The Finals are set in the Orthopedic Associates of Lancaster LL League Boys Tennis Team Tournament.
After byes in the preliminary round, the top AAA Team and top AAA Team in the tournament are set to clash in the finals on Tuesday, April 25th at Donegal at 4 p.m.
Top AA Team Lancaster Country Day downed Manheim Township 3-0. Match winners were 1 Singles N. Abadir, LCD, 6-1, 6-0 2 Singles M. Georgelis, LCD, 6-0, 6-0 3 Singles F. Bloom, LCD, 6-0, 6-1 1 Doubles C. Weigle/ J. Clar, LCD, were tied with P. Sanchez/ C. Hager, PV 6-1/3-6 and did not finish 2 Doubles P. Tanna/J. Reynolds, LCD, 6-3/6-2
Top AAA Team Cedar Crest had an identical 3-0 score over Lampeter-Strasburg 1 Singles Viseth Meng, Cedar Crest, 6-2, 6-0 2 Singles Rocco Shkreli, Cedar Crest, 6-1, 6-4 3 Singles Joe Shkreli, Cedar Crest, 6-0, 6-2 1 Doubles Charlie Robbins & Ben Sheffield, Cedar Crest, 6-0, 6-3 2 Doubles Glover & Wolfe, Cedar Crest were leading 6-4, 3-5 and did not finish
The Orthopedic Associates of Lancaster LL League Boys Tennis Flight Tournaments will take place Thursday, April 27th; Saturday, April 29th; and Monday, May 1st.
Three defending champions return to defend titles: Cooper Lehman of Hempfield in Flight 1 AAA Singles, Nile Abadir of Lancaster Country Day in Flight 1 AA Singles, and Abadir paired with Freddie Bloom to win Flight 1 AA Doubles in 2022. Abadir as a singles competitor and the Abadir/Bloom pairing are seeking their 3rd straight flight tournament championships in their brackets.
Play on Thursday will be at Conestoga Valley or McCaskey. Flight 1 Singles AAA and AA and Flight 2 Singles will play through the quarterfinals at Conestoga Valley. Flight 1 Doubles AAA and AA will play the Round of 16 at Conestoga Valley. At McCaskey, Flight 3 and Flight 4 Singles will play through the quarterfinals, Flight 2 and Flight 3 Doubles will play the Round of 16. Play at both sites begins at 8:30 a.m.
On Saturday, all play will be at Conestoga Valley beginning at 8:30 a.m. All brackets will play through the conclusion of the semifinals. The day will start with Flight 1 Singles AAA and AA Semifinals.
Monday’s matches will also all be at Conestoga Valley with play starting at 12:30 p.m. Matches will be the finals of each flight as well as the Flight 1 AAA and AA Singles and Doubles Playback matches.
In the unfortunate event that weather would interfere with the tournament, play will be moved indoors and only Flight 1 AAA and AA (Doubles and Singles) will be contested.
Results are in from the Orthopedic Associates of Lancaster LL League Boys Tennis Championship preliminary round.
Section 1 Runner Up Manheim Township topped Section 2 Runner Up Cocalico 3-1. Winners were
1 Singles: Kurt Chiong MT wins 6-2, 6-1 2 Singles: Zach Taylor MT wins 6-0, 6-2 3 Singles (DNF): Krishna Chinasammy leading 6-1, 3-0 1 Doubles: Luke Main/Aaron Wilczek COC wins 6-4, 2-6, 10-8 2 Doubles: Peter Sanchez/Jack Reynolds MT wins 6-0, 6-0
The Blue Streaks travel to Lancaster Country Day for the Semifinals on Monday, 4/24. Match time is 4 p.m.
Lampeter-Strasburg also advanced to the Semifinals, also by a 3-1 margin over Pequea Valley.
1 Singles: W. Stoltzfus PV 6-0, 6-0 2 Singles (DNF): C. Teaman LS leading 7-6, 1-3 3 Singles: S. Teaman LS 7-6, 6-3 1 Doubles: K. Pawson / O. Lapp LS 3-6, 6-4, 10-7 2 Doubles: J. Gouger / K. Finn LS 6-1, 6-0
The Pioneers travel to Cedar Crest on Monday for a 4 p.m. Semifinal match.
