May 27, 2021: “Wilson” 6, Hempfield 0
“Wilson’s” five run second inning was all that starting pitcher Luke Holman would need to pitch the home Bulldogs past the visiting Black Knights in the quarter final round of the PIAA 6A District 3 playoffs.
The Hempfield pitching tandem of Austin Dunlap and Logan Harelson surrendered six singles to the visitors’ lineup; however, four came in the second inning. Randy Carlo and Andrew Trayer singled to start the inning. A one out walk to Kyle Cincinnati loaded the bases before Andrew Graff brought home Carlo and Trayer with a single to center. A walk to Danny Estrada loaded the bases again. Gabe Bunn singled home Rafael Fernandez (who was running for Cincinnati). Rueben Livingston was hit by a pitch to score Graff for the inning’s fourth run, and a sacrifice fly to center off the bat of Luke Holman scored Danny Estrada for the fifth run.
Andrew Trayer was hit by a pitch to lead off the third inning and later scored on an RBI single to center from Ryan Graff.
“Wilson’s” Luke Holman did an outstanding job. The righthander allowed only two hits, walked two, and struck out 12 with his overpowering fast ball and curveball. Outside of a rough second inning, Dunlap and Harelson pitched admirably against a very strong line up. Dunlap struck out four and walked four while Harelson struck out six and walked one.
The loss will end the 2021 season for the Black Knights. The coaching staff would like to wish seniors Conner Bitts, Luke Fiore, Tim King, Christian LaBarbera and Ethan Seitz a successful future and we thank them for their immeasurable contributions, in so many ways, to the Hempfield Baseball Program.
With the loss, Hempfield finishes the 2021 season with a 12-10 record and a 5-5 record in Section One play.
May 24, 2021: Hempfield 11, Cedar Cliff 1
Hempfield scored early and added insurance in the middle innings to pull away from the Cedar Cliff Colts in the opening round of the 6A District 3 playoff.
Cameron Berger and friends started the offense for Hempfield in the top of the first inning. Berger, a rejuvenated Christian LaBarbera and Luke Fiore singled to score Hempfield’s first run. After the Hempfield defense allowed an unearned run in the bottom of the second, Hempfield would score multiple runs in each of the last four innings to pull away.
With one out and no one on in the top of the third, Berger drew a walk and Austin Dunlap singled to right. A double to left from a rejuvenated Christian LaBarbera scored Berger and Dunlap scored on Stephen Katch’s sacrifice fly to center. Luke Fiore singled home LaBarbera for the inning’s third run.
In the fourth, Logan Harelson and Gavin Constein singled and later scored on RBI efforts from Berger and Dunlap. The Black Knights patience was rewarded in the fifth with five consecutive walks which were instrumental in scoring three runs. Austin Dunlap doubled to start the sixth and a walk to a rejuvenated Christian LaBarbera put two on for the Black Knights. Stephen Katch moved each runner 90 feet and Luke Fiore brought both home with a single to center. Hempfield reached a 10-run margin to end the game after the home sixth inning.
Tim King answered the bell for Hempfield on the mound. His majesty worked through a difficult Colt lineup, striking out four, walking two and allowing three hits. Cedar Cliff made King battle all afternoon and had at least one runner on the bases in each of the first five innings. The sixth inning was the only 1-2-3 inning for the Hempfield defense.
With the win, Hempfield is 12-9 on the season and 5-5 in Section One play. It is the 815th win for the Hempfield Baseball Program.
May 14, 2021: Hempfield 12, Lower Dauphin 7
In a game marred by 18 walks and ten errors between the two teams, it was Hempfield who did enough to hang on and emerge victorious.
The visiting Falcons scored two runs on three hits in the first inning off Hempfield starter Tim King. Hempfield evened the score at two in the bottom of the inning. Austin Dunlap singled and consecutive walks to a rejuvenated Christian LaBarbera and Stephen Katch followed. Dunlap and LaBarbera scored two unearned runs before the conclusion of the inning.
Hempfield pulled ahead in the bottom of the second. A rejuvenated Christian LaBarbera doubled home Logan Harelson and Cameron Berger; unfortunately Hempfield’s lead would be short lived. Lower Dauphin used an error and five walks to score three runs in the top of the third inning, as the strike zone seemed to disappear: in the span of six batters, 30 pitches were thrown and 20 were called balls. Cameron Berger relieved Tim King during this valley, his majesty having worked through two and two-thirds of an inning before the strike zone eluded him.
