Whenever Hempfield and Manheim Township meet in a sporting event, it's a pretty big deal.

When the Black Knights played host to the Blue Streaks on Friday, May 5, it was a key Section One baseball game between the archrival schools.

Having split their two previous meetings - an 8-5 Township win on May 2 and a 3-2 win by the Knights at Hempfield on April 12 - the two met again in Landisville.

It was Hempfield's turn.

Drew Benchich gave the offense the early spark, slugging a two-run double. The Knights added three more in the third inning. Stephen Katch and Logan Harelson RBI singles helped produce more offense as Hempfield went on to win 7-4.

The victory raised the Knights' record to 12-2 in league play with a secure spot atop the Section One standings.

Katch would go on to hit a two-run double in the bottom of the fourth to answer a Township rally in the visitors' half of the inning.

You've heard of the Monday morning quarterback. Hempfield senior Dawson Kuhn was the Monday afternoon reliever as he extinguished a Penn Manor threat in the bottom of the fourth inning. He escaped a bases-loaded jam and the Knights held on for a 3-2 victory on the road.

Benchich doubled to drive in Hempfield's third run of the game. Manor pitcher Brayden Eckert also escaped further trouble, leaving two men in scoring position.

Despite the lost opportunity for a big inning, Kuhn worked with the one-run lead and recorded a game-ending strikeout.

TENNIS

Cooper Lehman has faced challenges this spring.

Not only has he faced some tough competition in the L-L League boys' tennis meets, he has had to fight an ankle injury late in the season.

They say it isn't what obstacles you face, but how you respond to them that matter.

Cooper Lehman responded by earning first place in the District Three Class 3A singles championships. By winning the district title, he also qualified for states.

"Fortunately, now, his ankle has been pretty good," said Hempfield tennis coach Mindi Bell. "He wore a brace through it. It wasn't much of a factor for him in districts.

"He is going to have to wear it for states," Bell added.

Lehman defeated Hayden Koons of Dallastown in a come-from-behind championship match on Saturday, May 6 at the Hershey Racquet Club. Lehman and Koons entered the tournament seeded first and second, respectively. Koons topped Cumberland Valley's William Ong, the number three seed, in the semis.

Koons took the first set of the championship match 6-1 only to have Lehman come back to win a tight 7-6 (8-6) second set followed by a 6-2 victory.

"They play each other quite often and know each other well," said Bell. "Koons was controlling a lot of the points. The first set was tough. Cooper was having some trouble handling him.

"In the second set, he was able to adjust," Bell continued. "He had to fight off two match points in the second set. They both played very well."

For the Hempfield sophomore, it was a repeat for the district crown.

Lehman opened with a 6-2, 6-2 defeat of Andrew Chronister from Dallastown in the opening round, Friday, May 5. Later that day he defeated Daniel Boone's Sam Shank 6-1, 6-0.

In the semis, Cooper topped Cooper Wheeler of Red Lion 6-1, 6-1.

GIRLS' LACROSSE

The Knights simply needed to keep winning as hopes of catching Manheim Township for the Section One crown started to dwindle. That was precisely what they continued doing as they topped Penn Manor 9-3 in Section One girls' lacrosse action on the road Monday, May 8.

Hempfield improved to 8-2 in league play - two games behind Manheim Township.

The Comets could not rise out of a 6-1 halftime deficit. Isabelle Masengarb led Hempfield with five goals. Whitney Hershey added two goals while Aubrie Buckwalter scored one.

Ella Ashton made two saves to preserve the Hempfield.

SOFTBALL

On the way to claiming the Section One crown, the softball team won five of its final six section games and finished the regular season with a 14-4 record (11-4 league).

"We were co-champs, but we have the tiebreaker with Warwick," head coach Chris Landis said.

Heading into the season's final weekend, a solid outing by Carley Ernst helped Hempfield nip Manheim Township 3-2 on the road Friday, May 5. Ernst struck out 12 batters, allowing two runs on four hits.

As for winning the section, Landis spoke of the trials the squad underwent.

"Coming into the season we had Carley, Avery Landis and other returning players," he said. "I was surprised how we struggled early in the season to score runs.

"Middle of the season we were fourth in the section," continued the coach. "We started to climb up and we caught Warwick. We haven't been in the L-L League playoff since 2017."

Penn Manor used a couple of big innings to defeat the Knights 11-1 on Monday, May 8. The Comets swept the season series over their Section One rivals, handing Hempfield three of its four defeats.

"I can't remember the last time we beat them," Landis said.

The Knights roared back with a 12-1 win at Cedar Cliff the next day. Avery Landis went 3-4 with a double and two runs scored. Kali Peifer (2-2) slugged a homer and a double, driving in two runs.

Sydney Weaver went six innings before the game was called on the 10-run rule. Weaver allowed only unearned one run on six hits.

"She has a change-up and she'll throw strikes," Landis said of Weaver. "She's a good pitcher to have so Carley can have a rest."

VOLLEYBALL

The Knights earned back-to-back wins to close out the regular season with an 8-4 league record. On Thursday, May 4, they defeated McCaskey 3-0 on the road. On Tuesday night, May 9, they blanked Cedar Crest, winning by scores of 25-18, 25-22 and 25-17.

"Cedar Crest has a great team, and we knew they would come out swinging so give credit to them," head coach Kenny Eiser said. "Our boys hung in there and gave us a shot to win. We made a run and pulled it out."

Ethan Earhart collected 13 kills. Cole Jackson's precision passing led to 36 assists. He also registered three blocks while Brady Rigard racked up 16 digs and Finley Hunt and Conor Eby each served up two aces.

"I cannot speak highly enough of Cole and Brady," added Eiser. "Both of them have exceeded our expectations in filling roles of us losing an all-state libero and all-district setter."

Earhart and Tyler Bechtel each finished with six kills to help lead Hempfield in the McCaskey match. The Knights won 25-18, 25-17 and 25-13. Rigard not only served up five aces, but he also posted 10 digs. Jackson added 26 assists while Chase Calabretta notched three blocks.

TRACK

The Hempfield boys topped Warwick 98-51 on the road, Monday, May 8, in a Section One meet as Tate Martin placed first in both hurdling events as well as taking second in the 100-meter dash.

"This was a positive meet to end the regular season," said head coach Curt Rogers.

Julia Sweigart won the girls' 100-meter hurdles plus a second-place finish in the 300 hurdles. Mya Thompson won the 100 dash and freshman Izzy Heisey the 200. Hempfield came up short, however, as Warwick won 92-58

"Team-wise we didn't come out on top, but individually many rose to the occasion, earning points for the team," Rogers said.

Iyrie Yoder's 84-6 and Amanda Shearer's 82-7 were first and second in the girls' javelin event. Another freshman, Jordyn Gehres, won the triple jump while Sydney Rhoads claimed the high jump.

Audra Koerner-Smith was second in the pole vault.

In the girls' distance runs, Ella Wolfe claimed another first in the 3,200. Jazahlyn Lopez placed second in the 1,600 in addition to finishing second behind Wolfe in the 3,200.

Sam Freedman finished first in the 3,200 while Aiden Hodge won the mile. Both of their times were L-L League Meet qualifiers.

Freedman and Hodge joined Frank Christoffel and Joe Fahrney for a victory in the 4x800 relay. Eddie Asadu joined Martin, Gabe Benjamin and 200 winner Xavier Peralta for a 4x100 first-place finish.

Benjamin, Freedman, Spencer Ashba and 400 winner Carson Lieberman teamed up for a top spot in the 4x400 relay.

Pete Wenzel won the javelin at 157 feet, Asadu won the long jump and Andy Garcia claimed the triple jump.