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Comets Fall in Close Match at Hempfield

BY MONA STEINHAUER

Penn Manor visited Hempfield Thursday, March 31. This year, two new head coaches patrolled the sidelines with Brian Kemrer directing the Comets and Kenny Eiser the Knights.

And when all was said and done, the Knights barely pulled away. Hempfield won 25-20, 25-20 and pulled out a 26-24 third set after trailing most of the way.

“The biggest reason we were in it was that our defense is finally starting to click,” said Kemrer. We’re pretty young, with the exception of Derek Warfel and Max Bushong,” he continued. “Derek brings an amazing offensive threat and Max brings a strong knowledge and anchoring of the defense. Our blocking was better and in the second and third sets we got hot on our serving. Wyatt Rohrer had three service aces to round out the night.”

Warfel finished with 11 kills, Rohrer put up 20 assists, Elijah Julian added six digs and Luke Thomas added three blocked shots.

Last Monday the Comets shook off a 25-19 first set loss to Dallastown to win 3-1, pulling off two straight 25-23 wins before a 25-20 fourth set. Warfel’s 23 kills were a force at the net. He also picked up 10 digs and one ace. Rohrer blocked six times and served once ace in addition to 39 assists.

“We played with fewer errors after that first set,” stated Kemrer. “Our serving was better, and we tightened up the defense. The boys started to relax and play within our game plan.”

SOFTBALL

The softball team picked up two more wins over the last week. They currently sit at 4-0.

“I knew there was an outside shot if my freshman pitcher (Julie Bowmaster) could handle things,” said head coach Dave Stokes, “and she has. She throws well and then Emily Riggs comes in late and finishes. It’s a tough adjustment for batters.”

Manor’s third win of the season was an 8-3 result over Warwick on April 1. The Comets pounded out 11 hits and took advantage of nine walks to score in three different innings. Madeline Mitchell’s four RBIs led the way. Riggs also finished with two hits in three at bats and scored three times.

Monday, April 4, the Comets gave up three runs in the first but fought back for a 6-4 win despite being outhit 9-5. “Two errors and a ‘should have caught it’ led to their three early runs,” said Stokes. “Bowmaster shut them down in the second, third and fourth and Riggs threw the last three.”

Mitchell’s two run double in the first got the Comets on the board. They took the lead for good with four in the third. Kira Green cracked a solo homer and Reagan Soboleski added a two-run base hit to extend the advantage.

Riggs struck out seven and Bowmaster three.

BASEBALL

After a 5-0 victory over Hempfield, the Comets did not have an answer for Warwick, dropping a 12-0 result Saturday afternoon, April 2.

After a scoreless first inning, the Warriors took the lead for good with six hits and six runs in the second. They capped the scoring, and the game, with a grand slam in the fifth.

“Warwick may be the best hitting team in the county this year,” said head coach Tom Fish.

Nine-hole hitter Ethan Adelman prevented a nohitter with his third inning single.

Bryce Avery and Grant Fry combined for four strikeouts and four walks and gave up nine hits, and seven earned runs.

Monday afternoon in Neffsville, the hits were again hard to come by in a 9-2 loss to Manheim Township. Dalton Green’s one out homer in the first inning scored Isaac Braegelman for Manor’s only run of the game. A double by Cameron Harnish in the seventh inning capped Manor’s two-hit outing.

“Township threw one of the best arms in the L-L at us, (Shenosky, 13K, 3W) a D-1 prospect,” said Fish. “Hunter Sipel pitched for us, working out of jams, and keeping the game close until the fourth. But three, two out errors were too much to overcome.”

BOYS’ LACROSSE

After back-to-back losses, the Comets got back on track with two road wins - an 11-2 non-league result at Twin Valley Saturday, April 2 and a 145 effort over Elizabethtown last Monday.

The Comets used a 7-1 run through the second quarter to take control of E-town. They led 11-3 at the half.

Isaic Nafziger poured in nine goals and dished out one assist. Adam Holliger scored twice while Dylan Keene (2a), Benedict Flinchbaugh (2a) and Erik Hinkle (1a) all scored once.

Nick Hollinger (8 saves) and Joe Hull (1 save) shared the action in goal.

Flinchbaugh’s four goals and one assist led a balanced effort at E-town. Nafziger followed with two goals and two assists while Hollinger (1a), Keene (1a), Hinkle (2a), Aidan Gerlach and Colin Eby all found the back of the net once.

GIRLS’ LACROSSE

After a disappointing 22-2 loss to Manheim Township on Thursday, March 31, the lady Comets opened April action with a 5-4 thriller over visiting Elizabethtown Monday, April 4.

Despite being outshot 1714, the Comets broke a 3-3 halftime deadlock with a pair of second half goals for their first win of the young season.

“They had a chance to tie but Brooklynn Ayala saved us,” said head coach Anneli Starry. “She had 13 saves.”

Maddie Weber, with one assist, and Keegan Dings both scored twice while Erin Shipley found the back of the net once.

photo by Mark Palczewski

In Hempfield’s 3-0 win over Penn Manor Thursday, March 31, the Comets’ Wyatt Rohrer gets ready to put up a set at the net.

photo by Mark Palczewski

Penn Manor’s Derek Warfel goes up for the block as Hempfield’s Caden Bonner reaches back for the tip in league play Thursday, March 31 in Landisville.

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