PV baseball loses 4-3 lead in District opener

BY ARA GIRGORIAN

The Pequea Valley baseball team was unable to hold its brief 4-3 lead in the third inning of Monday’s District Three Class 3A playoff game at Trinity High School.

The Shamrocks came back to tie the score in the home half of the opening-round game at Camp Hill. A four-run fourth and six runs in the sixth spelled the end of the Braves’ (12-9) quest for advancement.

Ryan Balaban slugged a home run and drove in two runs for the Shamrocks. Josiah Bowie hit a solo home run to lead Trinity to a 14-4 win.

In the four-run third inning by Pequea, sophomores

Stephen Smucker and Dominick Burrell each drove in a run as did junior Jayden Stoltzfus, who doubled in a run and came around to score one.

Peyton Temple, who went 1-for-3, also came around to score. The Braves were held to five hits, including a single by freshman Logan Zynn, who also scored a run.

In this year’s format of taking seven teams from Class 3A into districts, seeds 2 through 7 face off in the first round with the three winners and the top seed making up the semi-finals.

Softball

The Pequea softball team also suffered a 14-4 loss on the road in the district playoffs. The sixth-seeded Braves traveled to Duncannon where they faced the number three seed Susquenita Lady Hawks on Monday, May 22, for a first-round game in District Three 3A games.

“We got their first two batters out and couldn’t get out the next eight,” Doug High, the Braves’ head coach, said of the Hawks’ six-run first inning.

The Hawks carried an 8-1 lead into the third inning where the Braves trimmed the lead to 8-3.

“Olivia Clark had a nice double to drive in two runs,” High explained.

Freshman Lena Beckenbaugh belted a three-run home run to help the Hawks. Sophomore Tierney Stuempfle went 2-for-2 with a double and three runs scored. She also reached base on a walk and was hit by a pitch.

Pequea freshman Izzy Graham led the offense with a 2for-3 game, including two runs scored. Chavelle Fisher also had a double and a run batted in. Carissa Mulder went 1-for-2 with a run. Victoria Smoker stroked an RBI single.

The Hawks improved to 183 while the Braves’ season ended at 12-9.

“We set out to make it to the post-season,” High said, looking back on the 2023 campaign. “We accomplished that goal.

“It was a nice to see the team turn it around,” continued the coach. “We went from five wins last year to 12 wins this year and getting to districts.

“Izzy Graham and Carissa Mulder are two of our best hitters,” said High. While Mulder, who wrapped up her junior season, and Graham are expected back next year, the Braves bid farewell to some key seniors.

“Madison Clark played third base for us this year,” High said. “She was at second base the last two years and I moved her to third this year. She did a nice job.

“Second base was also a senior,” he added. “Shania Smoker moved from short. Between the two of them, they had two position changes as seniors - for the good of the team. They did admirable jobs.

“Olivia Clark was our catcher, and she minimized the stolen bases for sure,” High added.

Staying with the middle of the field, the Braves will also say farewell to their center fielder Sarah Arment and pitcher Mackenzie Musser.

“She had tremendous range,” High said. “If the ball would go off the bat and anywhere from right-center to left-center, you didn’t need to worry; Sarah was going to catch it.

“Mackenzie had the most innings pitched for us,” High concluded.

TRACK & FIELD

At the District Three Class 2A Track & Field Championships, Pequea’s cross country standout Aubrey Ressler came through with excellent finishes.

The freshman competed in three of the girls’ events in the two-day championships, which were held at Shippensburg University on Friday and Saturday, May 19-20.

Ressler finished 13th in the 800-meter race at a pace of 2:39.25. She also ran the 1,600 in 5:41.16, earning seventh place.

In the 3200, Ressler raced to a fifth-place finish, registering a time of 12:17.50.

Cheerleading is open to boys and girls of any age. Coach Sophon Bowman works with the team members on cheers, and they cheer for the flag football teams and then perform during a break between games and at the end of the game. Wiedemer has connected with the World Cup Jupiter special needs cheering team, which practices at Spooky Nook, for a visit with the Challenger team. “The (World Cup Jupiter cheerleaders) will come and do their routine,” said Wiedemer, who is also working to bring the Philadelphia Eagles Cheerleaders to a game to do a clinic with the cheer team. “I try to have guests each week,” said Wiedemer, who is also in touch with an internationally known magician from Philadelphia about a guest appearance.

Wiedemer first got involved in the program about seven years ago, noting that she and her husband had often talked about doing this type of volunteer work. She said that 10 volunteers per game are needed for a successful program. Individuals who wish to volunteer may email teresaw@udsfoundation.org or call 717-715-8775.

There is no cost for individuals with disabilities to take part in Challenger football or cheerleading. Registration is now open at www.udservices .org/Challenger. Those who register by Friday, June 9, will receive a free T-shirt. A parent or guardian must remain at

Calvary with the participant throughout the program.

Wiedemer said in 2022, about 45 participants joined the program. This year, she would like to have 60 participants to have plenty of players for each team. Wiedemer noted that the program is open to participants from within and outside Lancaster County.

With aims to combat health disparities and advance fitness and friendships among adolescent girls, Rite Aid Healthy Futures has renewed its partnership with Girls on the Run (GOTR) through a $1 million grant supporting the organization’s continued inclusion, diversity, equity and access (IDEA) work. The announcement comes as local GOTR councils prepare for their end-of-season 5Ks.