The Black Knights struck back in the bottom of the third inning. With one out, Peter Fiore was hit by a pitch and Logan Harelson drew a walk. Gavin Constein’s single scored Fiore. Cameron Berger walked and was replaced by courtesy runner Conner Bitts. A single from Austin Dunlap moved Bitts to second, and another two-RBI double from the rejuvenated Christian LaBarbera made the score 8-5.
Lower Dauphin started the fourth inning with a lead off walk, and Hempfield then committed four errors in the span of eight pitches to assist the Falcons in scoring two runs in the inning. Berger continued on, undeterred by events happening behind him, and limited the damage to only two runs. With the margin now a single run, Hempfield opened the lead up in the bottom of the fifth inning as it was the visitors turn to give: Hempfield scored four runs on one hit – a double from Gavin Constein – but were aided by two errors and four walks. The inning ended with a 12-7 score; an inning and a half later the game ended with the same score.
The JV Knights did not play. They had defeated Lower Dauphin earlier in the season, on March 26. Additionally, the JV Knights played their make up game with Manheim Township from April 30 this week, and were victorious in nine innings. The JV Knights ended the season with an outstanding 19-1 record. Congratulations to Coach Bair, Coach Heister and all the members of the JV Baseball Team on a successful spring season.
With the win, Hempfield is 11-9 on the season and 5-5 in Section One play. It is the 814th win for the Hempfield Baseball Program.
May 11, 2021: Hempfield 16, Elizabethtown 6
Hempfield rallied from a five run deficit, surviving an 11 hit attack from the potent Bear offense to win in Landisville in front of a raucous home crowd.
The visitors scored five times in the second inning as the first four batters reached base on three singles and a hit batter. The balls continued to find holes as the Bears proved the value of low launch angles and hitting the balls where Hempfield wasn’t. Three more run scoring singles opened the margin to 5-0. Hempfield’s starting pitcher Austin Dunlap continued to battle and was able to finally silence the Elizabethtown rally and posted a zero in the top half of the third inning.
In the bottom of the third, the Black Knights struck back, taking the momentum from the visitors as they sent 16 batters to the plate. Gavin Constein started the inning by being hit by a pitch and Cameron Berger and Austin Dunlap followed with singles. A walk to a rejuvenated Christian LaBarbera scored Hempfield’s first run and Stephen Katch’s double to center scored Berger and Cody Fatta who was running for Dunlap. Hempfield’s next four batters – Luke Fiore, Conner Bitts, Peter Fiore and Logan Harelson – all singled. Luke Fiore’s hit scored a rejuvenated LaBarbera and Katch; Peter Fiore’s single to left scored Michael Rieker (who was running for Luke Fiore); Logan Harelson’s single to center scored Bitts and Peter Fiore. Nine batters reached via seven hits, a walk and a hit batter, before the first out of the inning was made. Before the inning was over, Cameron Berger would double and Luke Fiore would again single. Hempfield scored 11 runs on nine hits without the aid of an Elizabethtown error.
Hempfield added four runs in the fourth when Peter Fiore walked and was singled home by Gavin Constein. A single by Cameron Berger preceded a sacrifice by Austin Dunlap. Stephen Katch singled home a rejuvenated Christian LaBarbera who reached via walk after Dunlap’s sacrifice. The final Hempfield run crossed in the bottom of the fifth inning. Conner Bitts and Peter Fiore singled before a walk to Gavin Constein loaded the bases. Cameron Berger’s sacrifice fly scored Bitts and an eventful, offense-filled game came to a close.
The JV Knights were victorious by a score of 9-0. The JV Knights improve to 18-1 on the season.
With the win, Hempfield is 10-9 on the season and 5-5 in Section One play. It is the 813th win for the Hempfield Baseball Program.
May 7, 2021: Hempfield 5, J.P. McCaskey 4
A dramatic seventh inning propelled Hempfield past an opportunistic J.P. McCaskey team where both teams had to navigate slick playing conditions caused by a steady drizzle.
