Donegal track teams win every single event vs LMH

BY ARA GRIGORIAN

The Donegal track and field squads dominated Lancaster Mennonite in a Section Three meet at Donegal on Tuesday, April 11. The boys’ team defeated LMH by a 137-8 score while the girls won 135-8. In each event - for both boys and girls, whether relay or individualthe first-place finisher wore a Donegal uniform.

In the 800- and 1,600-meter events Molly Myers claimed first place. She was also part of the 4x400 relay team that included Sydney Snyder, Anna Brubaker and McKyla Bantum, who also captured the 400-m event.

Snyder also went on to take the triple jump with a 31-foot6.5 measure. Brubaker, who won the 200-m, also took a field event - the high jump at 4-6.

Kathryn Fernald, the 3,200m winner, finished second in the 1,600 behind Molly Myers.

Brubaker joined Peyton Mansfield, Rayahna Clerico, and 100-m winner Sophia Floyd for the 4x100 relay victory.

Speaking of relays, the 4x800 quartet was made up of Emma Myers, Marleigh Ballard, Kara Nissly, and Kendall Finicle.

In the hurdles, while Addison

Houck finished second in the 300-m hurdles, she won the 100 hurdles. Hannah Slobozien, who also earned first in the long jump (14-1) was the carbon copy of Houck, earning first in the 300 and second in the high hurdles.

Nya Bantum was the star of the throws, winning the shot put (33-2.75) the discus (77-10) and the javelin with an 81-1 heave.

The foursome of Ayomikun Akinrinwoye, Nikita Galkin, Noah Hinkel and Andrew Myers claimed the boys’ 4x400. Hinkel came through with an 11-foot pole vault for a win there.

Dashing off with the 100and 200-m first-place finishes was Brody Bonham. He then teamed up with Akinrinwoye, Davion Wagstaff and long jump winner Chad Rambal for a triumphant 4x100.

Jackson Brody swept the hurdling events for Donegal.

Brandon Marcello, who outran the competition in the 3,200, joined Dylan Lenhart, Micah Brydon, and 800-m winner Braden Bristline for a win in the 4x800 relay.

In more field events, Evan Donough took the triple and high jump. Caleb Kendig won the shot put (45-10) and the javelin (129-9) while J.L. Towers tossed the discus 119-9 for first place.

Baseball

The Indians came out of a brief funk by blanking Octorara 5-0 Wednesday, April 12 in a Lancaster-Lebanon League baseball game at Mt. Joy.

Jaden Fabian earned the victory as the starter. The Braves managed only one hit on the day as the Indians improved to 4-3 on the year (2-2 league).

The previous afternoon, Donegal came up empty in a Section Three game at Cocalico. Eagles pitcher Jarrett Weaver pitched five shutout innings, allowing three walks and two hits. It was the third loss in a row for the Indians.

“Three-game skid,” Donegal coach Jeff Hartman said. “Brock Hammaker pitched lights out against Cocalico. We had one bad defensive inning and couldn’t get anything going offensively.

“We need to start stringing more quality at-bats and dictating action offensively,” continued the coach. “It’s time to put it together. We have the kids that can do it.”

Softball

Coming off the previous week’s 13-1 defeat of Manheim Central, the Donegal softball team stayed on the offensive, scoring 15 runs in a shutout of Cocalico on Tuesday, April 11.

Cara Biesecker started and went only two innings in the 10-run mercy rule victory. She allowed one hit and struck out two. Natalie Colwell also struck out two in her one inning of relief, yielding one walk.

The 15-0 victory featured three home runs by the Indians. Biesecker, who went 2-for3, slugged a home run, and drove in five runs - all out of the leadoff spot. She improved her batting average to .500 on the year.

Bella Mackison also homered as did Grace Graham, who raised her batting average to .727.

Biesecker, Coldwell, Mackison, Graham, Esther Myers each had two hits. Ruth Myers stroked a double among her three hits on the day. She also scored two runs. Madison Coble went 1-for-1 with an RBI double.

The Indians improved to 6-1 on the year.

Tennis

The doubles pairings worked brilliantly for the Donegal boys’ tennis team in an L-L League match on Wednesday, April 12 versus visiting Octorara.

Akilan Murugesan and Landon Keller opened with an 8-2 victory at number one doubles.

Noah Rohrer and Alex Monchik grabbed the second doubles 8-3 while James Turbedsky and Jackson Butson held on for an 8-4 win at number three doubles.

The Indians went on to defeat the Braves 7-0, claiming the four singles matches.

At number one singles, Murugesan posted 6-0, 6-0 victories. Keller won the second singles 6-0, 6-1.

Bo Moose at number three and Rohrer at number four singles both posted 6-2, 6-1 victories.

The team improved to 5-3 on the year (3-2 league).

Hope’s Haven plans spring kickoff event

Hope’s Haven Rescue and Youth Camp, 114 Kissel Barrick Road, Bainbridge, will hold its fifth annual spring kickoff and open house from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 22. Hope’s Haven is a faithcentered ministry where rescued horses can connect with children dealing with conflicts in their lives.

At the open house event, attendees will be able to meet with Hope’s Haven’s staff volunteers and the program horses. Attendees may also learn about the organization’s equine-assisted youth mentorship program and how they can become involved.