the fourth with a bang, as senior third baseman Brian Amantia Jr. stepped to the plate and hit a bomb to right field for his third home run of the season, putting the Highlanders up 1-0. In the bottom of the fourth, the Phoenix responded, capitalizing on a walk and three singles to plate a run of their own and tie the game 1-1. Cairn retook the lead in the next inning, with Joe Greenwood and Joshua Melchior getting on base with back-to-back singles. A single by Trey Valiton scored Greenwood, making it 2-1, followed by an error on Wilson's catcher to score Melchior for a 3-1 lead. The Highlanders were unfortunately unable to plate any more runs in the game, despite putting runners on third in both the sixth and eighth innings. Wilson tied things up with an RBI single in the sixth and another RBI single in the eight, and both teams were headed to extra innings all squared up at 3-3. The Phoenix's closer shut the Highlanders down in the top of the tenth with three straight strikeouts, and Wilson was able to complete their comeback in the bottom of the tenth, with a single, a sacrifice bunt, and a walk-off single to right field to take game one 4-3. 

The Highlanders' starting pitcher in game one, Carson Conradt, went 6.0 innings, allowing 2 runs while striking out three. 

At the plate, the Highlanders were led by shortstop Joshua Melchior, who went 2-5 with a run scored. Hits in general were hard to come by for the Highlanders, as the Phoenix's starting pitcher struck out an impressive 17 Cairn batters in 7.0 innings of work.

GAME TWO: Now down 1-0 in the series, Cairn was determined to force the deciding third game on Sunday, and got their offense started early in game two. Joshua Melchior stroked a single to right field to get on base, and then senior left fielder Trey Valiton had one of his biggest hits of his career, a deep shot over the fence for a two-run homer that put the Highlanders up 2-0 early. The Phoenix were forced to pull their starter and rely on relief pitching for the rest of the game. 

Unfortunately, that first-inning home run would be the extent of the Highlanders' offense, as they were unable to record a hit for the rest of the game. Wilson was able to battle back from their two-run deficit, scoring a run in the fourth and in the sixth on mirror-image plays: a triple, followed by an RBI-groundout. Locked at 2-2, the Highlanders and Phoenix battled through the next few innings. Freshman pitcher Connor Ferguson, who came in to pitch in relief in the seventh and eigth innings, was able to work his way out of a bases-loaded jam in the seventh to keep the game tied. Cairn was able to get a runner aboard in the top of the ninth when Trey Valiton worked a leadoff walk, but two straight popouts and a flyout to left brought Wilson to plate with the opportunity to walk it off for a second time that day. A leadoff single got a runner aboard, and a Highlander error and a wild pitch put a man in scoring position on third base. Dean Mercer played hero for the Phoenix, with a rocket to the left side that caught Joshua Melchior up high and unable to field the ball in time. The Wilson runner crossed the plate, ending the game 3-2 and ending the Highlander's chances at a championship berth in heartbreaking fashion.

Starting pitcher Jake Kraihanzel made his final appearance of the season, going 6.0 innings and striking out one. 

Melchior's single and Valiton's home run were the Highlander's only two hits of the game; Valiton was also able to work two walks.

With the two losses, the Highlanders end their season at 11-9. Their postseason appearance against the Phoenix was only their second in program history.

Look for the Highlanders to have a busy offseason as they look to continue their recent growth and success in the future, starting with adding to their roster to replace the roles filled by graduating seniors Trey Valiton, Nat Ross, Bryan Stimpson, and Ben Spadea. In addition, the program is currently interviewing candidates for the permanent role of head coach, after former assistant coach Jeremy Hefele filled the head coaching role on an interim basis during the 2021 season.