Despite putting two men on base in the first inning, the visiting Red Tornado were held off the score board for the opening two frames. Hempfield jumped out to a 1-0 lead when Logan Harelson doubled to right to score Peter Fiore, who had doubled to left center to lead off the second inning. The Black Knights would get no more as two runners were stranded.
In the third inning, J.P. McCaskey pushed three runs across. After escaping potential damage due to an error (thanks to a runner caught stealing), Hempfield allowed a two out walk with no one on base. Hempfield’s defensive generosity continued in the inning with two more errors sandwiched around three Red Tornado singles. Luke Fiore evened the score in the bottom of the third, however, with a two run home run to left field.
With the score tied at three, Hempfield allowed the visitor’s fourth run with two more errors in the fourth inning.
Austin Dunlap came on to relieve Tim King, who battled through five. Dunlap authored a 1-2-3 sixth inning and worked around runners at second and third with one out in the seventh to keep the visitors off the board and hold the margin to a single run.
“Analyzing baseball yields many numbers of interest and value. Yet far and away — far, far and away — the most critical number in all of baseball is 3: the three outs that define an inning. Until the third out, anything is possible; after it, nothing is.” - Eric Walker
In the bottom of the seventh, Hempfield appeared poised to take advantage of an errant throw in the infield to start the inning, but the Black Knights did not make the visitors pay for the miscue. With one out and none on, Luke Fiore was hit by a pitch. Ethan Seitz grounded into a fielders choice for the inning’s second out. Cody Fatta came on to run for Seitz and represented the tying run, only 270 feet away. The third out of the inning was not yet recorded, so anything was possible. Peter Fiore’s ground ball to short was thrown low and eluded the first baseman, with Fatta on the move to third. Fiore advanced to second on the first pitch to Logan Harelson, and since the third out of the inning was not yet recorded, anything was possible. On the second pitch to Harelson the game was won, Fatta and Peter Fiore scoring on the base hit to right field, capping a comeback in dramatic fashion: 5 runs to 4 runs; 20 outs to 21 outs.
After the game the five Hempfield Baseball seniors were recognized, and we would like to acknowledge each – who all played a part in the victory today: Conner Bitts, Luke Fiore, Tim King, a rejuvenated Christian LaBarbera and Ethan Seitz.
The JV Knights were victorious with a 12-2 score. The JV Knights improve to 17-1 on the season.
With the win, Hempfield is 9-9 on the season and 5-5 in Section One play. It is the 812th win for the Hempfield Baseball Program.
May 5, 2021: Warwick 11, Hempfield 2
Warwick scored runs in each inning but the second. The Warriors had at least two runners reach base in each of their seven offensive innings.
Cameron Berger, Austin Dunlap and Christian LaBarbera each had multi-hit days with LaBarbera driving in both Hempfield runs.
Hempfield falls to 8-9 on the season and 4-5 in Section One play.
The JV Knights were victorious by a score of 4-3. The JV Knights improve to 16-1 on the season.
May 3, 2021: Hempfield 12, Cedar Crest 10
Hempfield picked themselves up from the mat, courageously fighting back from a six run deficit to defeat the Cedar Crest Falcons on a warm, cloudy day in Cornwall.
Cameron Berger and friends starting the scoring early. Berger drew a walk and Austin Dunlap reached on a single. Berger scored the game’s first run. In the second inning the Black Knights loaded the bases as Ethan Seitz doubled, Logan Harelson walked and Gavin Constein singled. The trio were stranded on the bases.
In the third inning Hempfield scored again when Stephan Katch doubled to center. Luke Fiore followed with a single. With the score titled in the Black Knights’ advantage, Cedar Crest erupted for an eight run inning. The home team sent 13 batters the plate, reached on seven hits, a walk, a hit batsman, a few defensive miscues by the visiting team and appeared to have the game in hand.
But Hempfield showed heart. Logan Harelson started the comeback with a double and was followed up by a single from Gavin Constein. Cameron Berger reached base, scoring Harelson, and Austin Dunlap’s single off the pitcher scored Constein. A rejuvenated Christian LaBarbera singled to load the bases before walks to Luke Fiore, Peter Fiore and Logan Harelson brought home three more runs. The Black Knights pulled within a run and held Cedar Crest off the board in the home fourth.
