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10- ADVERTISER - Lampeter-Strasburg Edition - April 27, 2022 SPORTS Conestoga Valley • Donegal • Elizabethtown Garden Spot • Hempfield Lampeter-Strasburg • Manheim Central Penn Manor • Pequea Valley • Solanco MORE SPORTS PICTURES and other high school sports news at

Pioneer Track Teams Poised to Top Solanco

BY MONA STEINHAUER

In weather more suitable for football playoffs, the Pioneers traveled south, but not to warmer weather, where they battled the Golden Mules. Due to the strong winds, the pole vault competition was postponed until April 22. Tuesday’s results left the girls’ team comfortably in front, 86-55 while the boys held a slim 72-69 edge and will need four points to pull out the win.

“I knew it would be close but didn’t expect it to be this close,” said head coach Cal Esh. “They need a first and second to win. On paper, we’re in good position but someone still has to finish the job.”

Madison Malcom was tops in both hurdle events and took second in the 200.

The Pioneers also won all three relays with Tori Heiserman, Olivia Magagna, Olivia Tatman and Jaclyn Martin taking the 4x800 and Martin, Mikayla Coe, Magagna, and Keira Smecker winning the 4x400. In the 4x100 it was Myers, Elly Bruner, Madi Weichler and Lyndi Wall, who also nipped Katie Urbine to take the 100. Smecker added a first in the mile and Bruner won the long jump.

L-S also swept the high jump (Alexis Moran, Bruner, and Bella Hirschman).

Sabrina Philips added the top triple jump, with Moran taking second and Maggie Swarr won the javelin and finished second in the shot.

Teagan Weaver did his usual and won four events (triple, long, 100 and 200) and Luka Vranich took the mile and anchored both the 3200 (Ben Devine, Eric Doutrich, Parker Stoner) and the 4x100 (Stoner, Doutrich, Aidan Black) which was close until he got the baton.

Colin Whitaker added wins in the 800 and 3200. Other winners included Black (400), Zach Mulron (300 hurdles), Jordan Thode (discus) and Aiden Jones (javelin).

SOFTBALL

In a key Section Two clash Thursday, April 14, Solanco’s slow start proved costly as Lampeter-Strasburg, the reigning Class 5A state champs, took advantage of two first inning errors, and added timely hitting to jump out to a 5-0 lead that sparked an 8-3 Pioneer victory. It was Solanco’s first loss of the season. A walk, a one out error and a hit batter loaded the bags early. Kara Scranton added a two run double and Gabby Hiles smacked a liner off Anna Sexton in the circle that plated a third run. A throwing error on a dropped third strike wild pitch scored two more. Solanco got one back in the bottom half but Keiva Middleton’s solo homer in the fifth pushed the lead back to four. Both teams traded a pair of runs in the seventh. With two outs, the Pioneers collected three straight hits (Brooke Zuber, Scranton with a double, and Hiles) to cap their scoring.

Middleton fanned ten batters and walked one and scattered six hits.

Wednesday the Pioneers pounded out 10 hits, took advantage of five errors and three walks to pick up an 8-1 crossover win over Manheim Township. They led 3-1 in the first and scored single runs over the next five innings. Zuber went 3-3 with a homer and two RBIs. Hiles and Meck each added two hits and one RBI.

Middleton took control from the circle, tossing a onehitter with 12 strikeouts.

GIRLS’ LACROSSE

With a solid 19-7 victory over Penn Manor on Thursday, April 14, the girls’ lacrosse team kept pace with Manheim Township and Hempfield as the only undefeated teams in the section to date.

The Pioneers used a 13-3 run through the first half to take control. Hannah Gawne and Rowan Kimmel racked up five goals each while Hannah Cissne and Leigh Saurbaugh added hat tricks to round out the multiple goal scorers.

That unbeaten run, however, ended with Lampeter’s 12-7 loss to Hempfield on a frigid Tuesday night in Landisville. But the Knights came out blazing, scoring the first seven goals to take control. They led 10-3 at the half which was enough to offset a strong second half by the Pioneers who outscored the hots 4-2.

Gawne led the way with three goals and two assists. Kimmel, Cissne, Ryan Logan and Abigail Welchans rounded out the scoring.

BOYS’ LACROSSE

With a solid 11-7 win over Penn Manor in the Backyard Bash/Whitey game Thursday, April 14, the boys’ lacrosse team kept its undefeated streak alive (9-0). The Pioneers used a 3-0 first quarter lead to take control and extended its advantage to 9-5 with a 5-3 third quarter.

Stewart McClain (2a) and Barrett Denlinger (1a) notched a pair of hat tricks while Zach Labreque (2a) and Jack Fillius added two goals each. Collin Sullivan (1g, 1a) also contributed.

Bryce Thomas earned the win in goal with nine saves.

With a 12-1 result over Garden Spot Tuesday, the 19th, the Pioneers took one step closer to clinching the Section Two title. They led 4-0 in the first quarter and never looked back. Spot prevented the shutout with a second period tally.

Labreque’s four goals and one assist led a balanced offensive effort. Chris Barber (3g), McClain (2g, 2a), Sullivan (2g, 2a) and Fillius (1g) rounded out the scoring.

BASEBALL

With the rotating of pitchers being an integral part of baseball strategy, the Pioneers were unfortunate in their crossover game against Section Three leader Manheim Central, Thursday, April 14. They faced junior standout Jared Murray (11K) who started the season with 16 hitless innings. L-S managed a pair, one each from Brayden Adams and Isaiah Parido, but suffered a 6-1 defeat.

The Barons scored all the runs they needed with a five spot in the third and tacked on one in the fifth. LS scored its only run in the top of the sixth. Adams singled, went to third on a ground out and scored on a fielder’s choice groundout by Peyton Harsh.

Jason Long took the loss for LS, giving up five hits and six runs with six strikeouts over 4 1/3 innings.

In a noon game on Monday, April 18, the Pioneers beat the weather but couldn’t get past the Comets, bowing out 5-1. It was their third straight loss.

Manor, outhitting the Pioneers 9-5, scored four times in the second inning.

Jason Long collected two of Lampeter’s five hits and Andrew Whitehead added a run scoring single in the fourth inning. Gehrig Harsh took the loss on the hill, striking out three, walking three and giving up nine hits in five innings. Anthony Turek struck out two in the final inning.

TENNIS

The boys’ tennis team collected its third straight win and fourth shutout of the season with a 7-0 result against Garden Spot on April 13.

Weston Weaver and Andrew Reidenbaugh, playing No. 1 doubles, the Teaman brothers at No. 2 and Jack Harnish and Kyle Pawson, playing No. 3 surrendered just two games and quickly put L-S on top, 3-0.

Reidenbaugh (No 2) and Spencer Teaman (No. 3) both recorded straight set shutouts in singles while Weaver surrendered two games at No. 1 and Cole Teaman one game at No. 4 to round out the scoring.

L-S improved to 6-0 in the section with a 6-1 win over Cocalico Wednesday. Three doubles team wins gave L-S the early lead. Weaver worked a 7-6, 6-0 win at No. 1 while Reidenbaugh came from behind to win 4-6, 7-6, 10-6. The Teaman brothers wrapped up the action with straight set wins.

photo by Mona Steinhauer

Last Tuesday, in a tightly contested 100 meter dash in Quarryville, Solanco’s Katie Urbine (2nd) is just steps behind Lynde Wall (1st) and steps ahead of Maddie Weichler. for more photos visit www.townlively.com