The Pioneer sports teams are deep in the post-season as boys' lacrosse advances in states and softball in districts while the baseball team and track teams' seasons come to a close.

BOYS' LACROSSE

Lampeter-Strasburg's boys' lacrosse team has reached new heights. Friday, May 27 they competed in the District Three 2A championship opposite Susquehannock at Landis Field at Central Dauphin Middle School. Despite a valiant rally, the Pioneers, making their first district title game appearance, fell short 11-9.

"The boys showed tremendous effort and heart," said head coach Mike McConomy. "We made some costly mistakes in the second quarter, on both sides of the ball, and had trouble clearing that allowed Susquehannock to go into halftime with a big lead. We went into the second half determined to get back in the game and match Susquehannock's intensity," he added. "We had a great rally but just fell short. Congrats to Susquehannock. They played a great game."

The top seeded Warriors (20-1) were competing in their second straight district final, but, like L-S, were in search of their first district crown. No. 2 seed L-S (18-3) held an early 2-1 lead before the Warriors pushed out to a 7-2 lead at the half. Susquehannock scored the first two goals of the second half for the biggest lead of the night, 9-2.

L-S cut the lead to 10-8 with 4:40 left in the fourth but could get no closer. Barrett Denlinger (4 goals) led the rally while Colin Sullivan scored three times and assisted once. Jake Fillius also scored as did Brayden Smith.

Last Tuesday, at La Salle College High School, the Pioneers made the most of their debut performance in the PIAA Class 2A first-round contest opposite Lansdale Catholic. In a game that see-sawed back-and-forth, Bryce Thomas denied a shot on goal with nine seconds remaining, sending the Pioneers into overtime. The visitors won the draw and 21 seconds into the extra session, McClain scored off a pass from Colin Sullivan lifting L-S to its first PIAA victory, 10-9.

McClain finished with five goals and one assist and Sullivan added two goals and four assists as L-S advances to the state quarterfinals opposite District Two champ Wyoming Seminary.

The Crusaders scored the opening goal of the game, but L-S rallied with three straight, two by McClain, for a lead they never relinquished.

Landsdale cut the lead to 4-3 just before the break and knotted the score at 4-4 midway through the third but goals by McClain and Sullivan lifted L-S to a 6-4 lead. McClain scored his fourth goal of the contest with 1:37 left in the third as L-S maintained a two-goal cushion.

The Crusaders leveled the score at 7-7 with 8:42 left on the clock but a goal by Fillius and then Denlinger pushed the advantage back to two late in the fourth. Again, Landsdale rose to the occasion, scoring the final two goals of the final quarter to send the game into OT.

BASEBALL

The curtain closed on the baseball team's season last Tuesday with a 4-3 loss to Red Land in the District Three 5A consolation semifinals. It was their second straight one run loss, having dropped a 5-4 verdict to Susquehannock (No. 6) in the quarterfinals May 26.

"We just could not get the hit with guys in scoring position," said head coach Jeff Swarr. "We left 11 guys on base.

"Jason Long pitched well, fighting through the first inning, giving up three runs and then a single run in the third. He allowed nothing after that.

"We strung some hits together in the seventh and the game ended when pinch-hitter Justin White had a base hit with guys on second and third. The first run scored and the second was thrown out at home. Earlier in the inning, Luke had a bases loaded double.

"The story of this season is perseverance," said Swarr.

L-S replaced ten players that graduated last year and went on to win the section championship.

"I mean perseverance because catcher Andrew Whitehead missed games due arm pain in his elbow and Justin White steps in," noted Swarr. "Later Tanner Groff dislocates his shoulder and has surgery and Peyton Harsh, our best pitcher, tears his meniscus in the process of winning a section championship. We are on our third RF in Luke Brenneman and at time our fourth RF, Parker Stoner.

"Our seniors are a special group," he continues. "Logan Moyer selflessly runs our game changer, Cole Younger shows up every day with a smile on his face, Jake Reichert is a leader in the dugout, Isaiah Parido had grown into a leader, Gio Malatesta competes in everything he does, Andrew Whitehead is a rock behind home plate, and Brayden Adams made it a goal to be a great teammate this year, and he did that and more. Gehrig Harsh just does what he needs to do every time at the plate."

Against Susquehannock, L-S led 1-0 and 2-1 before giving up four in the bottom of the fifth only to see their sixth inning rally fall short. Harsh and Brayden Adams both went 2-3 as the Pioneers out hit Susquehannock 9-6. Anthony Turek added two RBIs.

Harsh, with three strikeouts and three walks, took the loss on the hill. Malatesta struck out three in relief.

SOFTBALL

The defending district and state champ Pioneers suffered a 7-5 quarterfinals loss to Twin Valley and are fighting their way back for a chance to get to states.

In a game that feature 25 total hits and five home runs, L-S came up short as four of those round trippers were off Twin Valley bats. "That was a tough game to lose," said head coach Earl Rutledge. "We hit the ball well, but they had more carry over the fence. We had a chance with the bases loaded in our last at bat but didn't get the big hit. Almost every starter got a hit."

L-S went in front with Keiva Middleton's two run blast in the first inning, but TV countered with seven runs over the next three innings to take control.

Mackenzie Maki was 3-4 with Middleton (2 RBI) and Julie Gerard both going 2-3.

Last Tuesday the Pioneers kept their PIAA hopes alive with a 3-0 win over Northeastern who upset No. 2 Shippensburg 1-0 in eight innings. Brooke Zuber's two run homer in the first inning gave L-S all the offense they needed. Ally Raub doubled in Gerard three innings later to cap the scoring.

Middleton finished with 11 strikeouts and two walks while scattering four hits.

TRACK

Maggie Swarr saved her best for last. Competing in the PIAA Track and Field Championships Memorial Day weekend, Swarr tossed a 130-8 PR in the javelin to not only secure a sixth-place medal but finish ahead of her friend and nemesis, Maddie Knier of Manheim Central.

"For Maggie to hit a 130-8 at states was a great time to peak," said head coach Cal Esh. "Unfortunately, she was our only medal winner."

Swarr, who finished 11th in the javelin last year, was third in districts this year and a L-L League gold medal winner.

Teagan Weaver ran the prelims of the 100m on Friday, posting an 11.19 but did not advance and Colin Whitaker withdrew from the 3200 after suffering a pain in his calf a little over halfway through the race.

"It wasn't our most shining moment at states but to have three kids make it is an achievement in itself," Esh said.