In the visiting fifth inning, Cameron Berger started the inning being hit by a pitch. A single from Austin Dunlap and a pitch that hit Stephen Katch loaded the bases. Luke Fiore drew another bases loaded walk to tie the game. Ethan Seitz single to left brought home Dunlap and Katch and the inning’s final run scored thanks to an RBI fielders choice from Logan Harelson. After four and one half innings, Hempfield had climbed back in front, 11-8. A home run in the sixth inning – a solo shot to left – from a rejuvenated Christian LaBarbera gave Hempfield its final run.
Cedar Crest would rally in its final two innings as Hempfield played with fire in the sixth and attempted to do so in the seventh. Two Falcon runs scored on three singles and a walk in the sixth; however, Hempfield was able to minimize damage by turning a fundamental double play to escape further damage.
Tim King battled through four innings, working around a problematic third to hand the ball off to Austin Dunlap to start the fifth. Dunlap recorded the final nine outs in twelve batters, yielding two runs in the sixth while picking up the save.
The JV Knights were winners by a score of 12-2. The JV Knights improve to 15-1 on the season.
With the win, Hempfield moves to 8-8 on the season and is 4-4 in Section One play. It is the 811th win for the Hempfield Baseball Program.
May 1, 2021: Manheim Township 15, Hempfield 8
Manheim Township scored in six of seven innings, including a seven-run third inning, to pull ahead and stay of the host Hempfield Black Knights.
Completing a game that started on Friday and lasted all of two pitches due to wind conditions, Kyle Musser started the game on second base and was singled home by Drew Sassaman. In the second, J.T. Weaver, Michael Heckman and Kyle Musser registered back to back to back hits, along with two Hempfield errors, two plate two more runs and tie the game at three.
The Black Knights sent three runs across home plate in the first inning, jumping out to a 3-1 lead, as Luke Fiore’s two-run home run to left scored Stephen Katch. Cameron Berger walked to start the inning and scored prior to Fiore’s home run.
With the game tied at three in the top of the third, Manheim Township erupted for a seven run inning. The visitors recorded six hits, drew two walks and a hit batter, and took advantage of another Hempfield error in the field. The Blue Streaks added two runs in each of the fourth and fifth innings and a single run in the sixth as their offense had lead off batters reach in each of the first six innings and reached base in all seven. Manheim Township banged out 16 hits, drew nine walks, and were the beneficiary of five Hempfield errors.
Hempfield added a run of their own in the bottom of the third when Austin Dunlap doubled to left field and scored on a ground out from a rejuvenated Christian LaBarbera. Peter Fiore’s two run home run to left brought home Luke Fiore, who had walked, in the bottom of the fourth. In the home sixth, Peter Fiore singled and later scored on a base hit off the bat of Cameron Berger. The Black Knights’ final run crossed the plate in the bottom of the seventh as Luke Fiore blasted his second home run of the day, a solo shot to left field.
The JV Knights were not able to resume play due to a shortage of PIAA baseball officials.
Hempfield falls to 7-8 on the season and is 3-4 in Section One play.
April 28, 2021: Hempfield 18, Penn Manor 2
The Hempfield offense sprang to life on a warm, windy day at the at the Zander Baseball Complex at Penn Manor’s Comet Field. Austin Dunlap pitched five innings and Dawson Kuhn closed out the sixth to lead the Hempfield defense. The tandem struck out ten, walked one and allowed three Comet hits. Penn Manor scored an unearned run in the first inning, benefitting from two Black Knight errors. In the third inning, Gavin Switzer singled home Isaac Braegelman for the Comets’ second run.
Hempfield scored one in the first, six in the third, two in the fourth, two in the fifth and seven in the sixth.
Cameron Berger and friends started the first inning with back to back to back hits, with Austin Dunlap and a rejuvenated Christian LaBarbera joining Berger on the bases and LaBarbera picking up the RBI.
In the third inning, Cameron Berger, Austin Dunlap, a rejuvenated Christian LaBarbera, Stephen Katch, Ethan Seitz, Caden Woods and Gavin Constein all contributed hits – while crediting the Fiore Brothers (Luke and Peter) with sacrifices in the inning to assist with the run production.
