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Waynesboro, JB see huge turnaround in 2016


Working under a new coach isn't always easy, but it proved just the ticket for a pair of Franklin County ball teams.

Waynesboro's softball team and James Buchanan's baseball team combined for a mere 11 wins a season ago. This year, they combined for 23 victories.

JB first-year head coach Dave Sanchez turned the Rockets from a 6-13 team in 2015 to an above-.500 squad. They finished with a 10-8 record and even made a run at a district playoff spot by winning their last four games of the season.

James Buchanan also can boast having the area's only baseball no-hitter. Zach Monninger threw a no-no against Big Spring in a 4-0 victory.

As for Waynesboro, first-year coach Aaron Burke helped the Maidens nearly flip their record. Last year, they were 5-15, but this year, they finished 13-7, placed second in the Mid Penn Colonial Division and advanced to the District 3 Class AAAA playoffs.

Burke was rewarded for his hard work by being named the Mid Penn Colonial Division Coach of the Year.

JB and Waynesboro weren't the only ones to make serious improvements under a new coach.

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VIDEO: Fannett-Metal baseball beats McConnellsburg, 2-0
Hunter Kann fires a four-hitter at McConnellsburg, and Fannett-Metal claims a key victory in league play.
Video by Lizi Arbogast

Although Fannett-Metal finished with only six wins, it was much better than the one victory from a year ago. The Tigers also could've had a much stronger record if it weren't for a few close games - six of their losses came by three runs or fewer.