GOTR’s experience-based curriculum integrates running to inspire girls to be joyful, healthy and confident. The organization currently operates 171 local councils across the United States and Canada, serving nearly 200,000 girls annually.

The recent funding marks the third year of partnership between GOTR and Rite Aid Healthy Futures, the public charity affiliated with Rite Aid. The grant supports the two organizations’ shared commitment to strengthening and empowering local communities.

The $1 million grant will benefit the GOTR headquarters as well as the 50 local councils in Healthy Futures’ footprint, with funding focused on the continued development of GOTR’s IDEA program. In particular, GOTR is focused on reaching girls from underserved communities, promoting a culture of inclusion across the organization, building a culturally competent curriculum and increasing local resources in key communities.

Local councils will use the funds to diversify their coaching staff, increase program access for girls of color and further enhance programming that acknowledges the needs and realities of their communities. Funds will also go to strengthening the orga- nization’s core programming and training while supporting sustainability across local councils, many of which are still recovering from the impacts of COVID-19.

The partnership between Healthy Futures and GOTR was established in 2020, with an initial grant of $1 million supporting programming during the pandemic. The 2020 grant contributed to GOTR’s swiftly adapting services and programming to serve girls meaningfully and safely during the pandemic.

Together with donors, Rite Aid associates, community partners and neighbors, Rite Aid Healthy Futures, formerly known as the Rite Aid Foundaion, has donated more than $15 million a year to causes, initiatives and organizations that make a difference in people’s lives. Visit www.RiteAidHealthyFutures.org to learn more.

COBYS Family Services will offer several options for resource family information sessions. Interested families will receive a recorded webinar, allowing participants time to take notes and develop questions prior to participating in a live meeting.

An in-person session will be available at 6 p.m. on Tues- day, June 20, at the COBYS Murry Hill Center office, 444 Murry Hill Circle, Lancaster. Virtual sessions will take place at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, June 6, and at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, June 14. The meetings will be 90 minutes in length.

The information sessions are designed for families that want to learn more about foster care and adoption through foster care. During each program, families will receive an introduc- tion to the roles, expectations, and approval process for COBYS resource families.

The sessions are free and place no obligation on attendees. Child care will not be provided. For more information or to reserve a space or receive the recorded portion of the program, contact a COBYS resource home coordinator at 717-656-6580 or careforkids@cobys.org. To learn more about COBYS, visit www.cobys.org.

Rotary Club names Students of the Month

Paradise Rotary Club recently recognized its Students of the Month for April.

The honorees, all juniors, are Meagan Kime from Conestoga Valley High School, Noah Niehans from Lancaster Mennonite High School, and Julia

Spade from Pequea Valley High School.

Meagan is the daughter of Michelle A. Kime of Lancaster. She is a member of Student Council, SADD, PoWER, IMPACT, and Link Crew, and she participates in fall soccer, winter track, and spring track. She is involved in Readers Helping Readers, is a running buddy for Girls on the Run, and carries out volunteer work. She was named to the honor roll in 10th grade.

Singing Spring

& Cantaloupes, Gala Apples, Jonagold Apples, Golden Apples, Pineapples, Oranges, Lemons, Grapefruits

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Rotary frompg 7

Noah is the son of Mark Niehans and Tonya Stoltzfus. He is a member of National Honor Society (NHS), serves as treasurer for Student Council, is involved in the school drama department and Campus Chorale, and is a Student Ambassador. He received a Silver Award for his performance on the National German Exam.

Julia is the daughter of Jennifer and Harry Spade of Honey Brook. An honor roll student, she is the historian for Student Council and a member of NHS and chorus. In ninth and 10th grades, she participated in band, marching band, and cheerleading, and she was also a member of the jazz band in 10th grade. She has participated in the school musicals and was the Power Puff cheer coach.

Student to attend Coast Guard Academy

The United States Coast Guard Academy has announced that Noah R. Rohrer of Mount Joy has been recognized for superior academic achievement and leadership potential. Noah, who attends Donegal High School, has accepted an appointment to attend the Coast Guard Academy and will be sworn in as a member of the Class of 2027 on Monday, June 26.

See Coast Guard pg 10

Coast Guard

The United States Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn., is an accredited college educating future Coast Guard officers. The smallest of the nation’s five military service academies, the Coast Guard Academy’s Corps of Cadets represents the nation’s best and brightest students, ready to serve and lead their country.

Admission to the Coast Guard Academy is highly competitive and fewer than 400 appointments are offered annually from a pool of more thn 2,000 applicants. Cadets receive a full tuition scholarship and monthly stipend for a five-year service commitment to the Coast Guard upon graduation. All graduates receive a Bachelor of Science and are guaranteed a frompg 8 position of leadership as a commissioned officer in the United States Coast Guard.

Noah is the son of Tim and Lorraine Rohrer and the grandson of Charlotte Huber from Conestoga and Gerald and RuthAnn Rohrer of Ronks.

Christian Women’s Club will meet

The Lancaster Christian Women’s Club will hold an “Oil of Joy” luncheon meeting at noon on Wednesday, June 7, at Bent Creek Country Club, 620 Bent Creek Drive, Lititz. Doors will open at 11:30 a.m.

Josiah’s Oils will share hand-crafted essential oils created by a local clinical aro- matherapist. Guest speaker Sylvia Tarto will share her story during her presentation, titled “I’m Safe Thus Far.”

All women are invited to attend. There is a cost per person. Reservations and payment are required by Friday, June 2. For details and reservations, call 717-799-0088.