The Garden Spot baseball team faced some tough pitching as the 2022 season got underway. The Spartans lost to Manheim Central in the season-opener on Friday, March 25, as Central's Connor Rohrer, Jared Murray and Cayde Connelly pitched a combined no-hitter in the Barons' 8-0 win.

Cody Brullo and Collin Smith both reached base on walks for the Spartans - two of only four base runners for Spot.

The Spartans plated a run in the third inning of Tuesday afternoon's game at Donegal. The RBI double by George Rohrbaugh (1-for-3) accounted for the lone Garden Spot run in the 6-1 loss to the Indians.

Bryce Clymer, Evan Myers, and Smith each stroked a single for Spot.

Caleb Zimmerman allowed only two earned runs in five innings pitched, striking out five. Nicholas Eichelberger earned the win, striking out 10 batters.

SOFTBALL

The Garden Spot softball team opened the season with consecutive high-scoring contests against L-L League foes. On Friday, March 25, the Spartans lost to Manheim Central, 14-9. The Spartans followed that with a Tuesday afternoon contest where they lost to Donegal, again by a 14-9 score. Both games were played at Garden Spot.

Sophomore starting pitcher Kylie Weinhold gave up only six earned runs in the loss to Donegal.

"Defense is something we're working through early this year," said head coach Kimberly King. "Overall, we have good defense; it takes a little bit of time to iron out the defense. We have one returning starter in the infield and one returning outfielder."

The hitting was definitely there as the Spartans scored nine times. In the Donegal game, Amanda Hoover, and Meredith Horst both went 2-for-4, each stroking their first varsity base hits. Sydni King went 3-for-5 with a double - Spot's only extra-base hit of the game.

Weinhold allowed only one walk and struck out six Donegal batters.

"She pitched in a couple of games for us last year," King said. "She will be our main pitcher this year.

"She throws strikes and hits her spots," King added. "She does a good job."

Weinhold only allowed six earned runs in the Donegal game while only seven of the 14 runs by Manheim Central were earned. She had two strikeouts and only three walks in that game.

Sophomores Rylee Manning (3-for-4) and Kylie Weinhold each had their first varsity hits in the Central game as did freshman Rebekah Hoover.

"Emma Royle, who moved from center field to second base, went 3-for-4," King noted. Fellow senior Lindsay Lapp went 2-for-3.

"We are definitely hitting better than we have in some time," King commented.

BOYS' VOLLEYBALL

The Spartans had a wrap-around winning weekend with a 3-0 victory over Schuylkill Valley on Friday, March 25, and a defeat of Manheim Township on Monday March 28.

With Tanner Laukhuff serving up three aces and pouring in nine kills against Schuylkill, the Spartans posted winning sets of 25-17, 25-18 and 25-12.

Keegan Redcay, who distributed 21 assists, registered one block as did Andrew Horst and Derrick Lambert. Tyler Martin added five digs.

Garden Spot improved to 2-0 on the year with their Monday night win.

BOYS' LACROSSE

The lacrosse team also opened against Schuylkill Valley, posting an impressive 13-11 win on Friday, March 25 at home. The Panthers outscored the Spartans 7-5 in the second half, but Garden Spot and goalie Cole Leaman (13 saves) hung on.

Ayden Naranjo came through with six of the Spartan goals while Jared Patton posted a hat trick. Kane Leaman netted a pair of goals while Joe Berneck and Logan Lesley each scored once.

The Spartans ran into the scoring juggernaut of Lampeter-Strasburg on Tuesday, falling 18-2 as Barrett Denlinger scored five times for the Pioneers.

Leaman and Naranjo each scored for the Spartans with Patton assisting on both goals.

BOYS' TENNIS

In a Section Three match on the road on Friday, March 25, the Spartans lost to Elizabethtown 7-0.

Ani Kulkarni and Will Culbert came up short in the first doubles match 8-2 as Trent McBride and Steve Dupler earned the team point for the Bears.

Kyle Petersheim and fellow senior Cole King suffered an 8-1 defeat at second singles while Walter Chuprin and Ashton Nafziger also lost by the same margin.

Culbert came up empty against McBride at number one singles. Dupler downed Kulkarni 6-2, 6-0 while King was on the losing end of 6-1, 6-1 sets at number three singles. Jack Nyveldt denied Petersheim in the fourth singles.

Conestoga Valley won a 7-0 Section Two match at New Holland on Tuesday, March 29. Kulkarni came through with strong efforts in both singles and doubles, pairing up with Culbert at first doubles - an 8-3 win for the Buckskins - and a strong showing at number two singles, losing 6-3, 6-3.

Culbert lost a tough 6-4 set at number one singles. Petersheim also played to a 6-4 loss at fourth singles while also pairing up with King at number two doubles - an 8-2 Buckskins win.

The Spartans fell to 0-4 on the year.

GIRLS' LACROSSE

Berks Catholic sneaked past the Spartans 14-6 in a non-league girls' lacrosse contest on Friday, March 25. The Saints survived a five-goal surge by the host Spartans in the second half.

Emma Gruber and Gwen Varley scored two goals each. Diana Redcay, Emily Ferris, Bri Moyer, and Gabriella Mansi each netted one goal.

Myra Bair and Olivia Scarle each grabbed five saves in goal.

TRACK

The girls' track team defeated Cocalico 110-39 on the road Tuesday afternoon while the boys' squad prevailed 89-59.

Lauren Horning dashed to victory in the girls' 100- and 400-meter events.

Julia Hoover, Morgan Watt, Aliana Sensenig and Hayley Zimmerman took the 4 x 800 relay. Bryna Kelly anchored the 4 x 400 relay with Nicole Kelch, Megan Hechler and Kailyn Miller.

Kelly went on to sweep the hurdles events while Hoover won the 3200, and Kelch claimed the 800.

Kelly and Chloe Grady tied for first in the high jump. Grady also won the long jump while senior Lucy Stern came out on top in the triple jump. Ainslee Binkley had the winning javelin toss for Spot.

Winning the pole vault was sophomore Valerie Martin.

Trent Hoober, Thomas Watt, Gavin Riemers and Sean Kelch posted a victory in the boys' 4 x 800 while Kelch, Finn Wenrich, Luke Nagle and Joel Benedick took the 4 x 400.

Alan Krock came through in three events, winning the 800, 1600 and 3,200. Wenrich sprinted to victory in the 200 and 400.

Kaleb Zimmerman's discus, Aiden Durante's triple jump and Gavin Lee Miller's long jump were also first-place distances for the Spartans.