In the game of baseball, they say that hitting becomes infectious. When this happens, the only cause for concern is for the opposing pitchers and coaches.

Donegal pounded out 15 hits in a 12-2 defeat of Elco on Monday, April 25. Jonathan Holmes, who had the only extra-base hit by the Indians, and Cole Wheaton each drove in four runs and scored two. Wheaton had the only three-hit game as the Indians wrapped up the game in five innings due to the mercy rule.

"We got back to league play with a breakout offensive night," said head coach Jeff Hartman. "Was great to see us break out with the bats up and down the lineup - by far our best night with the sticks and what we're capable of.

Because of the mercy rule, starting pitcher Jaden Fabian earned the victory with four innings pitched. Caden Evans threw a perfect fifth inning in relief.

Also stroking multiple hits on the day was Landon Sexton - 2-for-2 with a run and two RBI's. The Indians also took advantage of seven walks.

The win was Donegal's sixth in a row. The squad was coming off a 7-1 victory at home against Columbia on Friday, April 22.

The Indians collected six base hits - all singles - and four walks. Landon Sexton drew a walk and scored a run. He also drove in a run on a sacrifice fly.

Andrew Small went 2-for-2 plus a walk. He scored two runs.

Wheaton did his job out of the cleanup spot, going 2-for-3 with two runs and three RBI's.

Holmes went five strong innings to earn the victory. He was dominant in that he struck out nine and allowed one run on four hits. Small came on in relief and threw two innings, striking out the side in both frames while allowing a walk and a single.

"Holmes and Small combined for a solid performance," Hartman remarked.

The Indians improved to 11-1 on the year.

Donegal's only run came on a Fabian RBI in a 2-1 loss at Garden Spot on Wednesday, April 27. Nick Eichelberger pitched a complete game with eight strikeouts in a losing cause. The Spartans (5-9) scored two unearned runs in the sixth inning.

SOFTBALL

Everyone on the Donegal softball team kept hitting the ball....

And hitting. And hitting

The Indians won three games by a collective score of 54-8 as they trounced Columbia 21-1 on Friday, April 22, followed by a 16-5 non-league victory over Dover on Saturday and a 17-2 defeat of Elco on Monday.

The Indians improved to 9-1 on the year. Cara Biesecker picked up the victory in each of these games.

Bella Mackison homered in the Columbia game as well as the Dover game, driving in four runs against the Crimson Tide and five against Dover. She also slugged a triple against Dover and a double off Columbia pitching.

Ruth Myers went 4-for-5 on Saturday with two doubles and two runs scored. She also drove in four - all out of the leadoff spot. She had a stolen base in that game as well as against Columbia whereas she swiped three bags versus Elco - a game in which she singled and was hit by a pitch twice.

Biesecker, who went six innings and struck out five Elco batters, helped her own cause with a 3-for-5 afternoon, including a double and three RBI's. Emma Garber was also 3-for-5 with two doubles and five RBI's while Esther Myers was on base four times - two singles and two walks - and scored four times.

Against Dover, Biesecker threw only five innings due to the mercy rule. She fanned three and walked one while scattering eight hits.

Along with Mackison and Ruth Myers, offensive stars from the Dover game also included Esther Myers (3-for-4, 3 runs and 2 RBI) and Natalie Colwell, who had three hits and two RBI's. Biesecker was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and one RBI.

Biesecker recorded two strikeouts against Elco. Colwell pitched two relief innings and struck out two. She also went 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBI's while Kara Heidlauf came a home run shy of a cycle - single, double, triple and three RBI's on the day.

With a 13-hit attack, the Indians topped Garden Spot 14-2 on Wednesday.

Biesecker pitched and hit her team to victory, going five innings with four strikeouts in addition to slugging three doubles and driving in five runs at the plate.

Garber collected two hits and drove in four. Ruth Myers went 2-for-4 with a steal and three runs.

BOYS TENNIS

Donegal reached the Lancaster-Lebanon League boys' tennis semifinals before losing to Cedar Crest on Monday, April 25. The Indians finished second in the Section Three standings with a 7-1 league record behind section champ Lancaster Country Day (8-0) for the regular season.

In the L-L League team brackets, the Indians played host to Cocalico on Friday, April 22, earning a 4-1 victory and punching their ticket to the semis.

Donegal lost 4-0 in the semifinals to Section One cham Cedar Crest.

In the Cocalico match, Conner Hyle and Austin Barrick won the number one doubles 6-3, 6-2. Akilan Murugesan topped Cocalico's Max Hershey 6-1, 6-1 at number one singles. Jacob Erb prevailed 6-4, 6-3 while Keller won the third singles match 6-2, 6-1.

TRACK

The boys' track team came up short in a meet at Octorara, 88-62, on Monday, April 25. Meanwhile the Donegal girls dominated in a 109-37 win.

"Octorara is a solid squad and I'm really proud of the way our boys stepped up and performed," said head coach Bryce Sadler.

Jack Brady captured the 110 and 300 hurdles.

Hunter Gehman gave Donegal a first-place finish in the 3,200. Sam Rothstein finished second in the 800 as well as the 1,600.

Gehman anchored the 4x800 relay, taking first place with Brandon Marcelo, Braden Bristline and Dylan Lenhart.

In the field, Jack Dearborn won the triple and the high jump. Dearborn finished second in the long jump.

"Jack has been leading our team in points scored in the jumps," said Sadler. "He has been doing a great job and improving his performances week to week.

"We are hoping that he'll go far in the postseason," added the coach.

Bailey Shoaf, Kendall Finicle, Kara Nissley and Marleigh Ballard combined to win the 4x800 relay. Rayahna Clerico, Faith Garber, Sydney Snyder and Anna Brubaker claimed the 4x100.

Garber also dashed to first place in the 100 with Brubaker winning the 200 and Hadley Shoaf taking three events - 800, 1,600 and 3,200.

"Victoria Burton and Nya Bantum are performing really well in shot put," said Sadler.

Burton and Bantum were first and second, respectively. Snyder won the triple jump while Alyssa Werner, who took second in the triple, won the pole vault.