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Tennis Team Competes in District 3 Championships

BY ARA GRIGORIAN

In District Three Tennis Team Championships, Donegal came in as the fourth-seeded team. The Indians opened with a 3-2 defeat of Hanover before being derailed by top-seeded Lancaster Country Day in a 4-0 loss at the Hershey Racquet Club on Tuesday, May 10.

The opening round was played at RCW Athletic Club in Lancaster on May 4 with Donegal facing fifth-seeded Hanover.

Akilan Murugesan, Jacob Erb and Landon Keller made it a singles sweep for Donegal, with Murugesan (6-0, 6-0) and Keller (7-5, 6-0) winning in straight sets while Erb prevailed 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-2.

In doubles competition, while Austin Barrick and Connor Hyle lost a tough 6-4, 6-3 match to Nolan Chronister and Aidan Chen, sophomores Jackson Butson and Bo Moose were in an even tighter battle, losing 7-6 (2) in the opening set, taking the second set 6-2 and falling short in a 6-4 third set.

In singles competition, Murugesan defeated Charlie Zitto of Hanover 6-1, 6-1 on Friday May 6 at HRC. He then did away with Kyle Sonon of Fleetwood 60,6-0 before running into the second seed - Lancaster Country Day’s Freddie Bloom in the semifinals. Bloom won 6-1, 6-4 and went on to face LCD teammate Nile Abadir, the tournament’s top seed, in the championship match one which Abadir won 6-3, 6-1. Murguesan closed out his season with a 4-6, 7-5, 1-6 loss to Conrad Weiser’s Armann Malik in the third place match. TRACK

In a Lancaster-Lebanon League dual meet at home, the Donegal boys’ track team suffered an 8465 loss to Annville-Cleona on Monday May 9.

Caleb Kendig came through with first place throws in both the javelin and shot put for Donegal while Keagan Cote had a winning distance for the discus.

In the long jump, Jack Dearborn took first while Mark Overlander won the pole vault competition.

On the track, Sam Rothstein won the 800-meter race. Taking both the high hurdles and the 300-m hurdles was Jackson Brady - winning both events for the fourth time this season.

The boys’ team fell to 4-3 on the year while the girls’ team improved to 6-1 (5-1 league) with their close 77-72 victory on Monday.

Donegal runners Hadley Shoaf, Emma Myers, Rayshna Clerico and Addison Houck teamed up for a first-place finish in the 4x400 relay. Shoaf also went on to win the 800-m individual race.

Faith Garber claimed another sprint, winning the 200 dash.

Just as the boys’ Brady swept the hurdles, so did sophomore Hannah Slobozien for the Donegal girls.

Victoria Burton had the longest shot put throw. While Claudia Taylor won the long jump, Alyssa Werner took two different field events - the pole vault and the triple jump. SOFTBALL

With the top 16 teams in the District Three Class 5A power rankings qualifying for district playoffs, the Donegal softball team has managed to remain at number 15.

On Monday, May 9, the visiting Manheim Central Barons scored three late runs to earn a 9-6 victory over Donegal (12-6).

Bella Mackison, who went 2for-2, had a double and drove in a run. Natalie Colwell also stroked a double.

Grace Graham, Esther Myers and Allie Beamesderfer also each knocked in a run.

Mackison slugged her seventh home run of the season in a 16-1 drubbing of Cocalico on Thursday, May 5. It was a game that ended after four innings due to the mercy rule.

Mackison went 2-for-2 with two walks and five runs batted in. She also hit a double. Cara Biesecker not only walked, stole a base and stroked a two-run single, she also earned the win, scattering five hits over four innings while striking out two.

Myers went 1-for-1 at the plate with a double, two walks and two runs scored. Emma Garber (1for1) drew three walks, scored two runs and drove in two. BASEBALL

Coming off two tough losses on the road to L-L League opponents, Donegal wrapped up the regular season with a decisive 12-1 victory at West Perry on Wednesday, May 11.

The Indians slid into seventh place in the District Three Class 5A power rankings, qualifying for district playoffs in the process.

In Wednesday’s game, the Indians (14-5) galloped ahead to a 7-0 lead over the Mustangs after three innings. They ended up with 12 runs on 12 hits. In a bizarre display of wildness, West Perry pitchers hit five Donegal batters, including Coy Allma and Colin Eckinger twice each.

Allman also went 2-for-2 at the plate and scored three runs. Eckinger went hitless but came around to score both times he was on base.

Andrew Small went 2-for-4 with two runs and two more driven in. Jaden Fabian went 3-for-3 with one RBI.

Small and Nick Eichelberger gave a combined effort on the mound with Eichelberger picking up the win. They each recorded one strikeout.

Donegal was coming off a tough 4-3 loss at Manheim Central on Monday. The Indians scored their three runs on 12 hits but left 10 men on base.

The 12-hit attack included twohit games by Small, Eckinger Allman and Brock Hammaker. Small also scored a run and drove in two. Eckinger stole two bases and scored a run.

Fabian went five-plus innings and was tagged for the loss. He faced 21 batters and gave up four unearned runs. He struck out five and walked three.

Eichelberger pitched hitless ball in relief.

In their 6-0 victory over Donegal on May 5, the Cocalico Eagles’ starter Braycen Flinton pitched a no-hitter, striking out nine and walking two.

Photo by Bob Diller

Donegal’s Hannah Slobozien runs to an 18.1 win in the high hurdles to help the Indian girls to a 7772, Section Three win over visiting Annville-Cleona on May 9.