The track teams battled cold and windy conditions last Tuesday, April 19 when they hosted Lampeter-Strasburg for a Section Two showdown. Despite giving up 13 first place finishes, the Mules fell just three points behind the Pioneers, 72-69, with just the pole vault competition left. That portion of the meet will play out on Friday.

Highlights included the field events and a sweep in the high jump (Noah Baber, Elijah Reimold, Trenten Henry) and the shot put (Braden Caldwell, Connor Smith, and John Sankus). The Mules also finished second and third in the long, and triple jumps and all three throwing events.

Trent McDowell, who was second in the triple and 300 hurdles, posted a 15.9 to win the 110 highs. Solanco's 4x100 relay team (Johnny Morales, Josiah Forren, Michael Banguna and Riley Ford) secured a second track win. Anthony Solis-Morales added seconds in the mile and 3200 and Ford was second in the 100- and 200-meter dashes.

"We moved Johnny to the 4x100 at the last minute and he helped us with the win," said head coach Jen McDowell. "Nick Defrancesco shows great improvement and steps to the plate every time and Connor Smith had a great meet placing in the shot and discus (2nd) and javelin (3rd)."

The girls' team put forth a strong effort but could not match the Pioneers depth and fell behind 86-55 (without the pole vault). Hannah Wood led the scoring with top throws in the shot and discus and was second in the javelin. Emma Baxter added a PR in the 3200 for first as did Olivia Oravitz in the 200 while Emily Powl won the 800 and Emma Housekeeper edged Jaclyn Martin by 2/100th of second. She finished third in the 100 behind Katie Urbine.

Predictions can sometimes fall to the wayside. Like the girls' track team for instance. Expected to lose to Elizabethtown by at least nine points on Thursday, April 14, the girls battled and came within a point of victory, falling 75.5 - 74.5.

"The girls had a great meet," said McDowell. "I expected us to lose by nine, but they stepped up and almost won."

Urbine earned four wins on the day, taking the pole vault (11-0), long jump and, competing for the first time in the triple jump, won that event. She also posted the top time in the 100. Wood added a throwing sweep with teammate Weaver following with three second place efforts.

Christine Wagner added the top 3200 time with a personal record, Halle Brown took the 300 hurdles and Emma Housekeeper, who was second in the 200 and third in the 100, took the open 400 by four seconds.

The boys' team had an easier time, doubling up Etown in points, 100-50. Elijah Reimold led the way with three jumping wins. He led sweeps in the triple (Trent McDowell, Noah Barber), and high jump (Baber, T Henry) and also won the long. The Mules also swept the javelin (Connor Smith, Brian Coleman, J Kaphart) and won the shot (John Sankus PR).

Anthony Solis-Morales sparked the action on the track with top times in the mile and 800m runs. Wyatt Tomison ran away with the 3200, Riley Ford took the 100, McDowell claimed the 110 hurdles and freshman Garrett Grove led in the 300 hurdles.

"The distance boys had the highest points and really pulled the meet ahead for us," said McDowell.

SOFTBALL

In a key Section Two clash Thursday, April 14, Solanco's slow start proved costly as Lampeter-Strasburg, the reigning Class 5A state champs, took advantage of two first inning errors, and added some timely hitting to jump out to a 5-0 lead that sparked an 8-3 Pioneer victory. It was Solanco's first loss of the season.

"We played six innings," said head coach Brett Miller. "Unfortunately, it's a seven-inning game."

A walk, a one out error and a hit batter loaded the bags early. Kara Scranton added a two run double and Gabby Hiles smacked a liner off Anna Sexton in the circle that plated a third run. A throwing error on a dropped third strike wild pitch scored two more.

Solanco got one back in the bottom half when Becca Foulk's triple pushed in Emily Sims, who reached on a base hit but Keiva Middleton's solo homer in the fifth pushed Lampeter's lead to five.

Both teams traded a pair of runs in the seventh. With two outs, the Pioneers collected three straight hits to cap their scoring while a Sims' liner to center field plated Sexton (single) and Tara Britigan (walk).

Sexton fanned 10 batters as did Lampeter's Keiva Middleton and both walked one. Middleton, however, scattered six hits to Sexton's ten.

For the second game in a row, a slow start proved fatal. Solanco gave up five runs in the first inning and never regained the lead in a 15-12 slugfest at Warwick last Wednesday.

"The pitchers struggled to locate the strike zone and a slugfest broke out," said Miller. "You get that when pitchers struggle to find the zone. It's kinda taken out of our hands."

The two teams combined for 40 hits and seven errors.

Solanco cut the lead to 10-9 in the top of the fifth but could get no closer. Holly Grube and Foulk combined for five RBI's and three hits. Britigan and J. Janssen each finished with three hits while Marlee Haupt and Sexton added two each.

"Marlee came in to pitch the fourth," noted Miller. "It's the first time she's pitched this year and she had the same experience in locating the strike zone.

"There are no easy games," he added. "We have to come back and play better."

BASEBALL

The baseball team's unlucky streak continued in Thursday's (April 14) loss to visiting Spring Grove. Tied at 3-3 heading in to the seventh inning, the visitors pulled out a 6-3 victory with a three-spot. They out-hit the Mules 11-7 and took advantage of five errors.

"We're looking forward to the second half of the season," said head coach John Girvin. "We're moving some people around and making some changes that we're hoping will make a difference.

Spring Grove took the early lead, scoring once in the first inning and twice in the fourth. The Mules got going in the fifth with Brayden Herr's run scoring hit and added two more in the sixth courtesy of Dillon Dean's two run homer, setting the stage for a clutch seventh inning.

Owen Underwood, Kaden Strong, Kody Moyer and Nate Harnish also contributed to Solanco's seven-hit offense. Spring Grove doubled that amount.

Strong gave up six hits and four runs in four innings pitched, striking out two and walking one. Harnish (1W, 1K), Weston Beiler (1W) and Austin Wenger also saw action on the hill.

"Our pitchers have done a great job this year," said Girvin.

Solanco committed five errors and gave up 11 hits in a 15-1, six inning loss to Warwick last Wednesday. Harsh went 3-3 at the plate with one RBI.