The track teams hosted Ephrata on a cold and chilly Tuesday (March 29) but came away with some strong performances despite losses.
The boys' team outscored the Mounts in the field events, 43-20 but could not match their speed on the track and suffered a 92-58 loss.
Elijah Reimold emerged as the top point-getter, winning the pole vault (10-6) and long jump (20-1), and taking second in the high and triple, where Solanco earned a sweep with Trent McDowell (39-0) and Trenten Henry taking first and third, respectively.
John Sankus won the shot put (41- 0.5) and was third in the discus behind Connor Smith and Noah Baber cleared 5-10 to win the high jump.
"The jumpers were definitely a highlight," said head coach Jen McDowell. "They only gave up three points. John had a good day with a big PR in the shot and Noah had a great first time out in both the high jump and the 4x100 relay. He had some excellent jumps."
Sophomore Wyatt Tomison clocked an 11:15 in the 3200 as Solanco's only victory on the track. Jimmy Hartigan was third.
Riley Ford earned a second in the 200 and was third in the 100 and McDowell picked up thirds in both the 110 and 300 hurdles. Anthony Solis-Morales also placed in two events with thirds in the mile and 800 meter runs. Ian Althoff finished third in the 400 and Brian Coleman was third in the javelin.
The girls' squad had as much success in the field as on the track in their 100-50 loss to the Mounts.
Katie Urbine continued her mastery of the pole vault with a first-place jump of ten feet and added a 17-foot-long jump for another win. She also ran the first leg of the come-from-behind 4x100 relay with Olianna Oravitz, Paige Althoff, and Emma Housekeeper rounding out the win and then finished ahead of Housekeeper in the 100 for second place. Housekeeper also grabbed a second in the 200 with Oravitz a half step behind.
Senior Hannah Wood highlighted the field events with top throws in the shot (31-11) and javelin (91) while picking up a second in the discus (84).
Solanco's final win went to Daria Neaves with a 13:32 in the 3200 with Olivia Singleton taking second.
Third place finishers included Emma Baxter (1600), Groff (400), Halle Brown (300 hurdles), Oravitz (long jump), Jordyn Ream (shot put) and Marissa Cannizarro (javelin).
BASEBALL
In back-to-back outings last week, the baseball team watched a 5-1 lead slip away and suffered a 7-5 loss at Muhlenberg Tuesday and then opened league play one day later with a 15-1, five-inning win over Lebanon.
"Nine of our 12 hits were from our first four batters," said head coach John Girvin. "I was pleased with the hitting, but we left a number of runners on base and committed six errors.
"We're a young squad and Muhlenberg made it to states last year," he added.
Austin Wenger and Nate Harnish each had three hits, Tyler Burger added two and Brayden Herr rounded out the top four hitters in the lineup with one hit.
"Brayden got his first varsity start and deserved better fate," Girvin said. "They tied it in the bottom of the fourth on three hits and a costly error. And then scored two in the sixth."
On Wednesday, the Cedars jumped in front with a single run in the first inning, but Solanco took control after that, working back-to-back seven run innings and adding a single run in the fourth to account for the scoring.
Austin Wenger went 2-for-4 with a triple and scored two runs. He pushed in three RBI's while Dilon Dean was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and three RBI's. Kody Moyer also knocked in three runs with a double.
"We faced their best pitcher, who probably throws harder than anyone in the league, and we scored 15 runs on eight hits," said Girvin. "We took advantage of seven walks and four hit batters, but we got the hits when we needed them. And we played good defense today."
Burger struck out five, walked one and gave up four hits and one unearned run in four innings. Sawyer Weyman gave up one hit and struck out two in the fifth.
SOFTBALL
The softball team opened league play Wednesday at Lebanon and came home with an 18-0, three inning victory. The Mares scored all their runs on ten hits in the first inning. Becca Foulk's two-run homer was the big hit of the inning. Holly Grube added three RBI's and a clutch triple while Anna Sexton and Kendal Janssen each finished with two RBI's.
Sexton pitched the victory with eight strikeouts.
With five seniors and three underclassmen back this season, head coach Brett Miller is anticipating all five to contribute. "We have the potential to be competitive," Miller said. "I am cautiously optimistic."
Solanco returns Marlee Haupt (first, pitcher) and Foulk, a returning all-star, moves in to catch, filling Jade Eshleman's (now at Lancaster Bible College) spot. Taryn Brittigan is back at second base, and Kendal Janssen (center) and Alyssa Schlagnhaufer (left) return to the outfield.
"I look for the seniors to be consistent," said Miller.
Returning underclassmen include sophomores Emily Sims, shortstop and leadoff hitter last year, and Grube, third baseman who can also pitch. Sexton, a junior, will handle the mound and can also play first base.
Sophomore Josie Jansen will fill in at right field and freshman Sara Defrancesco, who swings with command, will also contribute.
"Josie is just as fast as Taryn and improves every practice," said Miller. "Sara is pretty versatile, but I feel her strength for us right now is her bat. We will also use Brooke Jennings as a courtesy runner. She has a lot of speed. We have more speed this year than I am accustomed to."
Solanco, after a pair of must-win games, lost to Elizabethtown in the first round of districts last year.
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