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8- ADVERTISER - Lampeter-Strasburg Edition - September 28, 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

Golf Team Clinches 11th Section Title, 3rd Straight

BY MONA STEINHAUER

The Pioneer golfers clinched its 11th section title in program history and third straight with a 322 team score at Mocassin Run Thursday, Sept. 15.

“It was a windy day, and the greens were a bit hard,” said head coach Mike Chiodo, “so the scores were a bit higher. We’re 25-0 and have a good chance to finish undefeated for the second year in a row.”

Elco sits in second place at 18-7 and they were 30 strokes back at Mocassin Run.

Ben Wilson’s 75 was the lowest score of the day. Drew Wilson (79), Morgan Smith (82) and Addison Rosa (86) rounded out the counters with both Jason Long and Kenny Finn challenging with 90s.

FOOTBALL

The gridiron team posted its second shutout of the season with a 35-0 romp over hosting Donegal, Friday, Sept. 16 in the Section Four opener.

Carson Coleman (16 carries for 92 yards) rushed for a pair of short touchdowns in the second quarter and Hunter Hildenbrand hauled in a 49yard strike from Trent Wagner (10-for-13 for 120 yards) for a 21-yard halftime advantage.

Hildenbrand added a fiveyard run in the third quarter and Jonathan Mellinger (91 yards on 15 carries) scrambled four yards to paydirt in the fourth to cap the scoring. Peter Fiorello booted four successful PAT’s.

“Our line did a great job opening holes for our backs and our defense was stellar,” praised head coach Victory Ridenour. “We still have some things to clean up, but we’re playing well as a team.

“I think our ability to stay aggressive with the run game and our defenses’ ability to pressure the line of scrimmage made a difference down the stretch.”

Caileb Howse hauled in five receptions for 45 yards while Dean Herr added one interception and Harry Wohlgemuth and Jackson Heeter (1 sack) combined for 22 tackles, including a combined seven for a loss, to anchor the defense. The Pioneers racked up 385 total yards and held the Indians to 141 in the shutout.

TENNIS

After suffering two straight losses, the tennis team is back on track. Over the last week they defeated Red Lion 5-2 and then, stopped Elizabethtown 5-2, and blanked Garden Spot Monday and Tuesday last week.

They currently sit at 9-2 overall with seven shutouts.

VOLLEYBALL

The volleyball team notched its second win of the season with a solid 25-22, 25-17, 25-16 result at home against Cocalico on the 15th.

“I thought the girls played well,” said head coach Sharon Mullin. “I changed the offense from a 6-2 to a 5-1 and the result was more kills by key players (Jenna Hoover and Rachel Mann). Off the bench, Bella Heyser came in with a hitting % of .430.”

Hoover topped the stat charts with 12 kills, 5 blocks and 6 digs. Emily Mullin dished 34 assists, Mann served up 4 aces and Megan Platt recorded 6 digs.

Last Tuesday they met up with the undefeated Mounts of Ephrata and put up a good showing despite a 3-1 loss. Down 2-0 in sets, L-S pulled out a 26-24 third set but couldn’t maintain the momentum, dropping the final set 25-17.

Mullin put up 25 assists and blocked seven times to lead the way. Mann was tops with 10 kills while Platt and Natalie Holland each served a pair of aces. Sachi Singh led with 15 digs.

CROSS COUNTRY

In cross country action last week, the harrier teams turned in medal winning efforts at the Ben Bloser Bulldog Invitational at Big Spring on Saturday, Sept. 24.

Senior Ben Devine recorded the fastest AA time with a 16:29.2 with teammates Parker Stoner (3rd) and Luke Smith (7th) also grabbing top ten medals. The boys finished second (72 points) behind Wyomissing (67).

The girls, who finished third overall, were led by Keira Smecker’s 11th place finish. Jaclyn Martin (22nd) and Merin Kauffman (25th) also secured top 25 medals.

Colin Whitaker was also in action Saturday. He posted a 15:04 to finish in fourth place at the Adidas XC Challenge in Gary, North Carolina.

BOYS’ SOCCER

After securing three straight shutouts, including a 3-0 result over Garden Spot Sept. 15 and a 2-0 final at Wyomissing two days later, the boys’ soccer team suffered its first shutout loss of the year, 3-0 at Elizabethtown last Monday.

“The defense has been playing extremely well, giving our offense the confidence to be creative and continually take risks to try and put balls in the back of the net,” said head coach Chris Garaffa of the shutouts. “That being said, they are doing just that.”

Landon Rice scored twice against the Spartans and Dan Marcroft added one while Jack Frego and Rice were credited with goals against Wyomissing.

Three different players scored for the Bears who lead Section Two with 32 goals scored to date.

Last Wednesday at home, Jack Kelly assisted Dan Marcroft not once but twice in a 2-0 victory over Ephrata, moving the Pioneers to 6-2 overall.

FIELD HOCKEY

The field hockey team fell to 3-5 overall with mixed results over the last week. Friday the 16th they managed a 2-1 win over Cedar Crest but then dropped a 4-1 result at Elizabethtown last Monday.

Despite dominating the circle with a 15-5 advantage in corners and a 9-6 edge in shots, it was Cedar Crest that opened with a 1-0 lead in the first quarter. L-S didn’t take control until the third, scoring the tying and winning goals just over four minutes apart. Lyndi Wall, assisted by Kara Scranton, and Kenzie Westerlund, assisted by Wall, provided the needed offense.

“Kenzie and Kara had outstanding performances,” said head coach Katrina Swarr. “Kenzie scored her first varsity goal, and we moved Kara to midfield because she was aggressive and determined to score. Lyndi had endless energy which allowed us to move the ball down the field quickly and Audrey O’Neil was called upon to play several positions and adjusted nicely.”

Against the Bears on Monday the Pioneer just could not get going. They were down 21 at the half and gave up two fourth quarter goals.

“We had ten corners but only converted one, Tori Heiserman in the second quarter,” said Swarr. “Kara, Maggie (Swarr) and Breigh (Bauer) kept us in it. We had two more defensive saves and numerous outstanding defensive combinations with the backs and Ally Raub, but we couldn’t convert on offense.”

GIRLS’ SOCCER

The girls’ soccer team notched its first win of the season with a hard-fought 3-1 final against visiting Garden Spot Thursday, Sept. 15.

Sophia Rhodes, in a volley off a corner, put LS on the board early in the game but the Spartans knocked in the equalizer eight minutes before halftime. Madison Baker’s goal in the 64th minute proved to be the game-winner while Leigha Saurbaugh, who beat the keeper with two minutes remaining, iced the victory.

“Leigha showed great composure to score that goal,” said head coach Taylor Garraffa. “The girls have been working hard so it was nice to finally have the score match our efforts.”

In another nailbiter Monday, the Bears broke a 1-1 halftime tie with a pair of second half tallies and escaped Lampeter with a 3-2 victory.

Chloe Bucher scored once and assisted Kali O’Connor with Lampeter’s second goal.

Photo by Bob Diller

Pioneers Landon Coronado (71) and Braden Bauer set up to double-team Donegal’s Caleb Kendig during Lampeter-Strasburg’s 35-0, Section Four victory in Mount Joy on September 16.