The track teams swept visiting Elizabethtown last Tuesday, April 11, with a handful of standout performances. The girls dominated the Bears 96-54 while the boys' pulled out a tightly contested 77-73 result due in part to a sweep of the javelin.

"When all the track events and other field events were over, we were losing 73-68 with the javelin still going on," explained head coach Jen McDowell. "So, we needed first and second place to win. When E-town did not hit Jordan Kephart's third place mark (118-0) we were able to sweep and win the meet with Josiah Forren grabbing second (128-1) and Riley Ford winning with a 137-1. Several boys stepped up and hit big PRs."

Riley went on to win the 100 (11.2), was second in the 200 and anchored a close 4x100 finish with Johnny Garcia, Braighton Lenhart and Michael Bangura leading the way.

Noah Baber won both the high (6-1) and long jumps (21-1) while Braden Caldwell claimed both the shot (46-3) and discus (127-4). "Those double winners helped claim the team win," said McDowell.

Other winners included Forren in the triple jump (40-6.5), Wyatt Armstrong in the pole vault (10-8) and Anthony Solis Morales, who was second in the mile, pulled away to claim the 3200 (10:38.7).

"For the girls', Katie Urbine vaulted 13 feet which officially beats her outdoor record since last spring she jumped 13' indoors at states," said McDowell. "She also jumped with a short approach which is a big accomplishment."

Urbine also led a sweep in the 100 with Emma Housekeeper and Sarah Bard taking second and third, respectively. That trio, along with Olianna Oravitz added a 400 meter relay win as well.

Oravitz then led a sweep in the 200, with Bard and Housekeeper, and did the same in the long jump (17-1.25) with Urbine and Danica Dempsey following. She also claimed the triple jump with a 34-3.25.

"Olianna will be among the top jumpers in the league now," lauded McDowell.

Also in the field, Martha Weaver won the shot (32-8) and led a sweep in the discus (85-3) with Avery Caldwell and Kyleigh Murphy denying the Bears. Murphy was also third in the javelin behind Paige Althoff while Dempsey and Maite Granji went 1-2 in the high jump.

"Martha continues to be successful in all three throws and newcomer Claire Graybeal had two big wins, claiming both the 100 hurdles (18.3) and the 300's (51.3)," added McDowell.

SOFTBALL

After a disappointing 10-run loss to Lampeter-Strasburg, the softball team got the result they were looking for in their next game on the schedule, a 3-0 shutout over Conestoga Valley highlighted by Kira Roark's no-hit performance from the circle.

"The freshman pitched a nice game and made some good pitches against some quality hitters," said head coach Brett Miller. "She had good command and velocity, and we made the plays behind her."

Roark fanned a season-high 12 batters and walked just one of the 24 hitters she faced.

Solanco left two runners on base in the first inning, one in the second and finally took the lead for good on Ava Fedoruk's two out single that plated Josie Janssen in the third.

"We moved Ava into the four-spot hitting since Delaney Gote was out sick," recalled Miller. "She's been hitting quite well and doing a nice job defensively (short stop) as well, especially since we didn't think she'd be at short at the start of the season."

Janssen scored again in the fifth inning, making good on Holly Grube's base hit and Solanco capped the scoring in the sixth. Zoey Evans opened with a base hit and scored on Janssen's sac fly.

The team traveled to Ephrata on Wednesday and came from behind to win 11-6. The Mounts were coming off two straight shutouts and have four on the year to date.

Trailing the Mounts 5-2 after four complete innings, Solanco batted around plus three in the fifth when the bats came alive. Collecting six base hits and a run scoring double from Anna Sexton, the visitors plated eight runs. Fedoruk came up big again, scoring two runs on a base hit that frame and finishing with a team-high 3 RBI. Janssen, Grube, Sexton and Evans settled for two RBI days.

"We expected a tough game and knew that we would have to earn the result we were looking for," said Miller.

Roark pitched the first two and two thirds innings and Sexton came on in relief. They combined for six strikeouts, three walks and scattered eight hits.

BASEBALL

The baseball team moved to 4-3 overall with a non-section win over Cocalico Thursday, April 6 and then handled CV Monday, April 11 in a Section Two road win.

"We have certainly found our stride at the plate," said head coach Mike Miller. "Offense has been great over the last two games with season highs in runs and hits."

Solanco defeated Cocalico 8-2, scoring four runs in both the second and third innings. Austin Wenger got things rolling with a second inning grand slam and Solanco took advantage of walks, an error, a sac fly and stolen bases to push the lead to 8-0. The Eagles managed lone runs in the fourth and sixth innings.

"Kaden Strong gave us a stellar pitching performance to lock down the win," added Miller.

Strong struck out eight and scattered six hits in six innings. Dillon Dean, who went 2-3 with two RBI, struck out two and walked one in relief.

The Mules exploded for 15 hits against CV and came home with an 11-7 victory.

Solanco jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first inning courtesy of three walks, a hit batter, a base hit by Owen Underwood and doubles from Harnish and Brayden Herr. Burger tacked on a two-run homer in the second inning and Solanco pushed four more across in the fourth, collecting four singles and a pair of doubles.

Underwood, Burger, Harnish and Herr all collected three hits on the day and combined for nine RBI.

"Tyler Burger was able to keep us in the game with a commanding start on the hill," said Miller.

Burger struck out five, walked three and gave up one hit in four innings. Weston Beiler, Strong and Harnish all worked out of the bullpen.

"Owen, Tyler, Nate and Brayden have combined to go 14 for 28 at the plate with nine RBI over the last two games," noted Miller. "Our top of the lineup has really given us the opportunity to jump out to an early lead and not look back."

In a tightly contested home game Wednesday, April 12, the Mules fell short in making it three in a row, dropping a slim 3-2 final against Ephrata.

This one was back-and-forth throughout with the Mounts taking a 1-0 lead and a 2-1 lead before Solanco tied the game in the bottom of the fourth and then surrendered the game-winner, a solo homer, in the top of the fifth.

Herr took the loss, allowing three runs on five hits and striking out six in six and two-thirds innings.

Herr's fielder's choice ground out in the bottom of the fourth tied the game at 4-4.

Ephrata opened the game with a solo homer. Solanco knotted the score with two outs in the bottom half. Burger, who went 2-3 with two runs scored, and Harnish connected for back-to-back base hits, with Burger scoring on a wild pitch.