MIKE GROSS | Sports WriterSuddenly there’s a pennant race in Section Three of the Lancaster-Lebanon baseball league.
Donegal, cruising at 7-0 and three games clear of the pack through Friday, has suddenly lost two straight after falling 6-4 to Manheim Central at home Monday.
The Barons (6-3 in the section, 8-5 overall) scored two in the top of the seventh to win their sixth section game in seven tries.
The winning rally started with a walk drawn by Hunter Garber, followed by some sac bunts and errors, an intentional walk to Kye Watson and an RBI single by Nolan Book.
Colin Connelly pitched solidly through the middle innings for the Barons, and Book came on to throw a scoreless seventh.
For Donegal (7-2, 9-4), Jaden Fels had a double, a walk, an RBI and two runs scored.
Garden Spot 6, Octorara 3: Madix Bracken sparked the Spartans, now two games back in Section Three at 5-4, 8-5.
Bracken pitched into the seventh, striking out nine and allowing two runs. Reliever Connor Manning got the last three outs.
Bracken also went 2-for-4 at bat with a double and two RBI.
Nic McKenna had two hits and two RBI for Octorara (2-7, 3-9).
Hempfield 15, Warwick 0: The Black Knights got back to work in Section One after a 3-2 weekend non-league loss to Hershey.
The game was shortened to three innings by the Mercy Rule.
Drew Benchich and Cameron Emerson combined on a two-hitter for Hempfield (7-1, 10-3).
Benchich, Brayden Hostetter, Charles Sheerer, Dylan Jackson and Logan Dougherty had multiple hits. Hostetter had five RBI; Sheerer and Benchich had three RBI each.
Lampeter-Strasburg 1, Solanco 0: Now this was a pitcher’s duel. Anthony Turek of L-S and Solanco ace Brayden Herr both allowed two singles, struck out seven and walked zero.
The difference? The Mules committed a couple of errors, the Pioneers (6-3, 8-4) scratched out an unearned run, and have now won five out of six, all in Section Two. Solanco (3-7, 5-8) has lost four in a row.
Lebanon 4, Elizabetbtown 0: The Cedars, who’ve been playing people tough for nearly a month, have now won two straight, both by shutout.
Ben DiScullio pitched Monday’s gem, with seventh-inning help from Kevin Munoz. They combined to strike out six against one walk.
Munoz also doubled. Leadoff man Noah Brandt scored twice, and Colby Robb had a double and two RBI.
Lebanon is 3-6, 3-9. Pike Burkett had two hits for E-town, which dopped to 6-4, 7-5.
Manheim Township 14, Cedar Crest 4: In South Lebanon, the Blue Streaks broke it open with eight in the fourth inning.
Township got solid pitching from Trey Eckman, who did not allow an earned run in six innings.
But the heroes mostly carried bats: Ben Connors was 2-for-4 with a double, a run and an RBI. Josh Boll went 3-for-4 with two runs and an RBI, and Traeton Sauder walked four times and scored twice.
Jacob Carrasco was 1-for-3 with two runs and two RBI. Christia Klackner went 2-for-3 and scored three times.
Township (6-3, 7-4) has won three straight and four of five.
Pequea Valley 12, Lancaster Mennonite 0: In Section Four, the Braves got one-hit pitching from Logan Zynn and Myles Furlong and improved to 6-3, 8-5.
Furlong also went 2-for-3 with two runs. Josh Stoltzfus went 3-for-3 and scored three times, and Stephen Smucker had two RBI.
