Starting a string of three games in three straight days, the Pequea Valley baseball team opened the week with a 2-0 shutout of Columbia on Monday, April 3, in a Lancaster-Lebanon League game at Kinzers.

Scattering seven hits, including a double by Cooper Marley, Pequea junior Myles Furlong went the distance. Furlong did not allow a walk but did record nine strikeouts in the seven-hit shutout.

Furlong didn't need a great deal of offense on this day. Jayden Stoltzfus and Logan Zynn each scored a run in the two-run fifth inning for the Braves. Peyton Temple went 2-for-2 with a double.

The very next afternoon the Braves' team bus traveled to New Holland where Pequea played Garden Spot.

Connor Manning and Caleb Zimmerman each drove in three runs as the Spartans won this game 10-4.

The visiting Braves did score first, putting up a pair of runs in the top of the first inning, only to have Garden Spot plate five runs in the home half of the first frame.

The Braves chopped one run off that deficit with a run in the second, only to spot Spot three more runs in the third.

Furlong, Stoltzfus and Zeke Hershey each hit a double with Hershey, Stoltzfus, Zynn and freshman Elijah Smucker each driving in a run. Hershey went 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI.

The Braves improved to 5-2 on the year with a decisive 13-5 victory at Lancaster Mennonite on Wednesday. Hershey's bases-clearing double was one of the big hits on the day as the senior finished with four runs batted in and one run scored. Temple went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two knocked in.

With a single and two walks, Furlong also stole three bases and scored two runs. Speaking of swiping bags, Temple had four steals.

The impressive offensive stats largely came from a seven-run first inning for Pequea.

The run support was mainly for Zynn, who went five innings and struck out five. Sophomore Stephen Smucker tossed two innings, giving up four earned runs while striking out four batters.

SOFTBALL

The Braves dominated Lancaster Mennonite in softball as head coach Doug High's lineup won 15-0 on Wednesday, April 5.

"We had a nice east wind win," High stated. "It was a nice win. We didn't have any errors. We were very patient at the plate."

The major offensive force in the lineup was Maddy Clark.

"She had a grand slam and drove in seven runs," High explained. She also found the gap with a long, bases-clearing double that accounted for three Braves runs.

Also, Lilly Stike was 2-for-2 with a double and a single. Izzy Graham had a hit and scored a run. Olivia Clark scored three runs, reaching base on a hit and two walks.

The Braves improved their record to 3-2 in this shortened game, due to the mercy rule.

Maddy Hassis went two innings for the Braves. Senior Mackenzie Musser came in to pitch the third inning.

"She's a senior who has had arm issues," High said. "Getting her an inning was a good chance. It went well."

Musser faced only four batters in an easy wrap-up inning. Clark had one strikeout and two walks.

With their 3-2 record, the Braves prepare for a week that will take them on the road three times - Annville-Cleona, Northern Lebanon and Lancaster Catholic.

BOYS TENNIS

The Braves had an impressive 7-0 victory over L-L League rival Octorara on Wednesday afternoon, April 5, winning all three doubles matches by an 8-0 score.

Wade Stoltzfus and Cole Stoltzfus claimed the first doubles with Hayden Winey and Joel Peifer taking the second match. In the third doubles it was Jackson Hershey teaming up with Bailey Scott.

In the first two singles matches, Wade Stoltzfus and Cole Stoltzfus downed their respective opponents in straight sets. Winey came through 6-0, 6-0 at the third singles and Peifer triumphed 6-0, 6-1 at number four singles.

The victory improved the Braves' mark to 6-1 (4-1 league) on the year.

Pequea was coming off a 6-1 defeat of Donegal the previous afternoon - a makeup match from last week.

Wade and Cole Stoltzfus lost a close first doubles 8-5 to Akilan Murugesan and Landon Keller of Donegal.

At number two doubles as well as the third doubles, the pairings of Winey and Cole McEvoy (8-4) and Peifer and Scott (8-4) were winners.

In singles play, Stoltzfus and Stoltzfus were both winners as were Winey and McEvoy.

Pequea's dominant week began with a 7-0 defeat of Northern Lebanon on the road Monday, April 3. In the shutout effort, the pair of Stoltzfus teammates blanked their Viking opponents 8-0 Winey and McEvoy made off with an 8-1 win at second doubles while Peifer and Scott cruised to an 8-0 win.

The singles matches were all won on straight sets - 6-1, 6-0 for Wade Stoltzfus; 6-1 6-0 for Cole Stoltzfus; and identical scores for Winey and McEvoy for the third and fourth singles.