The Spartans split their first two baseball games of the week, defeating Pequea Valley 10-4 at home on Tuesday April 4 and losing 12-3 to Manheim Central the following day in a Lancaster-Lebanon League ballgame.

The Spartans (2-5) came back from an early 2-0 deficit to plate five runs in the home half of the first inning versus Pequea. After the Braves had shaved one run off the Spartans' lead, the home team rallied for three more in the third inning.

Connor Manning and Caleb Zimmerman combined for five hits with Zimmerman going 3-for-4 with two runs. Both batters drove in three runs.

While Zimmerman and Manning provided timely hits out of the leadoff and number three spots of the lineup, respectively, senior Colin Smith helped turn the lineup over, going 1-for-2 with a run and two RBI's out of the number eight spot. Fellow senior Gabe Smeltz also drove in a run at the number nine hole.

The Spartans helped themselves by generating runs. Zimmerman and Madix Bracken each stole a base. Caiden Murphy swiped two bags as did Karson Weaver.

On the mound, sophomore Ryan Speers went 5.1 innings for the win, recording three strikeouts and allowing three walks. When it was time to call for relief, the Spartans went to Brackin, who went 1.2 innings of one-hit scoreless work.

In the 12-3 loss at Octorara, Garden Spot led briefly. The Spartans plated two runs in the top of the second inning for a 2-1 lead. The Braves scored three in the home half and had two more three-run innings on the day.

Zimmerman and Speers both doubled and drove in one run each for the Spartans.

VOLLEYBALL

The Spartans topped their Section Two rival Mountaineers at Ephrata on Friday, March 31. The Mountaineers attempted to mount a comeback, winning the third set 25-21 to avoid a sweep.

The Spartans (2-0) took the fourth set 25-17, winning the match by a 3-1 margin.

Given the Ephrata comeback bid, it must be noted that the Mountaineers lost a close opening set. They forced the Spartans to pursue the game point with a few extra serves in the 27-25 Spartan victory. Spot went on to take the second set 25-17.

Tanner Laukhuff, who led the team with 12 digs, put down 17 kills. Keegan Redcay served up three aces and distributed 33 assists while also registering three blocks.

TENNIS

Seeking their first win of the season, the Spartans hosted Pequea Valley in a boys' tennis match on Friday, March 31.

With the Braves claiming the first two doubles matches by 8-0 scores, the twosome of Andrew Hershey and Jude Kauffman battled their Pequea counterparts in a tough third doubles match that was eventually claimed by the Braves' Bailey Scott and Joel Peifer 8-4.

The Braves went on to win all four singles matches and took the match by a 7-0 score.

Three days later, the Spartans played host to Cocalico in an L-L League match. The Eagles dominated the Spartans by a 7-0 score.

Spot fell to 0-5 on the year with a 7-0 loss to Manheim Township on April 5 at New Holland.

The Streaks blanked the Spartans in each match except for number three doubles - an 8-2 loss by Kauffman and Hershey.

TRACK

The boys' track team edged Cocalico 87-63 in a Section Two meet on Monday, April 3 at Garden Spot.

Grabbing the mid- and long-distance races of the 800- and 1,600-meter events, Alan Krock gave Garden Spot two first-place finishes. Junior Gavin Riemers finished ahead of the competition in the 3200 with at time of 11:10.4.

Sean Kelch ran a 54.9 pace to win the 400.

The Spartans dominated the field events as Kaleb Zimmerman won both the shot put and discus throws. Another multiple winner was Aiden Durante. The senior posted a winning long jump of 19-3 and claimed the triple jump at 38-11.5

In the girls' meet Garden Spot topped Cocalico 96-53.

Angela Nuse sprinted to victory in the 100- and 200-m races. The 800 went to another Krock as Elise Krock came in first.

Megan Hechler won the high hurdles in 18.0 seconds and the 300-m hurdles at a 51.3 clip.

Magdalene Martin's javelin heave of 93-5 was tops in the meet.

Nuse came back to win the long jump at 15-11.75 while Hechler contributed a first-place high jump, clearing 4-10.

Chloe Grady claimed the triple jump at 31-11.

GIRLS' LACROSSE

The Garden Spot offense erupted for 19 goals in a Section Two girls' lacrosse match on Wednesday April 5 at Lancaster Country Day. The Spartans scored 12 times in the first half, doubling up the Cougars 12-6 by intermission.

Gwen Varley paced Garden Spot with her eight goals on the day. Brielle Moyer and Emily Ferris scored five and four goals, respectively.

Rounding out the scoring were Keira Steiner and sophomore Frieda Kauffman with one goal each.

Olivia Scarle's seven saves and Jaden Miller's four saves helped the Spartans stave off the Cougars.

Monday's home match with Warwick also exhibited a great offensive output. However, the Warriors outscored the Spartans 19-11.

Varley once again scorched the opponent's net with eight goals. Ferris and Kathryn Pierce scored twice and once, respectively, for Garden Spot.

Garden Spot's first win of the season - just as the team's first L-L League win five days over LCD, was in a 10-goal margin of victory. On Friday, March 31, the Spartans dominated Daniel Boone 18-8, scoring a dozen goals before halftime.

Varley was phenomenal on the day, scoring 10 times and distributing two assists as well. Moyer scored five times and recorded one assist, Ferris dished out four assist and scored one goal of her own.

Pierce also registered one goal. Keira Steiner and Eden Nagle each recorded an assist.

Scarle held down the goalie duties, grabbing 11 saves for the win.

BOYS' LACROSSE

On the wings of an impressive three-game win streak, the boys' lacrosse team improved its mark to 4-2 (3-1 league). The Spartans were coming off a 12-3 loss back on Thursday, March 30, which may have sparked the great offensive output. They outscored opponents by a collective 32-18 margin, starting with a March 31 home turf victory over Daniel Boone.

Joseph Bernek was the offensive star of the 12-8 victory. He scored half of his team's goals. In support of Bernek's six goals, Ayden Naranjo and Ben Keeport each scored twice while Jared Patton and Kane Leaman netted one each.

Cole Leaman came through with eight saves in the Spartans' goal.

With a strong second half in which they outscored Warwick by a 6-2 count, the Spartans edged the Warriors 7-6 on the road Monday, April 3. Naranjo and the Warriors' Aiden Minney each notched a hat trick.

Berneck tallied two goals and assisted on another. Patton had an assist and scored a goal of his own. Max Davis also scored while Logan Lessley and Kane Leaman both provided assists,

The winning continued as the Spartans downed Lancaster Country Day 13-4 on April 5. The match was already an 11-0 runaway for the Spartans by halftime.

Bernek rose to the occasion once again, scoring seven times. Naranjo, Lessley, Patton, Keeport, Nick Gleason and Kane Leaman scored once. Lessley also provided two assists.

Cole Leman saved six shots in the win. Logan Hall was also credited with a save