While the rest of the Pioneer spring sports teams are eagerly waiting to start their seasons, the tennis team played three games under their belts, playing Penn Manor, Octorara, and Lancaster Country Day before opening Section Two play March 29.

The Pioneers were 7-6 overall in 2019 and return junior Weston Weaver and Rowen Krantz, a senior who hold down the top two spots, respectively. Andrew Reidenbaugh, also a junior, moves into the No. 3 position while senior Kyle Turner is playing No. 4. Alex Vaziri, a senior, and freshman Spencer Teaman are Lampeter's No. 5 and 6 players and also team for No. 3 doubles.

Lampeter dropped a 6-1 final against Penn Manor but the matches were closer than the final score indicated. Weaver, Krantz and Reidenbaugh all fell short 6-2, 6-1 and Turner lost 6-2, 6-0.

In doubles play, Vaziri and Teaman prevented the shutout with an 8-2 win.

Two days later the Pioneers traveled to a short-handed Octorara squad and brought home a 6-1 win.

"They only have six players," said head coach Mark Trach, "so we were confident going in."

Krantz earned a 6-1, 6-2 win at No. 2 while Reidenbaugh and Turner both secured shutouts.

Weaver and Krantz pulled out a tight 8-6 win at the No. 1 tandem while Reidenbaugh and Turner and Vaziri and Teaman picked up shutout wins.

Monday, March 22nd, Vaziri and Teaman earned two of Lampeter's three points but it wasn't enough in a 4-3 loss to Lancaster Country Day. Without Weaver at No. 1 (ankle injury), everyone moved up in singles play. Turner, at No. 3 and Vaziri, playing 4, both battled for hard-fought wins. Turner claimed a 6-3, 7-5 result while Vaziri won 7-6, 6-3.

"Alex played well and pulled out a tight win," noted Trach. "Country Day is a strong team, but we were able to pull out some wins."

Country Day, a District Three 2A champ two years ago, took No. 1 and 2 doubles, 8-0 and 8-2 respectively before Vaziri and Teaman settled for an 8-3 win that capped the scoring.

"I brought Jack Harnish up to play No. 1 doubles with Rowen Krantz," Trach stated. "He has some big strokes, and this was his first varsity action."

BASEBALL

In 2019, the Pioneers were 24-5 overall. They were Section Two and L-L League champs and PIAA 5A State runners-up. That was two years ago.

This year the Pioneers have a new boss in head coach Jeff Swarr. The Special Education teacher at L-S was a Pioneer assistant coach from 2009-2014. He was the head coach at Millersville from 2006-07, an assistant at Franklin and Marshall from 2002-05 and an assistant at Solanco from 1996-2000.

"Having been at L-S for 21 years, it has been great to see the pride and tradition of the baseball program," said Swarr. "It's a great situation to come into. We are a 'royal' blue collar program with a committed group of players and a selfless group of coaches. We are blessed with seven total coaches (Jeff Bianchi, Matt Carta, Scott Eckman, Nathanael Groff, Andy Hoover, Brandon Nickel, Joe Sloss) that can pick up, instruct, and be leaders at the drop of hat. It is a dream situation," he continued.

"This year we are not defending a title, that is a passive approach. We are attacking a title by getting a little better each day and by being the best versions of ourselves," Swarr commented. "This includes playing Selflessly, with Enthusiasm, Relentlessly and having Trust in ourselves, our teammates and our coaches. Those four words make up our Core Values."

The Pioneers return Alex Knapp, who was a courtesy runner in 2019 and Braedon Karpathios, who was a starting outfielder and pitcher. Lampeter's projected infield includes junior Andrew Whitehead (catcher), Karpathios and Jack Scranton (first base), junior Giovanni Malatesta (second base), senior Joey Doolittle (third base), senior Owen Fikkert (shortstop). Outfielders include junior Isaiah Parido and sophomore Peyton Harsh (LF), Knapp (CF), and senior Jake Long (RF). Filling in at DH will be either sophomore Jason Long or senior Neil Eckman.

The Pioneers also have a selection of pitchers that include senior Xander Getchis, senior Caleb Guyer, junior Gehrig Harsh, Harsh, Long, Malatesta, Parido, junior Jake Reichert, senior Jack Swarr, and junior Andrew Whitehead.

BASKETBALL ALL-STARS

As voted on by the Lancaster-Lebanon League coaches, the Pioneers were well represented with post-season accolades. The girls' team received the Section Three Sportsmanship Award and had three individuals recognized for their efforts. Emma Drouillard, with a 10.7 ppg average, was a first team all-star, Maggie Visneski was an all-defensive team award winner and Megan Manion was an all-academic team award winner.

Representing the boys' team, Ty Burton was a first team all-star with a 20.5 ppg average with 32 made three-pointers. Luka Vranich, averaging 7.5 ppg, received second team recognition.