The top two teams in Section Two competed in the Lancaster-Lebanon League finals on Monday, May 15 at Clipper Stadium. In a battle of two fairly even teams, Ephrata, the Section Two champs, pulled out a 4-3 thriller over the Pioneers. It was the Mounts first title since 2018 and their seventh overall.

"We have been to the finals three of the last four years," said head coach Jeff Swarr, "and we have won the league championship three times. (1982, 1994, 2019)

"This was a great high school baseball game," he continued. "Both teams played quality baseball without making an error. They just got the timely hits in the third inning. Anthony Turek and Peyton harsh pitched well. Ephrata had five total hits and four were in the third inning, when they scored three runs."

L-S scored two runs in the first inning. Jason Long's double to center field plated Justin White who opened the game with a base hit. Turek followed with a walk and Luke Brenneman's fielder's choice pushed in Long.

Ephrata got one back in the bottom half only to see L-S do the same in the top of the third on Long's shot to right field. The Mounts again responded, scoring three runs on back-back-doubles, a fielder's choice grounder and back-to-back one out base hits. That proved to be the difference as both teams played scoreless ball over the final four innings.

L-S opened the league playoffs with a 6-4 victory at Section Three champ Manheim Central Thursday, May 11. The visitors fought off a 2-0 deficit with three runs in the fourth and then forged ahead, scoring three more over the fifth and sixth innings before cutting Manheim's seventh inning rally to just two runs.

Peyton Harsh struck out nine, walked four and earned the win on the hill while Anthony Turek got the save, pitching the final inning. He also sparked the three run fourth with a lead-off double and eventually scored on a wild pitch. Brenneman singled and scored on Frego's sac fly and Will Bailey, who reached on a bunt base hit, stole home with two outs.

A leadoff triple by Long and four walks contributed to a pair of fifth inning runs while Breneman's two out, sixth inning single plated Long, who reached on a one out single, and capped the L-S scoring.

Long and Brenneman each finished with two hits.

Saturday morning, May 13, at Ephrata's War Memorial field, the Pioneers outhit Hempfield 7-5, broke a 1-1 second inning tie with single runs in the third and fourth innings and survived the seventh inning, giving up just one run in a 3-2 result and Lampeter's fourth straight triumph.

The Knights opened the seventh with three straight base hits before starting pitcher Jason Long worked a strikeout and a sac fly pop up.

"They have guys on first and second and a walk loads the bases," recalled Swarr. "Then, on a 3-2 count, they hit a long fly ball and Logan Leaman makes an awesome catch at the fence to end the game."

Branco's RBI single put L-S on the board, but the Knights matched that effort in the bottom half. A two out single by Bailey in the fourth gave L-S the lead and a fielder's choice grounder by Harsh one inning later was enough to keep L-S in front.

Seven different Pioneers collected hits and Long secured the win on the hill, giving up one earned run.

GIRLS' LACROSSE

After their 15-5 stumble against Wyomissing, the girls' lacrosse team ran its new winning streak to five straight with an 18-11 triumph over visiting York Catholic on Thursday, May 11 and a 10-8 L-L League semifinals win over Hempfield on Tuesday, May 16.

It was a back-and-forth effort at CV Tuesday night with neither team holding more than a two-goal advantage. Hanna Cissne scored three of Lampeter's five first half goals and Rowan Kimmel (2a) finished with six overall, four coming in the second half. Ryann Logan added one goal and one assist. Abigail Welchans chipped in with two assists and Bethany Stoltzfus also dished an assist.

The Pioneers held a 5-3 first half advantage and both teams settled for five second half tallies. Freshman keeper Jillian Kelly finished with nine saves to help preserve the win.

L-S jumped out to an 11-6 first half lead against Wyomissing and cruised through the second half, holding off the visitors 7-5 and securing its 17th win of the season.

Bethany Stoltzfus led the attack with five goals and two assists with Cissne and Sophia Labrecque each notching hat tricks. Leigha Saurbaugh, Kimmel (2a) and Logan (1a) each found the back of the net twice.

TRACK

At the L-L League track and field championships Friday and Saturday, May 12-13, the Pioneer teams came away with a handful of medals and a couple of school records on a damp and dreary day.

"It was not a perfect day for a meet, but we've had worse," said head coach Cal Esh. "Colin Whitaker was our top medal winner, taking the 3200 with a commanding performance at 9:15.50."

Township's Gunner Geib was a distant second at 9:32.12 and Ben Devine added a fourth-place finish in 9:36.49.

Whitaker also competed in the 1600 where he finished in second place with a new school record (4:13.09). Parker Stoner's third place time of 4:15.37 also broke the old school record and Devine chipped in with a fifth-place time of 4:23.33.

Also grabbing a medal was Aiden Wiley and Greyson Myers, both in the pole vault. Wiley cleared 12 feet for fifth place and Myers settled for seventh with an 11-6 vault.

For the girls, Maggie Swarr finished second in the javelin with a 130-2, just eight feet out of first place, and was fourth in the shot (36-1.5).

Lyndi Wall added a second in the 100 (12.48) and settled for fourth in the 200 (26.17).

Elly Bruner tied for second in the high jump, clearing 5-0 and was seventh in the triple jump (34-5).

BOYS' LACROSSE

The boys' lacrosse team went up against Manheim Township, the Section One champs, in Tuesdays' May 16, L-L League semifinal clash in Ephrata.

This one was nip-and-tuck the whole way. The Streaks held a slim 3-2 first quarter lead but L-S challenged, winning the second quarter, and forcing a 4-4 tie at the break.

The scoring picked up in the third quarter with both teams netting four each, leaving the final frame to determine the outcome. Township settled for two goals and denied the Pioneers.

KJ Kessler fueled the Pioneer attack with a hat trick. Zach Labrecque, Colin Sullivan, and Chase Barber each had one goal and one assist. Gavin Denlinger (1a) and Sam Groff (1g) also contributed as did Bryce Thomas who came away with nine saves.

TENNIS

Lampeter's Cole Teaman was recently voted as a Section Two tennis all-star. He helped the Pioneers defend their Section Two crown.