Falcons come alive in win over Ephrata

After far too much slumbering to open the season, it appears the Cedar Crest softball team's bats have awakened.

The Falcons' attack was a potent one for the second time this week on Wednesday in a 9-3 Section One-Two crossover win over Ephrata.

Now 3-5 overall and in Section One, Crest scored at least one run in every inning but the second on the way to its second win in its last three games.

Anna DeBellis led the way with three hits and Maddie Gable drove in a pair of runs while also tossing a complete game on the mound.

ANNVILLE-CLEONA 12, COCALICO 1 >> In Denver, A-C stayed in first place in Section Four after taking care of the Eagles in six innings.

Emma Lerchen tossed a complete game three-hitter and Hannah Fischer doubled to front a nine-hit attack as A-C improved to 8-1 overall and 7-1 in the section.

ELCO 11, COLUMBIA 1 >> In Myerstown, the Raiders used a 15-hit outburst to secure a five-inning mercy rule win over the Tide.

Now 5-4 overall and 4-4 in Section Three, Elco was led by Beth Wiczalowski and Maddie Drescher, who smacked three hits apiece, including a pair of doubles by Drescher.

Winning pitcher Claire Shaak, Beth Hess and Amaya Phillips added two hits apiece for the Raiders, who polished off the win with a five-run bottom of the fifth.

PEQUEA VALLEY 8, NORTHERN LEBANON 3 >> In Fredericksburg, the Kayla Diluzio Show almost single-handedly sent the Vikings to defeat.

Diluzio homered twice, tripled and drove in five runs as Pequea outhit the Vikes 10-5.

Katie Hossler paced Northern Lebanon (4-5, 4-4 Section Three) with two hits and Sarah Whitman drove in a pair in a losing cause.

Also on Wednesday, Lebanon and Lebanon Catholic endured three-inning mercy-rule defeats. Lebanon fell to Hempfield, 17-0, and Manheim Central routed Lebanon Catholic 17-2.