The field for the 2023 of the Orthopedic Associates of Lancaster LL League Boys Tennis Team Tournament is set.
Congratulations to Cedar Crest, Lampeter Strasburg, and Lancaster Country Day on being Section Champs. Congratulations to Manheim Township, Cocalico, and Pequea Valley on being runners-up.
Manheim Township will host Cocalico & Lampeter Strasburg will host Pequea Valley in the preliminary round of the team tournament, Friday, April 21st. Both matches will start at 4 p.m.
Cedar Crest & Lancaster Country Day will receive a bye for being the top AAA and AA seeds respectively and will host their semifinals matches on Monday, April 24th.
The finals are slated for Tuesday, April 25th at Donegal at 4 p.m.
Orthopedic Associates of Lancaster, title sponsor of the LL League championships, is offering a pair of $400 scholarships to students in LL schools.
Scholarship applicants shall
Be a senior in a secondary school located in Lancaster or Lebanon Counties.
Have established an overall minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 (based on a maximum of 4.0) or its equivalent by the time of application.
Acceptance to a higher education institution including a college, university, or trade school.
Have established his/her intention to continue academic work towards a secondary degree as a full-time student.
Be active as an athlete and/or support staff of a team, including athletic training student aide, equipment manager, high school student manager of a team, etc.
Have exemplified one of the Orthopedic Associates of Lancaster’s core values, service to the community, demonstrated through the accumulation of at least 200 hours of community service.
See the application for complete details and requirements. The deadline to apply is April 30th, 2023
The Lancaster Lebanon League Athletic Association is looking for an energetic, goal-oriented, visionary leader to take our athletic organization to the next level. The League is comprised of 24 school districts between Lancaster and Lebanon counties. The Executive Director will be the face of the Lancaster Lebanon League, actively promoting and providing opportunities for outstanding athletic experiences for our member districts and most importantly our student-athletes. Applicants should possess strong financial skills and preferably have a working knowledge of athletics. The Executive Director will be responsible for effectively coordinating, communicating, and growing league events and activities impacting member districts and the PIAA.
This is considered a full-time position, hours are flexible but time demands may vary from week to week. Salary range is between $35,000-$50,000 and will be determined based on aggregate qualifications and experience. Anyone interested in the Executive Director position should send a resume and cover letter to Kristy Szobocsan at kszobocsan@warwicksd.org. Deadline is May 12, 2023.
Today marks the first practice date of the 2023 Spring Sports Season. Good luck to all LL athletes as they work towards the LL League Postseason presented by Orthopedic Associates of Lancaster, and beyond!
2023 Boys Tennis Playoffs Team Tournament Preliminary Round Thursday, April 22nd at higher seed Semifinals Monday, April 24th at higher seed Finals Tuesday, April 25th at Donegal Flight Tournament Day 1 Thursday, April 27th at Conestoga Valley and McCaskey Day 2 Saturday, April 29th at Conestoga Valley Day 3 (Finals), Monday, May 1st at Conestoga Valley
2023 Baseball Playoffs Quarterfinals Thursday, May 11, Section Champions host Section II Champ vs Section III Runner-up Section IV Champ vs Section I Runner-up Section III Champ vs Section II Runner-up Section I Champ vs Section IV Runner-up Semifinals Saturday, May 13th at Ephrata’s War Memorial Field, games at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Finals Monday, May 15th at Clipper Magazine Stadium, 7 p.m.
2023 Track and Field Championships Friday, May 12th at Hempfield, 4 p.m. Saturday, May 13th at Hempfield, 10 a.m.
2023 Softball Playoffs Quarterfinals Saturday, May 13th, better seed hosts Semifinals Tuesday, May 16th, at Millersville University Finals Thursday, May 18th at Millersville University
2023 Boys Volleyball Playoffs Semifinals Monday, May 15th at Section 2 Champion Finals Wednesday, May 17th
2023 Girls Lacrosse Playoffs Semifinals Tuesday, May 16th at Conestoga Valley, games at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. Finals Thursday, May 18th at Penn Manor, 7 p.m. (follows Boys Lacrosse finals)
2023 Boys Lacrosse Playoffs Semifinals Tuesday, May 16th at Ephrata, games at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. Finals Thursday, May 18th at Penn Manor, 5 p.m. (precedes Girls Lacrosse finals)
Presidents’ Day Weekend traditionally marks the end of the league postseason and the start of the District postseason. 2023 is no different as singles bowling champions were crowned and basketball championships were decided in the LL League Championships presented by Orthopedic Associates of Lancaster.
