The Phoenix baseball team is finding its groove.

After a 1-3 start to the season, the Pirates took a four-game winning streak into the start of Skyline Conference play on April 12 (when they were set to open a three-game series against Henley). Phoenix enters conference play with a 5-3 record and is ranked 20th in the state.

Solid pitching and steady offense keyed the winning surge as Phoenix outscored opponents 28-4 during the winning stretch. Julius Bolstad and  Andrew Hull, both seniors, are anchoring the pitching staff while several others have chipped in solid relief innings.

Cory Cunningham (first base) is the other senior who is a regular starter. Classmates Braydon Bourdon and Hunter Everhart are both working as utility players for the Pirates.

Hull and junior Jackson Shilts share the catching duties. Junior Ryan Watts returns at shortstop while Kaden Sousa, a sophomore, is back at third base. Freshmen Luke Jennings and Chris Phillips are both utility infielders while classmate Caidon Darcy has seen time in the outfield as a freshmen. Junior Tanner Norris is the regular starter in right field. Bolstad and Shilts both work in the outfield when not pitching (Bolstad) or catching.(Shilts). Sophomore Griffin James is also a utility player. 

Interview with PHS Baseball Coach Bill Hutchinson