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Dominance. That's the only word that can be used to describe the Pioneer softball program. They've won five out of the last 6 Section 3 titles, 2 consecutive L-L League titles, a District III title this season, and now four out of the last five PIAA state title games. The team won the 2018 championship, defeating West Allegheny by a score of 6-2. The Pioneers have won all 28 of their previous 28 games, steamrolling into the PIAA title matchup. On the other side of the diamond at Beard Field were the Armstrong River Hawks, who clinched a spot in the title game by defeating North Hills earlier this week.  Pioneers Pose With State Title Trophy (Chris Knight LNP) Junior ace Keiva Middleton started in the circle for the Pioneers. She's been lights out all season, recording a 1.25 ERA and 210 strikeouts in 162 innings pitched. Cameron Sprankle started for the River Hawks. Sprankle entered the matchup with a 3.20 ERA. Both pitchers escaped danger in the first inning, leaving runne

Last night, the Lampeter-Strasburg Softball team defeated New Oxford in the first round of playoffs. Four home runs by the Pioneers ended the game in the fifth inning by the 10 run rule.  Cam Byler had two home runs. Brooke Zuber and Chloe   Blantz each had one as well.  Keiva Middleton pitched a no-hitter with eight strikeouts and only 1 walk. Softball hosts Donegal this afternoon at 4:30 in the quarterfinals contest. Photos by Cindy Rossini Powell

On Monday night, the baseball team started their District III playoff campaign with a matchup against the Spring Grove Rockets. The 11th seeded Rockets entered the matchup with a record of 13-7, while the 6th seeded Pioneers boasted a 17-6 record. The Rockets had won 4 games in a row before losing to Waynesboro in their final regular season matchup. The Pioneers were on a 9 game win streak prior to falling to Manheim Central in the L-L League title game.  Braedon Karpathios Takes Field in Game at Ephrata (Cynthia Powell) Senior ace Caleb Guyer started the game on the hill for the Pioneers. The southpaw boasted a 1.47 ERA heading into play. Beau Boyers tossed for the Rockets. The Rockets struck first in the 3rd inning when Boyers helped himself out and drove a single into left field, scoring Landon Bailey. The Pioneers answered back in the bottom half of the frame when courtesy runner Myles McQueen crossed the plate on a groundout by Alex Knapp. McQueen was moved into scoring position b

On Saturday morning, the baseball team took on the Cocalico Eagles in an L-L League quarterfinal matchup. The Pioneers entered the game with a 15-5 record, ending the regular season on a 7-game win streak. The Eagles qualified for the playoffs as the Section 3 runner-up, with a 13-3-1 record prior to the game. The two teams were somewhat familiar with each other, as the Pioneers hosted the Eagles for a scrimmage prior to the start of the regular season. The game was going to be a battle of the aces, with Caleb Guyer and Tristan Current starting on the hill for their respective teams.  Caleb Guyer Pitches in Game at Ephrata (Cynthia Powell) The Pioneers scored two runs in the first inning to start the game off. A single from Gio Malatesta plated Braedon Karpathios, who had doubled earlier in the inning. With two outs in the frame, Isaiah Parido was able to beat out a ground ball hit to shortstop Gerald DeBalko to score Jake Long. From there, the game stalled as both pitchers found their

  These two teams have history. In 2018, the Mountaineers defeated the Pioneers 3 times, including the league championship game. The following season, the Pioneers downed the Mounts twice on their way to both a section and league title. Earlier this season, the Pioneers defeated the Mounts by a score of 4-1 under the lights of War Memorial Stadium. For the Mountaineers, the scenario was simple. A win would grant them a spot in the upcoming league playoffs as the Section 2 runner-up. A loss likely ends their season, barring a loss from Solanco. It was also senior night for the Pioneers, as all 10 seniors were honored before the game.  Giovanni Malatesta in Game vs Ephrata The Mounts got the party started in the first inning, loading the bases before Pioneer hurler Jack Swarr could even get an out. 4-hole hitter Isaiah Hornberger hit a fly ball to center-field, scoring the runner on 3rd base to give the Mounts a 1-0 lead. However, a heads-up defensive play from Alex Knapp nailed the runn

On Tuesday, the Lampeter-Strasburg Boys Lacrosse team lost to Manheim Township in Tuesday's Lancaster Lebanon League Boys Lacrosse Semi-Finals, 16-8. Photos by Logan Thompson, LS News photographer

  After a win against Section 2 foe Conestoga Valley on Wednesday night, the Pioneers were back in action Saturday morning against the Manheim Central Barons. The Barons were 12-0 entering the matchup, sitting on top of both the Section 3 standings and the District III 5A power rankings.  Jack Swarr in Game vs Cedar Crest (Cynthia Powell) Jack Swarr started on the bump for the Pioneers. In his previous start against J.P. McCaskey, Swarr pitched 6.2 no-hit innings before having to exit the game due to pitch count rules. Connor Rohrer was the starting pitcher for the Barons. Rohrer entered the game with a 0.64 ERA, having allowed only two runs on the season. The Pioneers kicked off the action early, as Xander Getchis laced a double over left fielder Colton Book's head to knock in Isaiah Parido. Parido had doubled himself on the previous pitch to put himself in scoring position. In the third inning, a groundout by Braedon Karpathios drove in a run to put the Pioneers up 2-0. Also in t

On Friday night, the boys' lacrosse team hosted the Penn Manor Comets. Both teams entered the game with a record of 9-3. Going into the game, the Pioneers were ranked 6th in the 2A District III power rankings, while the Comets were 8th in the 3A ranking. The game doubled as the annual Backyard Bash, which honors the late Ryan "Whitey" Weitzel who passed away after a battle with cancer in 2008. Connor Nolt Celebrating Goal in Game vs Garden Spot (@lsboys_lax IG) Roughly midway through the first quarter of play, Stewart McClain and Barrett Denlinger fired in a pair of goals to give the Pioneers the first points of the game and an early lead. The Comets quickly recovered, evening the score after goals from Clayton Hollinger and Dylan Keene. With 43 seconds remaining, Connor Nolt gave the Pioneers a 2-3 edge off an assist from McClain. That lead would hold for the remainder of the first quarter. It was all business for the Pioneers early in the second quarter, as a quick stri