Lampeter-Strasburg softball blanks Manheim Central, 16-0
MANHEIM — Granted, good things can happen when looking ahead. Like taking the extra base for instance.
But the undefeated Lampeter-Strasburg Pioneers wanted nothing of a classic trap-game scenario, posting a 16-0, four-inning rout upon the Manheim Central Barons Tuesday night to take control of a tight Section Three race.
On the strength of their lineup’s top-to-bottom speed and aggressiveness, the Pioneers (8-0 overall, 4-0 Section Three) scored seven runs — five of them with two outs — in the decisive second inning to take an early 8-0 lead and never looking back.
“A win is a win,” said Pioneers’ leadoff batter Bri Garber. “We were just glad that we came out and hit the ball like we can and we’re looking forward to Donegal tomorrow.”
Tuesday night’s make-up contest versus Manheim Central (4-4, 3-1) was all that stood between the Pioneers and a date with the rival Indians, set for 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday under the lights of Garrett Field, Willow Street.
Clearly, however, the Pioneers’ focus was on the Barons, a team that defeated Donegal a week ago to throw any preseason assumptions out the window.
“We knew we couldn’t take them lightly,” said Garber, who singled in her final three at-bats, scoring three runs. “We knew we had to come out swinging; if we would do that we would come away with a win.”
Seven-hole hitter Caroline Braungard opened the top of the second inning with a single, moved to second on a sacrifice, and scored on a double by Delaney Groff. Garber singled to set up Jordyn Kondras’ sacrifice fly before Hanna Garber reached on a hard line-drive off the third baseman’s glove.
From there, Delaney Baker (3-for-4, 4 RBIs) tripled in both Garbers, coming home on winning pitcher Jordan Weaver’s single to right. Robin Feaster doubled and Braungard singled again to complete the scoring in the inning, the Pioneers adding two runs in the third and six in the fourth to complete the mercy-rule victory.
In all, the Pioneers had five doubles plus Baker’s triple, to go along with a pair of sacrifice flies.
“We’re taught to look for extra bases,” Garber said of the team’s speed. “The other girls, they crushed the ball.”
Manheim Central finished with three hits, but Weaver (6-0) completed her fifth shutout of the season, ending the game on a strikeout with a pair of runners on base.
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Lampeter-Strasburg 16, Manheim Central 0 (F/4)
LS 1 7 2 6 — 16 18 0
MC 0 0 0 0 — 00 03 0
SO-BB — LS Jordan Weaver 5-1; MC Maddie Walter 1-0, BJ Bollinger 0-1
WP — Jordan Weaver. LP — Maddie Walter.
2B — LS 5 (Jordyn Kondras 2, Robin Feaster 2, Delaney Groff)
3B — LS 1 (Delaney Baker)