Jeremiah Zimmerman and Blake Wagner are two veterans on the Manheim Central boys' volleyball team carrying the mojo of playing on section and district championship squads into this season.

The senior duo did the heavy lifting as the Barons pulled out a 3-2 victory against Lancaster Mennonite on April 5 in Manheim. The Barons haven't lost a match in section-play - 39-0, a streak that is now in its fourth season.

After dropping the first game 22-25, Manheim bounced back to win 25-15 and 25-20. The Blazers rallied to even the contest at two games apiece, winning the fourth game 25-21. Momentum was swinging in LHM's favor when Barons' coach Craig Dietrich delivered his words of encouragement.

"I told them we need to get out and play with a lead and make LMH play catch up," he said. "We started off with an ace from junior Trent Groff and took a 5-1 lead."

With the lead, the Barons held on for a 15-12 win. Zimmerman, who had 42 assists and four digs and Wagner who added 23 thundering kills, "showed up big for us," Dietrich said.

Jacob Moyer, who is the son of Jason Moyer, Manheim Central's girls' volleyball coach, had five aces and Barend Oostdam put up four blocks.

The Barons need Zimmerman, a returning All-State player from two years ago, and Blake, who Dietrich calls a Swiss Army knife because of his versatility, to play big because MC starts three freshmen and a junior next to these seniors.

The freshmen include Moyer, an outside hitter; Logan Groff, an outside/right-side hitter; and Peter Burkhart, a back row specialist and younger brother to Ben Burkhart, who was a two-time All-State selection as a setter for the Barons a few years ago.

The Barons beat Cocalico 3-0 on April 1. Game scores were 25-7, 25-12 and 25-17.

Groff served three 3 aces, and Moyer had a block. Wagner added 16 kills and three digs and Zimmerman had 29 assists.

SOFTBALL

The Lady Barons beat Elco 8-3 on April 5 in Manheim. Emma Damon was 4-for-4 with two RBIs, Miranda Ober was 2-for-5 at the plate with a triple, and Maddie Moyer was 3-for-4 with a triple and three RBIs. In the circle, Gabbie Wettig fanned eight batters and walked three.

"The key to the game was keeping pressure on (ELCO) offensively," Barons' coach Janelle Haying said, "which we did very well."

Moyer, a senior third baseman/first base; Damon, a junior shortstop, Wettig, a junior pitcher and first baseman; and Mickey Lauver, a sophomore center fielder; are all key returners or impact players. Haying believes she has some athletes, and she likes their commitment.

"The key to our success this season is how determined and hardworking our team is," she said. "The athletes communicate well on and off the field and have been dedicated to overcoming losing last year's season and putting their all into this year. We have a versatile team, and I am excited to see all they accomplish this year."

Manheim beat Octorara 14-3 on April 7. Wettig was 3-for-4 with a walk, two doubles and an RBI. Damon was 2-for-2 with two walks, three RBIs and was hit by a pitch, and Brianna Mylin was 3-for-5 with a double and two RBIs. Wettig earned the win, striking out four and walking one.

BASEBALL

The Barons beat Elco 5-0 in Myerstown on April 5.

Colton Book pitched five innings of no-hit baseball, striking out 13. Collin Thompson was 2-for-2 with two RBIs and Riley McGallicher was 1-for-2 with a double and two RBIs. Wyatt Becker pitched the last two innings striking out three and surrendering one hit.

Though not part of the big picture, Becker has become a strong closer in games. The plan is to eventually have him as a starting pitcher, but seeing him have success now may help during the Barons' post season run. He's been a valuable asset on the mound late in games.

"Yes, he has," Barons' coach Jason Thompson said. "He will definitely start for us here, but it actually works out for him also pitching in more games and getting his arm in shape from basketball finishing later than normal."

The Barons beat Octorara 11-2 on April 7. Connor Rohrer went six innings to collect the win. Book hit a two-run homer. Collin Thompson and Drew Mylin each had RBI singles. Riley McGallicher had an RBI double.

TENNIS

Manheim bounced back from a 7-0 loss to Cedar Crest on April 5 to beat Lebanon 7-0 on April 6.

David Graff and Tyler Snavely defeated Cody Zheng and Luke Collins of Lebanon, 8-0.

Ben Ginder and Hunter Shoenfelt won 8-4 at No. 2 and Andrew Donmoyer and Rodney Sauder won 8-5.

"Andrew Donmoyer, a first-year player and a senior in his third varsity match, and Rodney Sauder, a freshman in his first varsity match, were down 2-5 on third court doubles," head coach Ryan Jeckel said. "They battled back and won six straight games to win the court."

In singles, Andrew Rajaratnam, Graff, Tyler Snavely and Ginder all won in straight sets.

The Barons suffered a 5-2 loss to Donegal on April 7. Graff and Snavely won 8-5 for the only doubles win.

Trailing 2-1 going into singles, Rajaratnam, the Barons' No. 1, beat Luke Yunginger, 6-7 (2), 6-0, 10-2, evening the team score at 2-2. But the Indians won the next three singles to finish on top.

TRACK

The boys defeated Lebanon 103-47 April 6 in Manheim. The Barons, with 60 points on the track, opened the meet by winning the 4x800 relay with Michael Greenwald, Brady Knier, Luke Redcay and Gabe Redcay.

Manheim swept the high hurdles with Nathan Reed, Landon McGallicher and Connor Fahnestock ran an 18:0. Reed also won the 300 hurdles and was part of the winning 4 x400 relay with Gabe Redcay, Logan Burkholder, and Josh Moore. Gabe Redcay also won the 800 meters. His brother, Luke, was second and Greenwald was third.

Owen Pappas won the 100 meters and Josh Moore took the 400.

In the jumps, Zach Witmer, who won the triple, led a long jump sweep with Kade Kegarise and Max Hudson placing second and third, respectively.

Kagarise won the javelin. Landon Watch won the shot put.

On the girls' side, Manheim beat Lebanon 98-52.

The 4x800 meter relay team of Cadence Getz, Jenna Miller, Halie Mayfield, and Sarah Forry opened with a win. Manheim also swept the hurdles with Abby Reed, Makenna Enck and Liz Voegele.

Malea Stoner had a big day with top times in the 100, and the 300 hurdles. She was also part of the winning 4x100 relay team with Milan Snell, Enck and Mikayla Appel.

Sarah Forry won the 800 meters. Manheim won the 4x400 relay with Snell, Mayfield, Enck and Reed.

Maddie Knier dominated the jumps, winning the long, triple, and high. She also won the javelin.