On the oiled hardwood Morgan Kline of ELCO was the top bowler in the Girls Singles competition after the first 6 games, wracking up 1405 which was nearly 200 ahead of #2 Taylor Miller of Warwick. Lacey Slaymaker of Penn Manor was #5 but emerged from the Step Ladder bracket to face Miller. Miller won that matchup, but fell to Kline 224-203 as Kline brought home the gold.
Later that night the hardwood was dry and the ball bouncy as Lebanon and Columbia took the floor for the Girls Basketball Championship sponsored by Fulton Bank.
Columbia came out on top 51-44 to win their second LL League Girls Basketball Championship.
Friday the boys took the lanes for the Boys Singles competition. Nathan Barnica of Ephrata led after 6 games, shooting a 1336. Zach Wentzel of Elizabethtown was third overall and emerged from the step ladder tournament to face #2 Nick Tomlinson of Manheim Township. Tomlinson prevailed and went on to beat Barnica 219-143 to win the boys crown.
The last league event of the season was the Boys Basketball Championship sponsored by Fulton Bank. Hempfield held off Manheim Central 57-46 to break through to the gold medal after several runner up finishes in recent year.
At halftime of the Boys Basketball League Finals, the Lancaster-Lebanon League honored five new members of the Lancaster-Lebanon League Hall of Fame.
Ken Barshinger, Manheim Township Coach Ken Barshinger may have had some unorthodox coaching methods in his 25 years at the helm of Manheim Township’s swimming program, but there’s no denying his success. After founding the swim team in 1959, Barshinger went on to a career mark of 226-38. His Streaks nabbed six Central Penn League crowns (1972, ’74, ’75, ’77, ’78 and ’79) and six District Three titles (1964, ’69, ’70, ’72, ’74 and ’75). He also coached two PIAA champs, the 1962 medley relay team and Scott Solodky, the 1969 100-yard winner. While Barshinger stepped down from coaching in 1986, he stayed on at MT teaching health and phys ed until his 1997 retirement. That’s when he was given what he still calls an “enormous honor” – having the Township aquatics complex renamed the Ken Barshinger Natatorium. In his retirement, besides being inducted to the Susquehanna Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame and the Manheim Township Athletic Hall of Fame, Barshinger has remained active in his sport. H served as a PIAA swim meet official from 2002-17, and still instructs adult swimming courses at the Ephrata recCenter.
Pat Huggins, Lebanon Daily News Reporter After his 1991 graduation from Elizabethtown College, Pat Huggins caught on at the Lebanon Daily News as a stringer for the news department, covering school board and local municipality meetings. That work led to Huggins, also a Lebanon High School grad, to begin covering local high school football for the paper in 1997. Two years later he was hired as a full-time sportswriter. He's remained at the paper ever since, and in the last six or seven years has been a one-man band, working even while battling a diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease. Huggins has devoted himself to providing in-depth, heartfelt coverage of the area’s athletes. “Covering Lebanon County sports is very important to me,” Huggins told Lebanon Sports Buzz for a 2021 feature. “Lebanon is my hometown and I’ve always wanted it to have the best possible coverage. It’s amazing how many great players and teams I’ve had the privilege of covering. And they’ve impacted me just as much. I’ve been very fortunate and have some wonderful memories.”
