The Lady Pioneers ran their winning streak to 15 straight, defeating West York 18-2 and Cocalico 9-2. They are the only undefeated team in the league in section play and sport a 13-1 overall record.

In non-league action Saturday, May 1, L-S pounded out 20 hits over six innings and crushed West York 18-2.

Tied at 3-3 after three complete innings, L-S started to pull away with a five run fourth and then ended all doubts with an 11-1 sixth. Chloe Blantz (4-4, 2RBI) and Cam Byler (2-4, 2RBI) both connected for home runs. Kieva Middleton, who struck out eight, walked two and scattered three hits, helped her cause at the plate, going 4-4. Emily Platt, Brooke Zuber, and Sydney Weichler all added two hits.

Blantz, in her first varsity pitching action, relieved Middleton in the sixth inning. She faced five batters and struck out three.

Last Tuesday they needed seven innings but defeated Cocalico 9-2 with an outstanding effort from Blantz. The senior went 3-4 with a pair of three-run homers and seven RBIs. She also went the distance in the circle, fanning 13 batters, walking two and scattering three hits. Cam Byler, Ally Raub and Morgan Whitaker added two hits each.

TRACK

With a dominating performance from the distance team and three wins by Teagan Weaver, the Pioneers remained undefeated on the year with a hard-fought 81-69 win at Manheim Central last Monday.

The distance boys, with Colin Whitaker, Ben Devine, and Nate Eberly in the mile and 3200 and Whitaker, Arik Harnish and Luka Vranich in the 800, swept the Barons. Harnish and Vranich placed in both the open 400 as well as running in the winning 4x800 relay with Whitaker and Eberly and the 4x400 with Marty Brenneman and Eberly.

"Arik ran a 52.2 in the 400 and ran an even faster 400 in the third leg of the 4x400 to erase Manheim's lead," noted head coach Cal Esh. "And our throwers came through against a strong Central throwing team. The boys rose to the occasion."

Aiden Jones and Zac Shelley went 2-3 in the javelin, Shelley was second in the shot and Elijah Carr and Jordan Thode went 2-3 in the discus. Plus, David Pritchard added a second in the high, Luke Wiley was second in the pole vault and Christian Otto took third in the 300 hurdles.

Weaver's hat trick featured top times in the 100 and 200. He won the long jump on his final leap and was second in the triple.

"The girls team also gave a good effort but fell short 89-61," said Esh.

Maggie Swarr continued to lead the throwers, winning the shot and javelin, and taking third in the discus while Jada Willard added a second in the shot and was third in the javelin.

Lyndi Wall's top times in the 100 and 200, as well as anchoring the 4x100 with Maddie Weichler, Katie Finn, and Elly Bruner, highlighted the action on the track.

"Our 4x800 (Tori Heiserman, Tonna Harnish, Aubrey Magagna and Jaclyn Martin) also ran well and Cam Coleman won the pole vault," Esh said.

BOYS' LACROSSE

L-S hosted Penn Manor in the Backyard Bash Friday, April 30 and improved to 9-3 overall with a 16-14 win. The Pioneers won the first two frames for a 10-4 lead at the break. The Comets tried to rally their way to a victory but fell short despite winning the half 10-6.

Connor Nolt, back in action, tallied a game-high six goals, Barrett Denlinger netted four, Stewart McClain added three and Collin Sullivan rounded out the multiple goal scorers with 2.

At home last Monday, a 4-0 third quarter extended Lampeter's 8-6 first half advantage and gave the hosts some breathing room in a 16-9 win over LCD/LC. Nolt's six goals and three assists led a balanced attack. McClain led with four assists and added a hat trick while Denlinger (1a), Zach Labreque (2a), and Sullivan each scored once. Jack Filius contributed one goal and one assist.

"Going into the season, I believed if healthy and committed to playing fundamentally sound lacrosse, we would battle for the section title," head coach Mike McConomy said. "We have a great group and are back to full strength."

The Pioneers used a strong second half to pull away, extending their 6-4 halftime lead with five goals in the third and a 2-0 advantage in the fourth.

Bryce Thomas, with 16 saves, highlighted the defense while Labreque's four goals and three assists led the attack. Nolt (2a) and McClain chipped in with hat tricks, Filius (1a) scored twice and Denlinger once.

BASEBALL

With the end of the regular season just one week away, every game is a tune-up for playoffs. The Pioneers came up with a big win Saturday morning, May 1, handing Manheim Central, the top team in Section Three, its second loss of the season. The 4-2 result featured seven hits by the Pioneers and a pair of Baron miscues.

After a scoreless first, L-S got on the board when two out doubles by Isaiah Parido and Xander Getchis (2-2, 1RBI) made it 1-0. One inning later they scored two more.

The Barons made things interesting in the fifth, scoring one run and cutting the lead to 3-2.

Determined, L-S scored again in the sixth on a pair of walks and a two out base hit by Gehrig Harsh and then denied the Barons in the seventh.

Jack Swarr struck out four, walked three and gave up three hits over five innings and Harsh finished out the game, striking out three and yielding one hit.

Last Monday the Pioneers improved to 6-1 and remained on top of the Section Two standings with an 11-4 final at Elizabethtown. L-S used ten hits, took advantage of five errors, and opened with a five run first inning. Alex Knapp, Braedon Karpathios (2RBIs) and Caleb Guyer (2RBIs) accounted for six of the team's ten hits.

Peyton Harsh struck out four, walked five and gave up two hits over five innings. Jason Long pitched two innings of relief, scattering three hits, walking one and striking out two.

Under the lights last Wednesday, the Pioneers hosted Solanco and pulled out a close one, 4-2, after spotting the Mules a run in the first. Guyer, a southpaw, earned the win, allowing six hits and striking out six. Knapp and Parido each had two hits and 2 RBIs.

GIRLS' LACROSSE

Lampeter's five game win streak ended Thursday, April 29 in Lampeter as the home team suffered an 18-5 loss to the top team in the league, Manheim Township.

The Pioneers, who have scored just nine goals fewer than the Streaks for the season, got off to a slow start and never recovered.

But L-S shook off that loss by racking up 24 goals last Monday night against LCD/LC. It was the sixth time this season they scored 20 or more goals in a win as they held the hosts to six. And while leading scorer Rowen Kimmel pushed her season total to 63 goals with a team high six goals and five assists, the Pioneers had a balanced attack with nine other players contributing.

Hat trick totals were had by both Riley Dawson and Hannah Gawne while Jeslyn Krebs (4a), Kelliann Drummond (1a), Kelly Hostetter (1a), Malaina Bauson (1a) and Joselyn Saurbaugh each scored twice with Hannah Cissne and Olivia Poley chipping in with one.

"We could get a seven, six or maybe five seed in districts but we have to take care of our own business and see what shakes out with the teams above us: Palmyra, Red Land and Susquehannock," said head coach Marshall Krebs.