A seven-run fourth inning fueled Solanco's 10-9 thriller over Cedar Crest last Monday while a Nate Harnish single plated the winning run.

Down 6-2 after three complete innings, the Mules took control in the fourth only to see the Falcons fight back, plating three in the top of the sixth to tie the score. After a scoreless seventh, Nate Harnish, with two strikes, smacked a single to center, scoring his brother, Seth Harnish, who reached on an error.

"It was a great comeback win," said head coach Tom Fish.

"A small but disruptive rain came right at game time," noted Fish. "It was just enough to cause some problems. That may have contributed to us falling behind early. Crest used some walks and a home run to take that early lead.

"At that point, we turned to Logan Wagner who kept us in the game by posting a pair of zeroes in the fourth and fifth innings," said Fish.

Solanco scored their first two runs in the bottom of the third courtesy of a few walks and an RBI hit by Worthington. One inning later, with just three hits, the hosts plated seven runs.

Mitchell Moyer's RBI single put the Mules in front 7-6. Seth Harnish and Worthington also singled that inning and both scored. The Mules were also helped along by 12 total walks in the game.

"Seth Harnish relieved Wagner in the sixth and though Crest tied it up, he was dominate from there and finished the game," said Fish.

Harnish earned just one strikeout but had some solid defense behind him. Worthington made a diving catch on a bunt foul ball. Ronnie Fulton ran down a ball in left field and Moyer made a diving play on a shallow ball in right, saving a run.

"And Avery Jacobsen, at short, made another highlight play in the hole," said Fish.

Cedar Crest was the third of three straight wins for the Mules who dumped Donegal 9-4 Saturday, April 17 and got by Hempfield the day before, 4-2.

"That Donegal game was a weird and wild," stated Fish. "We struck out 10 times while Donegal did not strike out at all but we reached base on five of those strikeouts when the ball got past the catcher."

Solanco managed just six hits and scratched out nine runs with aggressive baserunning (11 steals) and some clutch hitting. Nate Harnish connected for a two out RBI single in the first inning while Seth did the exact same thing three innings later. In all, the Mules scored in five of the seven innings.

Less than 24 hours earlier, Solanco plated two runs in the first and two in the fifth and pulled out a 4-2 win over another Section One team in Hempfield.

"Both teams fought the cold and wind," Fish recalled. "It came down to two moments. Hempfield loaded the bases off Nate Harnish, who was making his varsity debut. He got Hempfield to hit a grounder to second where Nate Miller made the play and we got out of the inning with the score still tied.

"Then, in the bottom of the fifth, Tyler Burger connected with the biggest and most important swing of our season."

With no outs and no one on base, Seth Harnish roped a single to left and Worthington sent the first pitch he saw in the same direction. Burger followed, sending a fastball to left center for a 4-2 lead.

"Seth Harnish entered the game in the fifth and got the win, pitching to nine batters and setting them all down in order," said Fish.

TRACK

The track teams made the short trip to Lampeter last Monday but, despite a handful of personal records, came home with a pair of losses.

Four of those PR's earned first place finishes in Solanco's 92-58 loss to L-S. Katie Urbine, who won the pole vault, did her best 100 for a second first. Kara Peace took the 400 with her best time as did Christine Wagner in the 3200.

In the field, Hanna Wood, who was second in the javelin, PR'd to win the shot while Marissa Cannizzaro scored her first varsity points with a first in the discus (88-0) and a third in the shot.

Other winners included Sophia Stoltzfus, who was second in the high jump, and won the triple jump, Halle Brown in the 800 (2:38) while Carly Rose earned two PR's with thirds in both hurdles events.

The Pioneer boys used their depth, sweeping the mile, 400m and 800m runs to hand Solanco a 101.5 - 48.5 loss.

The Mules did manage a sweep of their own as Trent Henry won the high jump (5-8 PR), Elijah Reimold took second and Trent McDowell was third. Henry was also third in the triple, behind Reimhold, and third in the long while McDowell picked up a third in the 300 hurdles and won the intermediates with a 17.63.

Solanco also got a winning PR from Lance Workman in the javelin (129-7) while Lucas Boyd (tied for 3rd in pole vault) and Ford (second in the long jump) earned their first varsity points.

The Mules also won the 4x100 relay with Ian Althoff, Riley Ford, Aidan Wood and Ryan Vanover.

Some members of the team found success in the Wilson Invitational Saturday, April 17. Reimhold was the top finisher, earning fourth in the high jump while Urbine won the pole vault, was fifth in the 100 and 200 and eighth in the long jump.

"Anthony Morales went under 5:00 in the mile for the first time and Wyatt Tomison took 45 seconds off his 3200," note McDowell. "Trent McDowell also had PR's in both hurdles."

SOFTBALL

While everyone is more than thrilled to be back in the playing arena, the threat of covid rearing its ugly head is always around the corner. That corner came too soon for the softball team who found themselves missing four starters in last Monday's crossover outing against Cedar Crest. The result: an 8-1 loss.

"We only had 11 players to start with, so we had to move JV players, who are still developing, into a varsity role and it was a challenge at times," said head coach Brett Miller. "But they're working hard. If we had our normal varsity team, I feel the result would have been different."

Despite the loss, Solanco took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third. Kendall Janssen singled, stole second and beat the throw home as Holly Grube's popup behind the pitcher dropped and was bobbled by the second baseman.

The Falcons responded with eight runs over the final three frames.

"We had runners in position but couldn't get the key hit," said Miller. "And defensively, we only had one error. The girls played well enough, and many in new positions."

Anna Sexton went the distance in the circle, scattering ten hits, striking out six and walking three.

The team was coming off an 11-3 loss at Hempfield Friday, April 16. All three of those runs came in the first inning. Jade Eshleman's homer plated Grube, who reached with a base hit, and Becca Foulk, who drew a walk.

"They had 14 hits," Miller noted. "The ball just seems to go where we're not right now. It wasn't for lack of effort. Experience at this level is just a different speed. Their pitcher threw well, and we had some good at bats. We'll just keep pushing forward with those who are eligible."