The Comets fell to 2-2 in Section One play and Hempfield moved to 4-0 with their 14-4 handling of Penn Manor Thursday, April 6 in Landisville. The Knights used a 9-1 run through the first half to take control early. The Comets made adjustments at halftime and kept the score closer despite being outscored 5-3.

"Hempfield's game plan was not what we expected when preparing for the game, so it took us a bit to adjust," said head coach Anneli Starry. "Coming off the Township loss, we were a bit frustrated but were able to come out with some grit in the second half."

Erin Shipley, Claire Eckroat, Lillie Swanson, and Joelle Kroesen (1a) each notched goals for the Comets while Isabelle Masengarb, who scored her 100th goal, scored five times.

The Comets earned a 13-5 bounce-back win Wednesday night behind Kroesen's hat trick. Eckroat, Ferko, Shipley (2a) and Rabatin all scored twice in the balanced attack with Stoner and Mia Jones adding one goal and one assist each.

The boys' team suffered a similar fate at Comet field on the same day, bowing out 18-9 to Hempfield (4-0). The visitors also controlled the first half, pushing out to a 7-1 lead in the first quarter and extending the advantage to 14-4 at the half.

The Comets regrouped and won the second half, including a 4-1 fourth quarter advantage, to close the lead to 18-9.

Benedict Flinchbaugh continued to pace the Comet attack with a four-goal effort. Eli Warfel scored twice and dished a pair of assists. Willard Smith (2g), Mikey Hollister (1g) and Grant Bradburn (2a) rounded out the offensive contributors.

With five goals from Bradburn and another four from Flinchbaugh, the Comets crushed Cedar Crest 17-1 on April 12. Ayden Hoin and Smith (2a) combined for five goals as Manor shut out the Falcons over the final three quarters. Nick Hollinger recorded seven saves in the win.

TRACK

Despite a 99-51 team loss to visiting Manheim Township Tuesday, April 11, the lady Comets turned in some standout performances including Brianna Lee's winning high jump. The junior cleared 5-4 to claim first place and in doing so, tied a 45-year-old record set by Cindy Bachman.

The Comets showed their strength in the field, winning five of the seven events. Maddie Whited won the triple, Kate Harnish was tops in the pole vault, GG Moenga claimed the shot and Jadyn Coble took the discus.

On the track, Maleah Zook won the 300 hurdles and was second in the high hurdles behind winner Jireh Ellis.

The boys' team, however won 12 events en route to an 85-55 victory over the Streaks. Drew Lebo was the top point getter of the day, winning the pole vault and both hurdle events in addition to joining Graham Cohick, Osman, and Smith for a 4x100 relay win. Cohick also won the open 400.

Jason Andro picked up two wins in the field, claiming the long and triple jumps while Jon Osman doubled in the 100 and 200 meter sprints.

Other winners included Trevor Schneider (HJ), Wyatt Kauffman (shot put) and Jael Cruz (discus).

SOFTBALL

The softball team suffered its second loss of the season (first league loss) with a 5-2 result against Manheim Township on Monday, April 10.

The Streaks pounded out 11 hits on the day and scored three runs in the first inning to take a lead they never relinquished.

"Their first batter reached on an error, two batters and one out later we had a walk and then their No. 5 hitter doubled to clear the bases," said head coach Dave Stokes. "Julie (Bowmaster) pitched well enough to win," he added. "We're on the cusp of being good. We just have to clean up the errors and do a better job at the plate. Right now, we're hitting too many pop ups."

Bowmaster finished with six strikeouts and one walk but surrendered those 11 hits.

"They scored in the third on a couple of hits and again the fourth when we threw a runner out at home, clearly out, that was called safe," Stokes added. "Township is a good team and we're not stringing our hits together. But we play every team three times this year, so the ball is in our hands. If we can win two of three, we're the better team."

Kira Green, Madi Mitchell and Regan Soboleski collected Manor's three hits on the day.

Wednesday in Lititz the hitting did not improve, and the Comets dropped a 3-0 result against section leader and undefeated Warwick.

"A leadoff walk and three errors in the first inning resulted in three runs for Warwick," said Stokes. "The bats are collectively cold right now."

Mitchell, Trout and Soboleski led the three-hit attack with one base hit each.

BASEBALL

With a 10-3 loss to Manheim Township Monday afternoon, April 10, the Comets suffered its first loss of the season.

"We knew the schedule would get tougher," said head coach Tom Fish. "This was a real test."

The Streaks broke things open in the fourth inning on a hit by pitch, two perfect bunt singles and a walk followed by a couple of well-placed base hits that broke a 1-1 first inning tie and put MT in front 5-1.

"Peter Skiadas scored our first run on a wild pitch," Fish recalled. "Our two other runs game on a Grant Fry RBI double that scored Bryce Avery. On the same play, Fry scored on back-to-back throwing errors for a "little league" home run, closing the lead to 6-3."

The Streaks, however, roared back with a four-spot in the bottom half to take charge.

"The loss drops us to 6-1," said Fish. "Would have been nice to keep winning. Now we have to battle the rest of the way. Playing our section three times is a challenge. Our schedule is tough, but we are still in good shape."

Fry and Cole Miller were credited with Manor's two hits. Bryce Avery took the loss, pitching 3.2 innings with four strikeouts, four walks and six earned runs. Christopher Hubbs, Billy Riggs, and Ben Hermansen all pitched in relief.

Warwick jumped out to a 4-0 lead after three innings and held on for a 5-1 win over the Comets in Millersville April 12. Brayden Eckert took the loss, allowing four runs on six hits and striking out three over five innings.

Fry's solo homer in the seventh accounted for Manor's lone run. Skiadas and Miller added one hit each.

TENNIS

In a home match against Lampeter-Strasburg Tuesday, April 11, the Comets dropped a 4-1 result with PJ Fahey denying the shutout with a 6-1, 6-1 No. 1 singles win over Joe Fitzgerald.

VOLLEYBALL

The volleyball team split their results over the last week, posting a 3-0 win over Township on April 6 before dropping a 3-0 result to Conestoga Valley Tuesday, April 11.

"This was a good win because we began clicking again," said head coach Chris Telesco. "We passed, set, hit, served, and blocked with confidence. Noah Reen went wild from the back line, serving eight aces. Harry Whited and Noah each tallied seven kills because setter Wyatt Rohrer, who had five kills of his own, spread the offense beautifully," he explained. Rohrer recorded 28 assists on the night.

"Defensively, Elijah Julian and Harry were digging nearly everything; they had ten and eight digs respectively," Telesco pointed out. "Middles Luke Thomas and Roman Keefer each put up one block."

The Comets put up a good showing against the Bucks but fell short 25-20, 25-16, 25-19.

"We knew it would be a tough one, especially without our captain Wyatt Rohrer," said Telesco. "We met them in the finals of their own tournament, and they beat us there."

Reen put down ten kills thanks, in part, to the setting of Reece Andreychek (21 assists). Julian led with a match-high 15 digs and Thomas recorded one ace as the Comets fell to 1-3 in Section One play.