Austin Dunlap doubled to start the fourth. Conner Bitts, running for Dunlap, scored on Stephen Katch’s triple to right. Katch would score on a single from Luke Fiore. In the fifth inning, a two-run home run from a rejuvenated Christian LaBarbera scored Conner Bitts, who was again running for Austin Dunlap.
Hempfield scored seven in the sixth with hits from Peter Fiore, Logan Harelson, Gavin Constein, a two-RBI single from Conner Bitts, Luke Fiore and Marcus Rivera.
The JV Knights were victorious by a 12-2 score. The JV Knights improve to 14-1 on the season.
With the win, Hempfield improves to 7-7 on the season and is 3-3 in Section One play. It is the 810th win for the Hempfield Baseball Program.
April 26, 2021: Hempfield 2, Lampeter-Strasburg 1
On a beautiful evening for high school baseball, the visiting Black Knights and host Pioneers treated the fans to a great high school baseball game.
Alex Knapp scored the game’s first run after being hit by a pitch and stealing second base. Braeden Karpathios’ RBI single to center scored Knapp and the Pioneers were on the board early. The Hempfield pitching tandem of Tim King and Austin Dunlap, however, would put up zeros on the home side of the score board for the next six innings. King struck out 12 Lampeter-Strasburg batters, walked two, and allowed two hits. He recorded 20 outs before yielding to Austin Dunlap.
Hempfield put runners on base each inning, with runners in scoring position in six of seven innings, but were only able to get runs across the plate in the decisive sixth. Ethan Seitz singled to center and was replaced by Conner Bitts; Bitts advanced to second on Peter Fiore’s sacrifice. Caden Woods drew a walk. Bitts and Woods advanced on a passed ball before Cameron Berger’s single to center scored Bitts and Woods to give Hempfield a one run lead it would not relinquish.
The JV Knights were victorious by a 4-0 score. The JV Knights improve to 13-1 on the season.
With the win, Hempfield improves to 6-7 on the season and is 2-3 in Section One play. It is the 809th win for the Hempfield Baseball Program.
April 23, 2021: Ephrata 3, Hempfield 2
Ephrata scored two runs in the first inning and added the decisive run in the seventh to hold on to a 3-2 win on the road.
The visiting Mountaineers outhit the Black Knights by a difference of nine to two; the Hempfield offense was unable to break through against the overpowering Ephrata pitching duo of Luke Rotolo and Hunter Rowell.
The JV Knights were winners by a score of 6-0. The JV Knights improve to 12-1 on the season.
Hempfield falls to 5-7 on the season and 2-3 in Section One play.
April 21, 2021: Hempfield 9, Conestoga Valley 1
On a perfect day for baseball, Hempfield’s Tim King struck out 12, walked one and scattered five Buckskin hits to help the host Black Knights over the visitors from Smoketown.
After surrendering a run in the top of the first, Hempfield pushed two of their own across. Ethan Seitz’s single to center scored Cameron Berger and Austin Dunlap. In the second inning it was Austin Dunlap’s RBI triple to right-center that scored Gavin Constein. Hempfield scored five runs in the third to extend the lead to 8-1. Stephen Katch doubled to right center and Luke Fiore followed with a single. With runners on second and third, Peter Fiore’s RBI single brought home Katch. Gavin Constein was hit by a pitch to load the bases, and back to back singles to right from Cameron Berger and Austin Dunlap brought home the inning’s final four runs. Hempfield added a final run in the fifth inning as Austin Dunlap’s sacrifice fly to left scored Gavin Constein.
After a turbulent first inning King settled in and limited any potential Buckskin rallies. Conestoga Valley put runners on bases in the second, third and fourth innings; however, the indomitable King retired nine in a row before yielding to the bullpen for arm safety reasons. Ethan Green faced the final two batters of the game.
The JV Knights were winners with a 6-5 final. The JV Knights improve to 11-1 on the season.
With the win, Hempfield improves to 5-6 on the season and 2-3 in Section One play. It is the 808th win for the Hempfield Baseball Program.
April 19, 2021: Hempfield 6, Lebanon 0
It had been 2,923 days since the Hempfield Varsity Baseball team played a game at beautiful Coleman Park in historic Lebanon, Pennsylvania (April 17, 2013 for those keeping track at home). The visitors survived several frustrating innings on offense in the early going before pushing across runs in the final three innings to leave victorious.
