The Donegal softball team won a slugfest over Pequea Valley on Wednesday afternoon, April 20. The visiting Braves had a five-run third inning and a six-run fifth and would not go down quietly until the Indians plated four in the home half of the sixth inning of this 17-11 win.

The victory improved the Indian's Lancaster-Lebanon League record to 4-1 and to 5-1 overall.

Starting pitcher Cara Biesecker went four innings and allowed five unearned runs. At the plate, Biesecker helped her cause with a pair of doubles and two RBIs. She also walked twice - two of the eight walks the Indians drew.

Bella Mackison had a huge afternoon, going 2-for-4 with a homer, a walk and four runs scored. Emma Garber drove in two runs out of the cleanup spot. She was 1-for-2 with a double and three walks.

Natalie Colwell had three hits and three RBI's Esther Myers had a two-hit game plus a walk. She scored all three times that she reached base.

The Braves rallied for six runs in the top of the fifth inning in response to Donegal's six scores in the home half of the fourth. The Braves' 11-8 lead did not last long as the Indians put up a five-spot in the fifth and padded their 13-11 lead with four in the sixth.

BASEBALL

By scraping together a few runs and with the consistency of their pitching, the Indians won two more close ballgames as they improved to 9-1 on the year.

"Our pitching has been very good all year and we've been solid defensively," said head coach Jeff Hartman.

On Wednesday, some extra-inning scoring and the relief pitching of Caleb Evans gave Donegal a 3-2 victory at Pequea Valley. The teams went into extras tied 1-1. Donegal scored two in the top of the eighth and held on for the 3-2 victory.

Evans came in to relieve Nick Eichelberger, who started and went five innings. Eichelberger allowed a run on four hits. He struck out four and walked two. Evans went three innings, giving up an unearned run in the Braves' final at bat. He struck out three and walked two, pitching hitless ball in relief.

Seniors Andrew Small and Colin Eckinger had multi-hit games. Eckinger was 2-for-4 with two runs scored out of the leadoff spot. Small hit a double and drove in a run.

Eckinger and Small both stole a base as well.

Jaden Fabian struck out six and scattered five hits in Tuesday's 1-0 victory over Cocalico at home. Brock Hammaker, who went 2-for-4 with a double and a stolen base, drove in the game's lone run.

"Jaden has had two excellent outings and is gaining confidence," said Hartman, referring to this as well as the shutout victory back on Thursday, April 14, over Octorara.

As for the low-scoring outcomes, Hartman said, "We are fighting ourselves offensively right now but finding ways to win. I believe we're capable and will need to conquer the mental part of hitting.

"There will be games where our hitting will need to pick us up, and I believe they will," continued the coach.

In that 2-0 shutout of Octorara, Fabian tossed a no-hitter, striking out eight batters and walking three.

Freshman Coy Allman came through with an RBI. Alex Eisenberger and Colin Eckinger each scored a run.

Allman has done a good job as a rookie backstop, according to his coach.

"Coy Allman has been very good handling our staff and setting the pace of the game," Hartman said. "He is not your typical freshman. He has been a difference maker back there."

TENNIS

In L-L League boys' tennis action, the Indians eked out a 4-3 win at Pequea Valley on Tuesday, April 19. With the Braves winning two of the three doubles matches, it was important for Akilan Murugesan, Jacob Erb and Landon Keller to come through the way they did in the first three singles matches.

Murugesan and Erb were 8-5 winners over a tough pair of PV players - Jazae Itegi and Wade Stoltzfus - at number one doubles. Connor Hyle paired with Keller at number two doubles, where they fell short 8-4.

Murugesan outlasted Stoltzfus 4-6, 7-5, 12-10 at number one singles. Erb managed to get by Itegi 7-5 in his first singles set before winning 6-2. Keller won in straight sets 6-1, 6-4.

The Indians improved to 9-2 (7-1 league) while the Braves suffered only their second loss of the season, dropping to 11-2 (6-2 league).

TRACK

Donegal girls' team and the boys both dominated Columbia in an away meet on Tuesday, April 19, with the girls winning 126-12 and the boys posting a 124-8 victory.

The girls' showed a great deal of versatility as various athletes were top finishers in both track and field events, including Faith Garber, who won the 100- and 200-meter sprints as well as winning the long jump. Also, Sydney Snyder not only took the triple jump, but she also won the 400-m race.

Emma Myers took the 800 and was second in the 1,600 behind Kathryn Fernald.

McKayla Bantrum won the 3,200.

In hurdles, Hanna Slobozien not only swept both events, but she also came in second in the long jump. Anna Brubaker was the long jump winner as well as the second-place finisher in the 200.

Jackson Brady raced to first in both of the boys' hurdling events.

In the throws, Caleb Kendig and Keagan Cote accomplished top distances. Kendig was first in both the shot put and discus - events in which Cote took second. In the javelin, the positions were flipped with Cote taking first and Kendig second.

Jack Dearborn came through in the long, triple, and high jump.

Tim Stehman was the second-place finisher in the long jump. He also took second in the 100-m - a race that went to Cooper Martin, who also claimed the 200-m

Nakita Galkin was third in the 100 as well as the long jump. While Sam Rothstein won the 400, Galkin came in second.

Brandon Marcello outpaced the competition in the 800. Hunter Gehman, who took second in the 3,200, was a winner in the mile. Matt McNair won the 3,200.

The girls' team improved to 3-1 on the year. The boys stayed unbeaten at 4-0.