McClain Nets Five Goals in Win Over E-town

With seven goals in the first quarter, the L-S boys' lacrosse team opened the 2021 season in dominating fashion, extending that 7-0 first quarter lead to a 15-5 final against hosting Elizabethtown.

The visitors led 10-2 at the half and shut out the Bears in the third en route to the victory.

Stewart McClain led the scoring with five goals. Connor Nolt (4), Barrett Denlinger (3), Zach Labreque (2g, 1a) and Collin Sullivan (1g, 3a) rounded out a balanced effort.

"I was very impressed with our success," said first year head coach Mike McConomy. "We have only one returning senior, Conner Nolt, and a limited roster.

"Our motto this year is "Lock the Gate," McConomy, the varsity assistant at L-S the last two years, stated. "With all the burdens and trials of the pandemic, we have instructed our players to leave the stress and problems of life behind and during practice and games, focus on lacrosse and their teammates. The rest will come."

March 29 the Pioneers dropped a tough one, 11-10 at Berks Catholic. "It was back-and-forth all game," said McConomy, an 8th grade social studies teacher in the Oxford School District. "It was tied at 10 late in the fourth when Berks scored the game-winner in transition. We had a chance with under a minute, but their goalie (16 saves) made a great save."

One day later, L-S poured in nine first quarter goals against visiting Garden Spot and coasted to an 18-6 victory. Nolt did the bulk of the damage with 8 goals. McClain (2g,1a), Barrett Denlinger (2g), Labreque (2g, 3a), Sullivan (2g, 4a), Chase Barber (1g) and Jack Filius (1g) contributed to the offense.

Bryan Conrad, Bryce Thomas and Jackson Miller combined for 8 saves in goal.

BASEBALL

L-S scored seven runs with two outs in the fourth inning en route to a 10-0 shutout over visiting Berks Catholic Friday, March 26. Gio Malatesta went 2-for-3 at the plate and southpaw Caleb Guyer earned the win on the mound with nine strikeouts and no walks. He gave up one hit. Andrew Whitehead pitched one inning in relief.

In a 4-0 win at Twin Valley Tuesday, March 30, Owen Fikkert's two run double gave L-S an early lead they never relinquished. Jack Swarr collected the win, giving up one hit in three scoreless innings and struck out four. Gehrig Harsh and Peyton Harsh pitched in relief.

In the Section Two opener Wednesday, the Pioneers came out on the wrong end of a 3-2 final against CV. Tied at 2-2 after six innings, the Bucks worked a bases loaded walk to steal the victory.

Fikkert went 3-for-3 with two runs scored. Guyer and Braedon Karpathios also collected hits.

GIRLS' LACROSSE

In the season opener Friday, March 26, the Lady Pioneers fell behind 8-3 in the first half and could not recover in a 19-6 non-league home loss against Twin Valley.

"We have two freshmen, two sophomores, four juniors and four seniors starting so on-field maturity and chemistry will take game reps," said head coach Marshall Krebs. "Unforced errors were our biggest obstacles. The upside is that five of our six goals were assisted."

Jeslyn Krebs (2a) and Rowan Kimmel (1a) led the way with two goals each. Hannah Gawne (1g), Hannah Cissne (1g) and Kelly Hostetter (1a) also contributed.

March 29th the girls got off to a stronger start and never looked back in a 16-8 win over visiting Berks Catholic. L-S racked up nine first half goals and held the Saints to three as they took control early.

Riley Dawson's six goal effort led the offense. Gawne followed that up with four goals and one assist. Krebs (1g, 3a), Kelliann Drummond (1g), Kimmel (2g), Cissne (1g), Hostetter (1g, 1a) and Bauzon (1g, 2a) rounded out the scoring.

Under the lights at Garden Spot Tuesday, Dawson notched another six goals, sparking a 14-3 win over the Spartans. Krebs, with four assists, Kimmell, Cissne and Gawne each scored twice as L-S extended a 6-3 first half with eight second half scores.

TRACK

In a meet that came down to the wire, the Lady Pioneers pulled away from Lebanon for a 77-73 win, Monday, March 29. Leading the Pioneers, winning 8 events, was Lyndi Wall and Madison Malcolm. Wall claimed the 100 and 200 meter sprints and anchored the winning 4x100 relay with Madison Weichler, Katelyn Finn and Elly Bruner.

Malcolm added top times in both hurdle events.

Also picking up wins was Molly Wissler in the 3200 and Bruner (2nd in the long) in the high jump.

"We had some great efforts in an especially tight meet where every point, every third place was golden," said head coach Cal Esh.

Also placing in two individual events was Weichler with seconds in the 100 and 200 and Maggie Swarr with a second in the shot and a third in the javelin.

The boys' team won 12 of 18 events, including all three relays and collected a solid 85-65 win over the Cedars. Arik Harnish and Luka Vranich were part of both the 4x800 (with Nate Eberly and Colin Whitaker) and the 4x400 (with Chase Burig and Aidan Black) while Cam Coleman, Liam Lutz, Matt Fink and Elijah Carr commanded the 4x100.

Individually, Teagan Weaver was the top scorer with firsts in the 100, 200, long and triple jumps. Other winners included Whitaker (mile), Vranich (800), Marty Breneman (400), David Pritchard (300 hurdles) and Zach Shelley (shot put).

SOFTBALL

After four scoreless innings, L-S took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fifth only to have visiting Twin Valley return the favor and then some, taking the lead for good with a four-run sixth. Despite both teams collecting six hits, Twin Valley prevailed 4-2 on Monday, March 29.

Keiva Middleton struck out 10 batters, walked just one but was tagged with the loss. Her counterpart, Sofia Palyan, struck out nine but walked eight.

"They made the most of their hits," said head coach Gene Charles.

Chloe Blantz (2-for-3), Middleton (1-3, 1 RBI) and Emily Platt (2-4) were the top hitters.

The Pioneers were coming off a 2-1 win over CD East, March 26. Middleton fanned nine batters, walked three and scattered two hits to earn the win.

Blantz and Frank collected the third inning RBI's as Lampeter's two run effort stood the test.

"Kieva pitched a brilliant game," said Charles.

TENNIS

The Pioneer racket club slipped to 1-3 with a 6-1 Friday, March 26 loss to Donegal. Alex Vaziri and Spencer Teaman earned Lampeter's lone point of the day, an 8-5 result at No. 3 doubles.

Monday's outing with Ephrata was closer than the 6-1 final indicated. The Pioneers took 32 games despite winning just one match. Playing No. 3, Andrew Reidenbaugh's 4-6, 6-4, 10-5 thriller over Tyler Martin prevented the shutout.

Back at it on Tuesday, the Pioneers went toe-to-toe with Manheim Central but came out on the short end of a 4-3 final. Reidenbaugh earned a 6-3, 7-5 win for Lampeter's only singles point. Vaziri came close but dropped a 6-3, 3-6, 10-7 score to B Ginder but rebounded with Teaman for a solid 8-4 doubles win.

Reidenbaugh and Turner also picked up a doubles win at No. 2, 8-6.