Austin Dunlap pitched brilliantly in a complete game effort; he converted 21 outs on 72 pitches. The unconventional left hander struck out eight and walked one while allowing two hits. He retired the last 16 batters of the game.
Offense came difficult for the Black Knights over the first four innings – despite putting 11 of their first 18 batters on the bases, Hempfield was unable to cross home plate safely. In the 5th Gavin Constein did just that, for the game’s first run, before Cameron Berger scored on Austin Dunlap’s sacrifice fly to center.
Hempfield added a run in the 6th when Ethan Seitz doubled to lead off the inning and was advanced to third on Peter Fiore’s sacrifice. Another sacrifice, this time in the air and off the bat of Tim King, scored Seitz. The Black Knights added three insurance runs in the 7th when Cameron Berger singled to right, Christian LaBarbera walked and Austin Dunlap singled. With the bases loaded, Stephen Katch, Luke Fiore and Ethan Seitz all brought home runs.
The JV Knights were winners with a 22-2 score. The JV Knights improve to 10-1 on the season.
With the win, Hempfield improves to 4-6 on the season and 2-3 in Section One play. It is the 807th win for the Hempfield Baseball Program.
April 17, 2021: “Wilson” 6, Hempfield 2
Led by pitchers Andrew Trayer and Cole Leaman, “Wilson” capitalized on two-run innings in the fourth and sixth to pull away despite a valiant effort by the Hempfield team.
Tim King allowed an unearned run in the first and worked out of traffic in the second. In the third, “Wilson” capitalized on a hit batsmen to lead off the inning and scored on a sacrifice fly to shallow right field on a brilliant diving catch by Peter Fiore. The visitors scored two unearned runs in the fourth, taking advantage of two Black Knight errors. Ethan Green and Dawson Kuhn finished out the final three innings for Hempfield and did a commendable job on the mound – Green striking out the side in the fifth and Kuhn throwing a 1-2-3 inning in the 7th. The visitors used two walks and two hits in the sixth inning to open the lead to four runs. Several defensive plays are worth recognizing – two outstanding catches on the run by second baseman Peter Fiore, three runners caught stealing by catcher Luke Fiore, and a superb catch on the run before crashing into the center field fence by Gavin Constein.
The Black Knights scored a run in the fourth when Christian LaBarbera singled to left and Austin Dunlap reached base. With runners at the corners, Stephen Katch’s RBI ground out scored LaBarbera to make the score 4-1. In the bottom of the fourth, Hempfield rallied and came up just inches from a big inning. Ethan Seitz singled, Peter Fiore walked and Gavin Constein singled to load the bases with one out. After a force play at the plate, Fiore scored on a wild pitch and both runners advanced. Christian LaBarbera’s line drive appeared headed towards green spaces, but second baseman Cole Leaman’s diving catch foiled the inning and preserved the lead for “Wilson.”
The JV Knights were winners by a score of 12-7. The JV Knights improve to 9-1 on the season.
With the loss, Hempfield drops to 3-6 on the season and 2-3 in Section One play.
April 16, 2021: Solanco 4, Hempfield 2
Brothers Nate and Seth Harnish combined to pitch Solanco past the visiting Black Knights on a bitter, windy day in Southern Lancaster County.
Nate Harnish kept the Hempfield hitters off balance and off the score board with an array of off speed pitches and helped his cause with an RBI single in the first inning. Solanco pushed their lead to 2-1 after executing a double steal. Hempfield pitcher Cameron Berger settled down after a tough first inning, retiring nine in a row at one point and 12 of the next 14 hitters.
Hempfield was able to even the score at two in the third inning when Austin Dunlap’s single to right brought around Berger. Unfortunately, Hempfield was unable to produce any more runs while Solanco’s Tyler Burger double to deep left scored the third and fourth runs for Solanco – all three runners reaching after there were two outs and none on in the sixth.
The JV Knights were winners with a 10-9 score. The JV Knights improve to 8-1 on the season.
With the loss, Hempfield falls to 3-5 on the season and 2-3 in Section One play.
