The Pequea Valley softball team had notched a win via forfeit on Thursday, April 20, as scheduled opponent Columbia forfeited a game originally scheduled for the previous day.

The Braves stayed at home for their next Lancaster-Lebanon League game, welcoming Lancaster Catholic Friday, April 21.

"Kenzie Musser had a great outing," Doug High, the Braves' head coach, said. "She had six strong innings.

"We were winning 2-1 and I sent her back out there for the seventh inning," High explained. "They led off with a single, then a one out single. The next kid hit a triple."

The Crusaders came back to win 4-2.

"Offense has been pretty consistent," High said. "It was until this game. We just didn't get the clutch hit when we needed it."

One example of that was how in the fourth inning the Braves only managed two runs from a bases-loaded situation.

Olivia Clark and Chavelle Fisher each drove in a run. Fisher was 2-for-3 in the game.

"She has been swinging a hot bat for us," said High.

Izzy Graham went 3-for-4 as the Braves feasted on Lancaster Mennonite pitching on Monday in a 13-0 victory.

"Izzy has done a phenomenal job for us at shortstop," High said.

Victoria Smoker pitched three innings of shutout ball in the 10-run rule shortened game, which ended after five. Smoker also had two of PV's hits. The Braves (6-5) scored all 13 of their runs in the first two innings.

Maddy Clark went 2-for-3 with a single, a triple and two runs batted in.

"Offensively, Maddy Clark has been a real powerhouse," High said of the senior slugger.

As for the other starting senior named Clark, High remarked, "Olivia Clark has been really solid. She is our catcher.

"We lost Emily Ammon, who caught two years for us," he added. "Liv Clark played third base for us but she had caught in the 14-under, so she understood she was going to be the catcher for us this year."

BOYS TENNIS

The Braves played in a Lancaster-Lebanon League quarterfinal round match on Friday, April 21 at Lampeter-Strasburg in the league's team championships. The Pioneers served up a 3-1 victory but fell to Cedar Crest in the semi-finals on Monday.

In the first doubles, the Pequea pairing of Joel Peifer and Cole McEvoy won the opening set 6-3 but then lost two close ones, 6-4 and 10-7.

Also, Hayden Winey lost a close number two singles, 7-6 and 6-3. Wade Stoltzfus claimed the one Pequea point with a 6-0, 6-0 win at number one singles.

The team championship trophy went to Lancaster Country Day on Tuesday. The Cougars topped Cedar Crest 3-1 in the title match.

In team play, the Braves finished the regular season 12-1 and were the second-place team out of Section Three, entering the playoffs.

As the Braves look ahead to the L-L League Flight Tournament, head coach Barry Christ's squad is working hard.

"We're working hard for the singles and doubles tournament," Christ said. "This team lost five seniors from last year and we only have seven players this season - three seniors and four sophomores. As a team they've trained hard and played consistently to be a success."

BASEBALL

Having surrendered seven runs in the first inning, the Braves' attempts to climb out of the deep hole were not successful in their 13-7 loss at Northern Lebanon on Wednesday, April 26.

Jared Eckenrode slugged a two-run homer and Xander McQuaide went 2-for-4 with a double and three RBI's to lead the Vikings' 12-hit attack.

The Braves (9-6, 6-4 league) did cut their 8-2 deficit to 8-6, scoring four times in the top of the fourth. But five runs by the Vikings over the next two frames put the game out of reach.

Myles Furlong went 2-for-5 with one run batted in. Jayden Stoltzfus drove in two runs for the Braves while sophomore Stephen Smucker came through with two hits, including a double, driving in three runs out of the number nine spot in the order. Smucker also scored two runs.

Dominick Burrell also had two hits and scored two runs while freshman Elijah Smucker (1-for-4) knocked in one run.

It has been feast or famine for the Braves' lineup in the previous two games. On Friday, April 21, the Braves lost 9-0 at Lancaster Catholic. The following Monday, they returned home to take care of Lancaster Mennonite 10-1.

Freshman Logan Zynn got the victory in this game, striking out nine batters in five innings of work.

Furlong took apart the Blazers with a 3-for-3 day at the plate. He stole four bases and scored two runs. With his three singles, he also drove in two.

Peyton Temple (2-for-4) doubled and drove in one. Ezekiel Hershey went 2-for-3 with a run while Jayden Stoltzfus singled twice, stole two bases, and scored twice. Elijah Smucker (3-for-4) belted a double.

Stephen Smucker provided consistency at the tail end of the lineup again. He went 2-for-4 with two doubles, driving in two runs and scoring two.

Furlong wasn't the only base runner swiping bags all day. Designated runner Trevor Vollmer stole three bases. Temple stole two bases while Burrell and Hershey each nabbed one.