The Pequea Valley baseball team used five big hits and a slew of walks to manufacture 11 runs, defeating Tulpehocken 11-0 on Monday. With the win in this non-league game, the Braves evened their record at 1-1.

"It was a good win for the boys, especially coming off the loss to Lancaster Catholic," head coach Carl Langley said, referring to the season-opening defeat.

Gavin Eby started for the Braves. The junior pitcher went all five innings and struck out six. He was in command, registering a complete game when the mercy rule went into effect after five frames.

"He got ahead of hitters and got them out," Langley said.

On the Pequea side, the batters were patient and took advantage of the Tulpehocken pitchers' inability to locate the strike zone.

"In our three games so far, we have 15 walks," Langley noted, referring also to Wednesday's 2-0 loss to Annville-Cleona.

Jaden Estevez had two hits and drove in three runs for the Braves in this victory. Sophomore Cristian Smucker had a hit and drove in a pair. Eby helped his own cause by knocking in two runs.

The Braves fell to 0-2 in the Lancaster-Lebanon League with the loss to Annville. It was a loss that Langley referred to as "heartbreaking."

The Dutchmen scored on a bounding ball past the reach of Pequea infielders for a two-run RBI in the sixth.

"It was one of those heartbreaking losses," Langley said. "Annville is one of the better teams in our section. I told the kids that I hope they walk away with confidence for the way they played."

Estevez took the tough loss, giving up two unearned runs in the sixth inning.

"He pitched such a good game," said the coach. "We had an error. They got one more runner on base and then a sacrifice bunt."

Estevez got the next out, but a high chopper was over the third baseman's head for two runs.

Estevez struck out seven and walked three in six innings.

"Both runs were unearned and he only gave up three hits," Langley noted. "Baseball is a game of inches. On another day, this game could have gone our way."

SOFTBALL

The Braves defeated Annville-Cleona 12-1 in a Section Four softball game at Pequea Valley on Wednesday, April 7. It was the Braves' first win of the season after dropping the opener 3-2 at Lancaster Catholic eight days earlier.

"It was a better showing of who we are - very athletic and talented," said Doug High, the PV head coach. "We are a young team - only two starting seniors in the lineup."

Sarah Arment, one of those young players, contributed nicely to the offense. The sophomore went 3-for-3 with three runs scored, three runs batted in and three stolen bases.

Emily Ammon had a two-run triple. Shania Smoker, another sophomore, had a bases-loaded single to drive in one run. She also scored one.

The biggest inning was the fourth when the Braves plated seven runs. Pequea sent 11 batters to the plate.

"Pretty much it was a team effort," said High. "This was a huge win - it shows who we truly are. This win was a great morale booster for our team."

The final line was 12 runs on nine hits and only one error for the Braves. Annville scored one on three hits.

"Olivia Ammon had 10 strikeouts in five innings," High pointed out.

Olivia is the lone pitcher on the varsity squad with freshman Madilynn Hassis holding down the pitching duties for junior varsity.

"I've been in this situation before with Pequea Valley," High said, referring to the one pitcher roster. "Hopefully we stay healthy."

TENNIS

In a non-league tennis match at Lampeter-Strasburg, Pequea Valley prevailed 7-0 as Brady Burns and Josh Jarvis were among the players posting team points in both singles and doubles competition.

The match opened with what turned out to be an exciting battle at number one doubles. Jazae Itegi and Wade Stoltzfus managed to finally edge Andrew Reidenbaugh and Kyle Turner 9-8.

Burns and Jarvis teamed up for an 8-3 win at number two doubles while Nehemiah Glick and Samuel Arena were 8-4 winners at the third doubles.

Glick was part of an intense set in the number one doubles, defeating Turner 7-5 and claiming the team point with a 6-3 win. Stoltzfus (6-1, 6-1) Jarvis (6-2, 6-2) and Burns (6-0, 6-0) were straight set winners as well, taking the next three singles matches.