Game of the day

Elco baseball 7, Donegal 5

The playoff dream, it's still alive.

Behind a huge day from senior Cole Blatt, the Raiders survived a back-and-forth battle with the Indians and remained in the hunt for a Lancaster-Lebanon League tournament berth and the Section Three title. Elco broke free from a tied game in the fifth inning and stayed ahead for good with Cole Miller coming in to earn a save in relief of starter Tyler Price.

"We didn’t play our typical airtight defense today, making a couple errors that led to runs. But Blatt made that double and then one of the best plays I’ve seen in my coaching career," Raiders coach Chris Weidner said. "We talk about making moments here, and Blatt certainly made a moment."

More on that below.

Elco (11-6, 9-5 Section Three) now faces a winner-take-all game Thursday at Cocalico, where the victor will earn the second L-L tournament berth still available after Manheim Central.

Player of the day

Cole Blatt, Elco

The bases are loaded late in a tied, must-win game. What do you do?

Cole Blatt knows. You clear them.

Blatt finished with a team-high four RBIs largely thanks to a bases-clearing double during the fifth inning of the Raiders' home win over Donegal. The senior outfielder/pitcher then made a diving catch in the seventh and fired the ball back to the infield to help complete a game-ending double play.

"Typically we look to see if (center fielder) Joe Ginder can get to it," Weidner explained of the catch. "And as it's falling, we said 'Oh no.' But before you know it, Blatty was closing on it. Then he dives, makes the catch, tumbles up, gets on his knees to show the umpire ... fires from his knees and (shortstop Travis) Zimmerman throws to first base. Game over. It was unbelievable."

This is Blatt's second Player of the Day award of the season.

Baseball

Annville-Cleona 14, Lebanon Catholic 4 (6 innings)

By taking the first half of their doubleheader, the Little Dutchmen earned themselves a berth in the L-L tournament. Ben Rita earned his first varsity win on the hill, and Josh Renninger, Tyler Schrader and Jordan Seyfert smashed doubles.

Annville-Cleona 3, Pequea Valley 1

Eli Setlock picked up the win and scored a run to help A-C sweep the Braves this season. Schrader swatted a team-high two hits.

Palmyra 2, CD East 1

Some home cooking served the Cougars well, as Isacc Blatt needed just 67 pitches to finish a complete game. Zach Yingst knocked in the game-winning run during the third. Palmyra, now 12-6 overall, has won five straight.

Cedar Crest 2, McCaskey 1

The Falcons ended their season on a high note and with a sweep of the rival Red Tornadoes. Ethan Stickler connected for a team-best two hits and scored a run. Chad Ryland earned the win through six innings of work, and senior Iziah Trimble was credited with a save in his high school farewell.

Softball

Annville-Cleona 15, Lebanon Catholic 0 (3 innings)

Only six hits were needed for the Little Dutchmen to claim a home section win that bumped them up to 14-5 overall. Alyssa Binkley and Amber Rexrode each scored three times.

Northern Lebanon 6, Cocalico 2

Four runs in the top of the seventh helped cement a happy ending to a tough season for the Vikes, who were out-hit 9-4 in Denver.

CD East 3, Palmyra 0

The Cougars dipped below .500 with a road shutout that extended their losing streak to three.

Boys volleyball

Cedar Crest 3, McCaskey 0

The Falcons finished at 4-14 overall thanks to a 25-22, 25-20, 25-19 home triumph against the Red Tornadoes.

Lititz Christian 3, Lebanon 0

The Cedars completed a winless season despite scoring 21 points in each of their sets at Lititz.