Morgan Briggs likes the ingredients she has in her kitchen. Like a master chef, everything is mixing well, from the upperclassmen leadership paired with some younger talent, this is the best a group has gelled, she says, in her four years coaching field hockey at Manheim Central.

They have a lot of speed, a lot of athleticisms, a lot of girls who can anticipate the ball really well and just overall, they are very aggressive players, Briggs said. The girls know their roles on the team and how to play to their strengths.

"We're able to exploit a lot of teams by our aggressive play," she said, "and that was really on display, especially against Warwick and against Cocalico (Monday)."

The Barons earned a 5-0 triumph over the Eagles on Sept. 13. Kylie Kroesen put Central up 1-0 at halftime. The Barons scored four times in the second half. Kroesen scored her second goal in the third quarter, along with Mikayla Appel. Maddie Hartzler and Kiley Hosler found the back of the cage in the fourth.

Central beat Warwick 3-2 on Sept. 10. Trailing 1-0 after the first quarter, the Barons scored twice in the second quarter and once in the third. Goals were by Appel, Libby Urban and Kroesen.

In the Manheim Tournament Sept. 11, Central beat Cedar Cliff, 3-1. The Barons scored in the first 10 seconds and in the last 10 seconds. They started off strong with two quick goals in the contest, as off the opening draw, Ella Brubaker received a beautiful ball from Herzler into space and used her speed to find the back of the cage.

"It was nice to start the game with a 1-0 lead to boost the girls' confidence going into the rest of the game," Brigg said. Brubaker scored again and Kroesen added a goal.

The Barons lost 5-2 to East Pennsboro in the finals. Kroesen scored and had an assist and Hartzler added a goal.

FOOTBALL

What is more impressive than the Barons' 3-0 record? It is how they are doing it. They have outscored their opponents 109-7 (the seven came in the first game of the season). The latest win was a 60-0 shellacking of Susquehanna Township.

Quarterback Judd Novak threw three touchdowns and passed for 163 yards. Receiver Owen Sensenig caught six passes for 72 yards. Luke Lastinger had TD catches of 18 and 45 yards.

Defensively, Kahlen Watt had six tackles, Logan Saunders (one sack, one fumble recovery) and Nick Hess each had five tackles. Larry Marley added an interception.

BOYS' SOCCER

The Barons are proving to be a second half team, scoring twice after intermission against Lampeter-Strasburg on Sept. 13 for a 2-0 victory. Goalie Dylan Smith collected eight saves in the shutout.

Central coach Rod Brenize said Connor Caterbone made a midfield run and received a through ball from Luke Redcay. Caterbone beat his man, the keeper came out and Caterbone maneuvered around him and sent his shot into an empty net on what Brenize called a gorgeous goal. Gabe Redcay capped the evening with a score in the final 16 seconds of play on a shot from 45 yards, chipping the keeper.

Central pulled an upset, beating two-time defending Section Two champion McCaskey 2-1 in overtime on Sept. 9. Caterbone scored in the 19th minute of play. Gabe Redcay notched the game-winner two minutes into OT. Braydn Dombach assisted on both goals.

The Barons defense - Max Hudson, Kristian Citko Aiden Beck, Cameron Bowser, and Smith - held the Red Tornado's high-powered offense in check. And junior Keeper Dylan Smith had a fine day between the pipes.

GIRLS' SOCCER

Five Lady Barons scored in a 6-0 rout over McCaskey on Sept. 9. Abbie Reed, Summer Bates, Hannah Adair, Abby Knapp, and McKenna Enck each registered goals. Knapp scored twice.

Central dropped a 1-0 Section Two contest to L-S on Sept. 13.

VOLLEYBALL

Manheim defeated Cocalico in three games, winning an exciting first game, 28-26 and then 25-18 and 25-13. Madison Knier and Raegan Nissley led the team with six kills each. Knier added three blocks. Addy Doerschuk dished out 12 assists and Grace Stoltzfus notched 10 digs. Emma Moyer had five aces. This was a good bounce back win for the Barons, who lost 3-0 to Warwick night before in Lititz.

TENNIS

Central shutout Donegal, 4-0. All three doubles teams were victorious. Sophomore Sammi Williams won her first singles match, 6-3, 6-1. Manheim also beat Exeter, 4-3. Brianna Mylin had the lone win in singles in an exciting match. After losing 6-3 in the first set, Mylin rallied to take the next two - 7-6 (3) and 10-6.

The Lady Barons rolled to a 7-0 triumph over Lebanon on Sept. 13. The singles winners included Gabby Wettig, Holly Miller, Kami Groff, and Brooke Kettler. In doubles, Wettig and Mylin, Miller and Williams, and Lauren Huber/Hailey Kowalski all posted victories.

Barons' coach Kurt Funk said his team took advantage of Lebanon's inexperience and is playing good tennis right now.

"Staying focused and trying to improve was the main goal of that match," he said. "Exeter was a huge win for us. We won three tiebreakers. We won all the close matches. We also had some first-time varsity players who really stepped up and won some key points."

CROSS COUNTRY

The boys lost to Donegal, 19-39, Annville-Cleona, 19-42, and Lampeter-Strasburg, 15-49, last Tuesday in Lampeter. Michael Greenwald led the Barons with a 10th overall finish at 18.03. Cameron Evans placed 22nd with a time of 19.40.

The girls, going up against three undefeated teams, fared better, securing three close wins with 26-29 victory against L-S, 27-30 triumph against A-C and 27-28 win against Donegal. The Barons sit on top of the section at 5-0.

Julie Lindberg (21.47) and Olivia Sunderland (21.50) placed fifth and sixth, respectively. Jenna Moffett (22.06) was eighth, Reagan Ibach (22.42) placed 14th and Madelynn Hoffman (24.33) was 21st.