Mike Williams, Manheim Central Coach At Manheim Central, Mike Williams blazed a long, staggeringly successful path through the sports world, one that began in his own schoolboy days. A member of the Class of 1963, Williams earned eight varsity letters in three sports: football, wrestling and baseball. Starting in 1981, though, Williams grabbed the reins of Central’s football program, and held on for well over three decades. By the time he stepped down as head coach at the conclusion of the 2104 season, he’d amped the Barons up to Pennsylvania powerhouse status. The Barons won 17 Lancaster-Lebanon League section titles, 16 District Three titles and a 2003 state championship during his tenure. His career record? 348-75-3, with five district coach of the year honors and a pair of state coach of the year honors. All told, between his days as an assistant and head coach, Williams has been on the sidelines for 605 football games at Manheim Central. Never one to be idle, Williams – a winner of the George W. Kirchner Award and inductee into several halls of fame – also coached varsity or junior high wrestling for 22 years, and serves as president of the Manheim Touchdown Club.
Todd Reitnouer, Garden Spot Coach, AD, Official Coach. Athletic director. Official. Todd Reitnour’s CV is loaded with superlatives. After joining the Garden Spot School district as a technology education teacher in 1981, Reitnour stepped in immediately as an assistant field hockey coach. That was followed by roles as an assistant track and field coach and head rifle coach. He ascended to the head coaching job with Spartans field hockey in 1983 and spent 15 successful seasons at the helm, winning an L-L title in 1991, District Three crowns in 1987 and 1991, and making it all the way to the state semifinals in 1989 and 1990. Reitnouer, who has been a PIAA field hockey umpire since 1998, became Spot’s athletic director in 1999. He remained in that role until 2016, also taking on various L-L chair and committee positions concurrently. He was named the league’s AD of the Year in 2013 and 2016, the same year he also claimed District Three and Pennsylvania Region Five honors. He has also had stints as interim athletic director at both Donegal and Hempfield.
Lee Gerdes, Cedar Crest Athlete, Conestoga Valley Coach Lee Gerdes learned her craft under the tutelage of legends. Coming up in the forefront of the 1970s women’s sports movement, Gerdes played field hockey, basketball and tennis at Cedar Crest, where she was in the Class of 1974 and coached by Helene Snyder. From there it was on to West Chester, Class of 1978, and earning three national field hockey crowns for coach Vonnie Gros. Oh yes, she had a stint on the USA National Field Hockey Team from 1977-81, too. Gerdes followed that incredible playing career by sharing her knowledge with generations of high school and college players in field hockey, basketball and lacrosse. During a 36-year teaching career at Conestoga Valley, Gerdes was the Buckskins’ head coach for 35 years starting in 1981. During her time at the district, she had an unofficial career record of 298 wins, 282 losses and 49 ties. In 2003, her Buckskins won the L-L championship. Gerdes also served as the school’s girls basketball coach, and found time to coach lacrosse for 17 years at Franklin & Marshall. Reflecting on her lengthy career, Gerdes said she is perhaps proudest of three things: First, the students who went on to earn scholarships that set them up academically to have successful adult lives; second, her teams’ enduring culture, inspiring teammates to bond and remain lifelong friends; and finally, watching as former players – and some of their parents – launched successful coaching and officiating careers.
The 2023 League Swimming Championships and League Rifle Championships presented by Orthopedic Associates of Lancaster wrapped up today.
On the rifle range, Leksi Bender of Garden Spot shot 200 with 2 Centers to claim the crown. In the team race, Manheim Township put 3 in the top ten en route to the team championship. Check out the complete results courtesy of the LL League Rifle Coaches website.
In the pool, day two of the All League Swim Meet wrapped up at Wilson. Event winners were:
In the team scoring Hempfield outlasted Manheim Township to win their 5th LL League Championship. The roles were flipped in the boys race, with Manheim Township claiming their 10th LL League Championship.
Today also saw the Girls Basketball field reduced from 8 to 4 as the section champions hosted, and won, the quarterfinals in the Orthopedic Associates of Lancaster LL League Girls Basketball tournament, sponsored by Fulton Bank.
Lebanon 63, Pequea Valley 42 Lancaster Catholic 44, Ephrata 28 Manheim Central 56, Lampeter-Strasburg 22 Columbia 61, Manheim Township 52
Lebanon faces Lancaster Catholic at 5:30 on February 14th, Manheim Central goes against Columbia at 7. Both games will be at Warwick.
