The Comet baseball team halted a four-game losing streak with a convincing 7-0, senior day shutout over McCaskey last Monday, April 24. It was Manor's third shutout win of the season. They backed that up with a 7-5 nailbiter at Warwick on Wednesday.

Grant Fry earned the win over McCaskey, allowing three hits while striking out three over six innings. Danny Santana pitched the final inning in relief.

The Comets used a seven-hit attack to secure the win with Isaac Braegelmann and Santana each collecting two. With single runs in each of the first three innings, Manor broke things open with a three-run fourth.

The Comets were coming off back-to-back losses against Hempfield and Elizabethtown on Friday and Saturday, respectively.

"Friday was a tough test, going to Hempfield a week after beating them at our place," said head coach Tom Fish. "We faced their tough left-handed pitcher, Logan Harrelson."

Despite a 1-0 lead in the first inning, the Comets suffered a 9-3 loss with Hempfield's five-run fourth inning causing the most damage.

Fry's base hit scored Cole Miller for the early run. "Cole showed heads up baserunning when the cutoff man bobbled the throw in from right," said Fish. "And starting pitcher Danny Santana picked off a runner and made a nice play on a hard grounder to help us escape early trouble.

"Senior Ben Hermansen and junior Ian Switzer each pitched well in relief and gave us a chance to get back in the game."

Saturday morning, the visiting Bears pounded out 11 hits and took advantage of four Comet errors to post a 9-2 non-league win.

"They hit the ball all over the field and were helped by some inconsistent defense on our end," noted Fish. "Senior Grant Fry continues to be our most consistent player, both at the plate and on the mound. He tripled in two baserunners to pull us within two before Elizabethtown broke it open later. Grant has been really good for us, and I'm proud of the season he's put together. The big fella is going to need to carry this team if we want to sneak into districts," the coach added.

The Comets evened the series against Warwick with a nine-hit, 7-5 win on Wednesday. The Warriors erased a 3-0 deficit with five runs in the fourth only to see Manor charge back with three in the sixth and one more in the seventh for the win. Braegelmann (2RBI) and Trevor Adams led the way with two hits each.

Bryce Avery earned the win, surrendering zero runs and zero hits, while striking out four and walking one over two innings. Christopher Hubbs threw the final inning. Brayden Ecker pitched the first four innings, allowing five runs on three hits and striking out four.

SOFTBALL

After a 4-3 loss at Township, the softball team has put together four straight wins, including three in the span of four days. The Comets topped Hempfield 6-3 on Friday, April 21 and then put together two lopsided victories. They pounded out 14 hits in a 13-2 win at Elizabethtown on Saturday morning, the 22nd, and then posted their third shutout of the season at McCaskey on Monday, the 24th, 11-0.

"We finally had a little luck contributing to 18 hits," said head coach Dave Stokes of the Elizabethtown win. "Juleigh Bowmaster pitched outstanding again. Their two runs were solo homers."

Tied at 1-1 in the first inning, Manor pulled away with a three run second and added five more in the fourth. Manor's first five batters accounted for 14 hits with Kira Green (2 doubles), Bria Booth, Amelia Trout, and Maddie Mitchell each recording three hits.

Against the Knights, the Comets took an early 3-0 lead in the second inning and fought off a 3-3 tie with three more runs in the sixth to finish on top. Bailey (2RBI) and Trout (1 triple) both went 2-4 to lead the eight-hit attack. Bowmaster struck out three, walked one and scattered four hits.

In the five-inning shutout over McCaskey, the Comets scored nine runs over the second and third innings to leave little doubt of the outcome. They out hit the hosts 9-4 and Bowmaster fanned four batters.

GIRLS' LACROSSE

For the third time this year the girls' lacrosse team went over the 20 goals scored mark in a lopsided 21-3 result at CV on Thursday, April 20. Nine different players scored, six with multiple goals, as the Comets built a 12-2 first half lead.

Joelle Kroesen tied her season-high goals scored mark with six to pace the attack. Catherina Rabatin (1a) and Erin Shipley each added hat tricks with Grace Gerner, Jarliah Ferko and Claire Eckroat scoring twice each. Lillie Swanson added one tally.

Mackenzie Nafziger needed just five saves to record the 'W'.

Against the Falcons on Monday, the 24th, Nafziger and Brooklyn Ayala combined for seven saves in a tight 7-4 road win. The Comets topped Cedar Crest 13-5 in their first half meeting but this time around it was 3-2 at the half. Manor doubled the hosts efforts after the break.

Kroesen (2g, 2a) and Shipley (2g) led a balanced attack. Mia Jones (1g, 1a), Gerner (1g) and Ferko (1g) also contributed.

VOLLEYBALL

The volleyball team posted mixed results over the last week, dropping a 3-1 result at Hempfield on Thursday, April 20 and blanking Daniel Boone at home on the 24th. They currently sit at 6-7 overall.

The Comets pulled out a 28-26 win in the first set against the Knights but then dropped two straight, including a 25-23 third set. Hempfield took the match with a 25-18 fourth set.

"We went into this match with a lot of confidence, and it showed in the first and third sets," said head coach Chris Telesco. "However, we didn't have the killer instinct when we needed it. When we hit the 20's we played safe, and you can't do that against a team like Hempfield," he added. "Set three was a deciding moment, and we came up short. That was certainly a lesson learned.

"While this was a loss, we did gain confidence," the coach stated. "Guys like Noah Reen and Roman Keefer and Luke Thomas swung confidently. Sophomore Vinnie West stepped up to provide passing against a tough Hempfield serve. We were proud of the leadership of players like Luke Thomas, Wyatt Rohrer, and Noah Reen, who kept hope alive down the stretch.

"Looking ahead, we need to pull out an "unexpected" win or two in these last six matches in order to make sure we make districts," he added. "This is totally doable for this group."

In their non-league win over Daniel Boone, the Comets posted scores of 25-17, 25-23, 25-14. Harry Whited and Reen were strong at the net with 11 kills each. Rohrer dished 31 assists and served a pair of aces while Elijah Julian was credited with 17 digs. Keefer and Thomas each put up four blocks.

BOYS' LACROSSE

After an 8-7 thriller at CV on March 30, the Comets left no doubt this second time around, topping the Bucks 13-9 at home on April 20. A 6-1 run through the second quarter fueled a 9-3 halftime lead. CV came back to win the second half 6-4 but it was too little, too late.

Nick Hollinger was impressive in goal, collecting 21 saves, ten more than CV's Soren Stoltzfus.

Grant Bradburn's five goal, two assists day led all scorers. Adam Hollinger (2a), Benedict Flinchbaugh (2a) and Eli Warfel all chipped in with two goals while Aiden Gerlach and Ayden Hoin each scored one.

At home on the 24th the Comets won all four quarters in a 17-7 win over Cedar Crest, despite the Falcon's Aaron Fink netting six goals. Hoin, Warfel (1a) and Flinchbaugh each scored three times. Hollinger (2a), Gerlach, and Ish Bolorin added one goal apiece and Willard Smith and Bradburn were credited with one assist each.