Brush off that snow and head back out to the bleachers.

This next week in Lebanon County baseball and lacrosse is a biggie.

Early-season contenders will have their mettle tested further against section competition, while teams that have been slow out of the gates face the pressure of mustering a quick turn-around or adjusting their long-term expectations.

Here's where you can find both taking place in the coming days.

Monday, April 11

Baseball

Annville-Cleona at Pequea Valley, 4:15 p.m.

The top two teams by record in Section Four will meet down in Kinzers to decide whether the section picture grows muddier or the Little Dutchmen's first-place standing grows firmer. As discussed last week, this chase for two L-L playoff spots projects as a three-horse race between these two and a looming Lancaster Catholic team not far behind. The Crusaders, led by sophomore sensation Dillon Marsh, will follow on Annville-Cleona's schedule.

Continuing their winning ways at Pequea Valley before that Lancaster Catholic clash will not only aid the Little Dutchmen in the interim, but down the road when one of these clubs will be left out of the postseason.

Girls lacrosse

Cedar Crest at Lancaster Country Day, 4:15 p.m.

What's the best way to halt a three-game slide?

Well, win, for one. But knocking off an undefeated team in the process, now that seems like a much more scintillating answer to me.

The skidding Falcons are set to take the field for the first time in five days Monday, when they pay a visit to the unbeaten Cougars. Outside of its annual tough draw with Manheim Twp., which took place last Wednesday, each of Cedar Crest's losses have come via close margins and second-half collapses.

On paper, the Falcons seem well-equipped to handle Lancaster Country Day, despite its 5-0 mark. The Cougars won at Earl Boltz Stadium by just four a year ago, when the blue and white played with far less cohesion than they've shown in glimpses so far in 2016.

Tuesday, April 12

Baseball

Cedar Crest at McCaskey, 4:15 p.m.

As detailed last week, each of these young Section One clubs will have the opportunity to unstick themselves from the section basement when they at last share the same field. Find out more about this matchup, previously scheduled for last Friday, by visiting last week's post.

Boys lacrosse

Trinity at Palmyra, 5:30 p.m.

Narrow defeats continue to haunt the Cougars, who last dropped a 9-8 overtime decision at State College on Thursday. Their return trip home now leads to an awaiting Shamrocks team that has been rolling.

At a cool 5-1, Trinity has averaged a margin of victory greater than 14 goals per game in its last three opening faceoffs. Mid-Penn first-team all-star Jeese Altmeyer (33 assists) is the set-up man for the Shamrocks, having helped half the Shamrocks' starting lineup record at least seven goals. Midfielder Mark Mandak, long-stick middie Griffin Smith and attack Danny Tyre are other visiting players to watch in what projects as a tight contest at In the Net.

Wednesday, April 13

Baseball

Elco at Northern Lebanon, 4:15 p.m.

Get ready to throw those records out the window in Fredericksburg, where the first-place Raiders are scheduled to visit their neighbors to the north, who currently sit at the bottom of Section Three. Strong pitching has propelled Elco to its hot start, perhaps a bad sign for the offensively starved Vikings. However there's no denying big sticks inhabit the Northern Lebanon dugout.

It's just a matter of when they wake up. A rivalry game such as this may very well be that moment.

Friday, April 15

Baseball

Annville-Cleona at Lebanon, 4:15 p.m.

Section crossover play makes its debut by pitting two county teams each utilizing their 2015 campaigns as motivation for improvement this spring. As mentioned, the Little Dutchmen remain undefeated this spring, the same boast the Cedars can make for games played on their home field. Last Friday, junior Michael Deleon tossed a no-hitter against Cocalico at Coleman Memorial Park.

Should Lebanon maintain its current rotation, he would again take the mound against Annville-Cleona.

Meanwhile, you can expect an appearance from someone at the back end of the Little Dutchmen's rotation, perhaps Eli Setlock, considering skipper Scott Shyda undoubtedly will aim to lock up wins against section contenders Pequea Valley and Lancaster Catholic earlier in the week.

Palmyra at Lower Dauphin, 4 p.m.

Fresh off a pair of matchups with Keystone Division cellar dwellers, the Cougars head to Hummelstown to take on a Falcons club that has been feasting on that same competition. In two of its other three contests, Lower Dauphin suffered the same losing fate Palmyra endured against Hershey and Mechanicsburg. Friday's winner will take a small step forward and, more importantly, away from the division pack.

Saturday, April 16

Boys lacrosse

Cedar Crest vs. West York, 10 a.m.

Last year's back-and-forth showdown yielded an 11-10 Bulldongs triumph in York County, one of Cedar Crest's tougher losses during a stretch that included seven defeats in eight games. West York has returned again as a district contender and good barometer for Craig Kemmlein's group, which will have battled a more skilled team in Lampeter-Strasburg three days before and a lesser Lancaster Country Day squad on Monday.

Palmyra at Lampeter-Strasburg, 10 a.m.

The aforementioned Pioneers figure to present quite a challenge for Palmyra, as upwards of a half-dozen L-S players could play at the next level. Even a recent coaching change hasn't slowed the Pioneers, who left In the Net a year ago with a 9-6 victory thanks to a big third-quarter effort.