April 13, 2021: Hempfield 18, J.P. McCaskey 2
Austin Dunlap’s effort on the mound helped lead the visitors from Landisville over the hosts from Lancaster on a gorgeous, sun splashed afternoon in the Red Rose City. In a game ended after four innings, Dunlap pitched each frame and surrendered two runs on three hits while striking out four and walking none. Three of J.P. McCaskey’s first six batters reached by base hit; Dunlap retired ten of the next 11 batters en route to victory.
Hempfield put multiple runners on the bases in the first two innings but could not push a run across the plate. The Black Knights left five runners on base in the first two innings. In the third, however, Hempfield broke through. Austin Dunlap walked to start the inning and Stephen Katch followed with an infield single. One batter latter, Katch scored on a double off the bat of Ethan Seitz. Peter Fiore drew a walk and with the bases loaded full of Black Knights, Logan Harelson brought home Luke Fiore on a sacrifice fly to center. Gavin Constein, Cameron Berger and Christian LaBarbera followed with consecutive singles and were the first three of seven consecutive Black Knights to safely reach base. Hempfield sent 14 batters to the plate, scoring ten runs on eight hits in the inning.
Hempfield scored eight in the fourth inning – using five McCaskey walks sandwiched around five Hempfield hits to do the damage. Austin Dunlap, Stephen Katch, Luke Fiore, Peter Fiore, Gavin Constein, Cameron Berger and Andrew Mentzer collected RBI’s in the fourth inning.
The JV Knights were winners by a score of 14-4. The JV Knights improve to 7-1 on the season.
With the win, Hempfield is 3-4 on the season and 2-3 in Section One play. It is the 806th win for the Hempfield Baseball Program.
April 10, 2021: Dallastown 11, Hempfield 5
Dallastown used two big innings - a three run 5th and a five run 6th to take control of the baseball game and leave Landisville winners by a score of 11-5.
Hempfield threated early with Christian LaBarbera and Austin Dunlap reaching in the first inning with none out; the pair were stranded on the bases. Both teams scored twice in the second frame: Dallastown made Hempfield pay for two walks and a hit batter in the inning; Hempfield scored two runs with hits from Ethan Seitz, Peter Fiore and Christian LaBarbera.
The game hung in the balance in the middle innings with Dallastown clinging to a one run lead, 3-2. In the 5th and 6th innings, the Wildcats capitalized on multiple defensive missteps, three walks and eight hits to push the lead to 11-2. Hempfield scored the game’s final three runs. In the 6th, Stephen Katch doubled and scored on Ethan Seitz’s RBI ground out; in the 7th Peter Fiore scored on Conner Bitts’ RBI single to center and Christian LaBarbera scored on a balk.
Hempfield’s starting pitcher Cameron Berger deserved a better fate; the left hander pitched commendably and gave his team a chance to win. He struck out seven, walked two and allowed five hits in pitching into the 5th inning.
The JV Knights were winners by a score of 7-2. The JV Knights are 6-1 on the season.
With the loss, Hempfield is 2-4 on the season; 1-3 in Section One play.
April 9, 2021: Warwick 5, Hempfield 1
Warwick’s Matt Seibert and Chase Martin combined to pitch the Warwick Warriors past the visiting Black Knights. Seibert threw six innings, striking out 12 and walking one. Martin threw the seventh to finish the game for Warwick.
Hempfield’s Tim King battled through six innings, matching Seibert and keeping Hempfield in the game. King struck out six, walked two and allowed seven hits.
Hempfield struck in the first inning when Christian LaBarbera singled to left and came around to score, staking the Black Knights to a 1-0 lead. The lead would hold until the bottom of the 4th. Matthew Williams’ led off the 4th with a solo home run to left, tying the game 1-1. Hempfield and Warwick traded zeros in the fifth. In the sixth, Williams’ led off the inning with a single to left and scored on Evan Rohrbach’s single to right field. Rohrbach scored on Aaron Hess’ single to center. Pinch hitter Nick Slogik’s home run to left plated the final two Warwick runs.
The JV Knights were winners by a score of 11-0. The JV Knights record improves to 5-1 on the season.
With the loss, Hempfield falls to a 2-3 record on the season; 1-3 in Section One play.
April 7, 2021: Cedar Crest, 10, Hempfield 0
Cedar Crest scored eight runs in the visiting third inning and added two runs in the seventh to win on the road, 10-0.
