media days

Lucas Vilk says:  “The commander and leader of a baseball team starts with the catcher.” For Solanco, Lucas, a senior, is the man. He leads the team as catcher and bats in the three or four spot in the lineup. Last year he had a .333 batting average with 20 RBIs, 11 doubles and one home run.

Lucas forecasts this year’s team as developing maturity and improving baseball skills. Solanco returns 7 of 9 starters from a season ago and includes four quality starting pitchers — Luke Herr, Derek Phipps, Jason Powl and Chase Sensenig. Sensenig is also a quality leadoff hitter.

Nicky Morales, Columbia, senior, shortstop, plans to study environmental engineering at Elizabethtown College or University of Pittsburgh-Bradford

“Get the job done!” Joshua Reyes tells his baseball teammates on the diamond at McCaskey. Josh thinks this McCaskey team is on the verge of legitimately competing for a top spot in Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 1.

Josh says his coach, Gilbert Vega, stresses fundamentals in practice developing a team that is “sure to compete,” especially if they play together and play smart.

Primarily, Josh plays third base, however he can play catcher and pitcher when called upon.

Adoree Gardner, Donegal, senior, catcher, corner outfield, will major in nursing at Alvernia College and play field hockey in the fall before deciding whether to also play softball

How did you get started playing softball and what has that journey been like?

Kurt Chiong is looking to lead the Manheim Township boys tennis team to a repeat of the Lancaster-Lebanon League Championship the team won last year.

"We have a new coach (Shane Holbein). We really like him. Our practices have been physically intense," Chiong said at the Spring Sports Media Day hosted by LNP | LancasterOnline.

Kyler Buckwalter knows success. He just finished his senior season as a member of Lancaster Mennonite’s Lancaster-Lebanon League championship basketball team. He hopes to carry that success to the baseball diamond.

This spring Mennonite will field a small squad with just six seniors. Kyle sees two freshmen who could compete immediately.

Kyle, as the catcher on the team, thinks Mennonite has the best pitching staff in years with ace Jack Snader backed up by Ian Yen and freshman Asher KenKelen.

Key Section 4 opponents on LM’s schedule are Pequea Valley and Annville.

Ali Matys, Octorara, junior, catcher

Peyton Gilbert says his life goal is to “pitch in the MLB!” Yes, that is … in Major League Baseball!

Accomplishing Peyton’s goal may be a short time in the future, however right now he says his teammate at Columbia, Cameron McClair, and he are the hardest throwing pair of pitchers in Section 4, if not the entire L-L League. 

Peyton’s fastball was clocked at 91 mph last year and he has worked on his strength over the winter to increase his pitch speed to the mid 90s.

Kira Roark, Solanco, senior, right-handed pitcher, plans to attend Shippensburg University to study communications/journalism and play softball

How long have you been playing softball, and what were some of your highlights?

Zach Zuber, occasionally called “ZZ Top” or “Snooze”, will be a four-year starting pitcher for Lancaster Catholic. When not pitching, Zach plays centerfield, shortstop and second base. He plans to be the ace of the pitching staff and lead LCHS in excelling this year.

Catholic traditionally has good baseball, however this year the team plans to bounce back from a 9-10 record and compete to win Section 4 of the Lancaster-Lebanon League.