Patrick Gordon

By Memorial Day, the standings begin feeling less accidental. The numbers stop lying quite as much. The cold-weather excuses disappear.

Aaron Nola delivered six strong innings as the Phillies beat the Padres behind home runs from Harper and Turner.

The numbers matter. The awards matter. The wins matter. But the larger story matters, too.

West Chester enters the NCAA Division II National Finals in Cary as the No. 1 seed, carrying a 20-2 surge and championship aspirations.

The Phillies head to Los Angeles after sweeping San Diego. Zack Wheeler and Andrew Painter face a Dodgers club atop the NL.

West Chester scored five first-inning runs and cruised past Indianapolis 12-3 to open play at the NCAA Division II National Finals.

Zack Wheeler allowed four solo home runs as the Phillies managed just two runs in a 4-2 loss to the Dodgers Friday night.

Edmundo Sosa redeemed an earlier strikeout with a go-ahead two-run homer as the Phillies rallied past the Dodgers, 4-3, in Los Angeles.

It probably didn't feel like one. For the third consecutive day, the Dodgers reminded Philadelphia what a championship-caliber lineup looks like when it senses vulnerability.

That's where West Chester finds itself after another dominant offensive performance and another step toward a return to the Division II National Championship Series.