After a disappointing exit from the Lancaster-Lebanon League playoffs, Solanco's softball team regrouped for the second phase of the post-season. They made short work of visiting Lower Dauphin in Monday's District Three 5A opening round action, crushing the Falcons 12-1 in five innings.

The top seeded hosts spotted the Falcons one run in the opening inning but quickly regained momentum. Kira Roark opened the home half of the first with a base hit and took second on an error. Josie Janssen's double knotted the score and Delaney Gote's two out, two run single gave Solanco a lead they never lost.

"After that first inning, Anna (Sexton, 9K) shut them down," said head coach Brett Miller. "Both of their hits were in that inning. They had a few good hitters, including their shortstop who was hitting over .400, but Anna settled in. And then she came around and got the game-winning hit."

Zoey Evans scored on a passed ball in the second inning and Holly Grube's run-scoring triple highlighted a three run fourth inning as Solanco extended the lead, 6-1. And then the southern end favorites took control, scoring six runs in the fifth to end the game just 75 minutes after it started.

Ava Fedoruk, batting seventh, opened the fifth with a walk. Evans collected her second base hit of the day and both runners scored on Ava Martin's home run.

"She's batting ninth for a reason," said Miller of Martin who also doubled to lead off the fourth. "She makes them pay."

Roark followed with a walk, Janssen singled up the middle and Lower Dauphin changed pitchers. Grube (2-4, 3RBI) greeted Carisssa Wenner with a base hit and, with two outs, Sexton's base hit plated the final two runs of the game.

"We finished with 15 hits," noted Miller. "When you have numerous batters with multiple hits it makes it hard for opponents. Martin had two hits in the ninth spot and then Kira, Josie and Holly, our top three hitters, also had two hits each.

"We took the lead, and we kept going but we also made the defensive plays," Miller continued. "Sara (DeFrancesco) had two bunt pop up catches, the first coming in that first inning when they had some momentum.

"This was a big win. The last two years we did not get past the first round," the coach added. "Now we gotta win the next one."

TRACK

Six members of the track team traveled to Shippensburg University for the District Three 3A championships on Friday and Saturday, May 19-20. They came home with a handful of medals but none bigger than Katie Urbine's gold in the pole vault.

Urbine, the two-time defending L-L League champ, settled for third place a week prior to districts. She called it a humbling experience. And she regrouped. The senior not only claimed her second straight District 3 title but did so with a meet record and a personal best, clearing 13-8.

"Her best indoor jump is 13'6 and her best outdoor was 13'," note head coach Jen McDowell.

That 13-8, which she cleared on her first attempt, beat the previous record of 13-2 set by Manheim Township's Mackenzie Horn in 2018.

And if that wasn't enough, Urbine then joined Oli Oravtiz, Sarah Bard and Emma Housekeeper in the 4x100 relay. Their 49.08 was good enough for fourth place.

"Their time was a little slower than at the league meet but they had clean handoffs and are super excited to go to states," said McDowell.

Also grabbing a district medal was Noah Baber. The senior jumper cleared 6-2 and finished in eighth place in the high jump, thus ending his scholastic career.

"He was the top Lancaster-Lebanon League placer in AAA," noted McDowell, "and that 6-2 is just two inches below his personal best."

Also, for the boys, John Sankus ended his season in 16th place in the shot put. "He was very excited to get to districts," said McDowell, "and had a great senior season."

Oravatiz had the busiest weekend of all, competing in the long and triple jumps as well as the 100-meter dash and the relay. She was 13th in the triple jump (35-1), the sixth highest L-L League placer and went 15-11 in the long jump for 12th, the fifth longest jump for L-L League qualifiers.

"She was disappointed with her jumps but continues to show improvement," said McDowell. "And for a sophomore to qualify in three individual events, as well as a relay, is an accomplishment in itself. She has grown as an athlete and will continue to have success."

Housekeeper also competed in the 200 but did not qualify for the semifinals. "This was her second year competing in an individual race," McDowell pointed out. "She had a great season running the 100, 200 and 400 in dual meets. I am excited to see her continue her talent in soccer in the fall and reach her goal of districts again next spring."

FOOTBALL

Elijah Cunningham took part in the PSFCA East-West big school all-star football game held May 21 at Bishop McDevitt High School. He represented the West squad which finished with a 24-16 victory.