The Pequea Valley baseball team was unable to hold its brief 4-3 lead in the third inning of Monday's District Three Class 3A playoff game at Trinity High School.

The Shamrocks came back to tie the score in the home half of the opening-round game at Camp Hill. A four-run fourth and six runs in the sixth spelled the end of the Braves' (12-9) quest for advancement.

Ryan Balaban slugged a home run and drove in two runs for the Shamrocks. Josiah Bowie hit a solo home run to lead Trinity to a 14-4 win.

In the four-run third inning by Pequea, sophomores Stephen Smucker and Dominick Burrell each drove in a run as did junior Jayden Stoltzfus, who doubled in a run and came around to score one.

Peyton Temple, who went 1-for-3, also came around to score. The Braves were held to five hits, including a single by freshman Logan Zynn, who also scored a run.

In this year's format of taking seven teams from Class 3A into districts, seeds 2 through 7 face off in the first round with the three winners and the top seed making up the semi-finals.

SOFTBALL

The Pequea softball team also suffered a 14-4 loss on the road in the district playoffs. The sixth-seeded Braves traveled to Duncannon where they faced the number three seed Susquenita Lady Hawks on Monday, May 22, for a first-round game in District Three 3A games.

"We got their first two batters out and couldn't get out the next eight," Doug High, the Braves' head coach, said of the Hawks' six-run first inning.

The Hawks carried an 8-1 lead into the third inning where the Braves trimmed the lead to 8-3.

"Olivia Clark had a nice double to drive in two runs," High explained.

Freshman Lena Beckenbaugh belted a three-run home run to help the Hawks. Sophomore Tierney Stuempfle went 2-for-2 with a double and three runs scored. She also reached base on a walk and was hit by a pitch.

Pequea freshman Izzy Graham led the offense with a 2-for-3 game, including two runs scored. Chavelle Fisher also had a double and a run batted in. Carissa Mulder went 1-for-2 with a run. Victoria Smoker stroked an RBI single.

The Hawks improved to 18-3 while the Braves' season ended at 12-9.

"We set out to make it to the post-season," High said, looking back on the 2023 campaign. "We accomplished that goal.

"It was a nice to see the team turn it around," continued the coach. "We went from five wins last year to 12 wins this year and getting to districts.

"Izzy Graham and Carissa Mulder are two of our best hitters," said High.

While Mulder, who wrapped up her junior season, and Graham are expected back next year, the Braves bid farewell to some key seniors.

"Madison Clark played third base for us this year," High said. "She was at second base the last two years and I moved her to third this year. She did a nice job.

"Second base was also a senior," he added. "Shania Smoker moved from short. Between the two of them, they had two position changes as seniors - for the good of the team. They did admirable jobs.

"Olivia Clark was our catcher, and she minimized the stolen bases for sure," High added.

Staying with the middle of the field, the Braves will also say farewell to their center fielder Sarah Arment and pitcher Mackenzie Musser.

"She had tremendous range," High said. "If the ball would go off the bat and anywhere from right-center to left-center, you didn't need to worry; Sarah was going to catch it.

"Mackenzie had the most innings pitched for us," High concluded.

TRACK & FIELD

At the District Three Class 2A Track & Field Championships, Pequea's cross country standout Aubrey Ressler came through with excellent finishes.

The freshman competed in three of the girls' events in the two-day championships, which were held at Shippensburg University on Friday and Saturday, May 19-20.

Ressler finished 13th in the 800-meter race at a pace of 2:39.25. She also ran the 1,600 in 5:41.16, earning seventh place.

In the 3200, Ressler raced to a fifth-place finish, registering a time of 12:17.50.