The Falcons’ Dylan Beard connected on a three run home run to score Conrad Wasson and Dalton Reinhart, who had reached on a single and walk. Cedar Crest added five more runs in the frame on three more hits, three Black Knight errors, and two additional walks. Five of Cedar Crest’s nine hits came in the pivotal third inning.
The Black Knight offense was held in check by starting pitcher Dalton Reinhart and reliever Zach Johnson. The Falcon tandem allowed only three hits and were assisted by two double plays behind them. Hempfield batters reached base ten times but were unable to put things together on offense.
Tim King, Logan Harelson, Christian LaBarbera, Dawson Kuhn, Ethan Green and Stephen Katch toed the pitching rubber for Hempfield and kept Cedar Crest off the score board except for the 3rd and 7th innings. Both pitching staffs seemed to struggle with a fluid strike zone, combining for 17 walks between the teams. It is the most walks in a game that this coach can remember since April 10, 2018 vs. Warwick when 24 walks somehow happened between the two teams (in a seven inning game).
The JV Knights were victors in extra innings, winning 6-5. The JV Knights record improves to 4-1 on the season.
With the loss, Hempfield falls to a 2-2 record on the season; 1-2 in Section One play.
April 5, 2021: Manheim Township 10, Hempfield 9
In a game that featured multiple lead changes and momentum swings, Manheim Township outlasted Hempfield to win 10-9 in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Hempfield jumped out to a five run lead after three frames of offense. Christian LaBarbera and Austin Dunlap both reached and scored in the first and third innings. Stephen Katch and Cameron Berger had RBI hits in the third inning, and Berger’s RBI sacrifice fly plated Dunlap in the first. In the bottom of the third, Ryan Flury and J.T. Weaver reached on consecutive hits and scored Township’s first two runs on a sacrifice fly from Drew Sassaman and a fielders choice ground out from Dylan King.
The game shifted in the fourth. Hempfield answered the Blue Streaks’ runs, adding a run of their own when Peter Fiore doubled and scored later on a Manheim Township error. But in the bottom of the 4th, Manheim Township pushed across five runs, all unearned, and sent nine batters to the plate. Only one batted ball left the infield in the air during the frame – the big blow being a two out triple off the bat of Dylan King, plating the last two Township runs of the inning. Manheim Township extended its lead by a run when a lead off walk to open the 5th inning later scored.
The Black Knights regained momentum in the 6th. Cody Fatta walked to lead off the inning and scored on Gavin Constein’s RBI double to left center. Christian LaBarbera’s single to center moved Constein to third, but an errant throw allowed Constein to score and LaBarbera to advance to third. With the game tied at eight, LaBarbera was balked home to give Hempfield a temporary one run lead.
Kyle Musser lead off the Township sixth with a double to right center and Evan Clark’s two out RBI single to center brough home Musser to tie the game. In the seventh, with the bases loaded, Musser was hit by a pitch to bring home the decisive run.
The JV Knights were defeated 11-7 and are 3-1 on the season.
With the loss, Hempfield falls to 2-1 on the season.
March 31, 2021: Hempfield 9, Penn Manor 1
Hempfield put runners on the bases in each of its six offensive innings, scoring in four of them, to defeat the visiting Penn Manor Comets on an overcast afternoon at J.K. Mechanical Field.
Christian LaBarbera and friends scored a run in the first inning after he and lineup comrade Austin Dunlap reached on consecutive singles. In the second inning, Logan Harelson and Cody Fatta scored runs while Gavin Constein reached on a double to left field. Consecutive hits by Luke Fiore, Stephen Katch and Logan Harelson plated two additional runs in the fifth inning. Christian LaBarbera, Conner Bitts, Ethan Green and Stephen Katch crossed the plate in the sixth with the latter two scoring on Cody Fatta’s RBI single to center.
On the mound, Designated Opener Tim King completed the first two innings before yielding to Logan Harelson in the third. Harelson allowed only a run, and escaped further damage, as the Comets had loaded the bases and were threatening. Austin Dunlap took over from there. The unconventional left hander went 12 up, 12 down to close out the game for Hempfield. Hempfield pitchers allowed one earned run on two hits, striking out five while walking three.
The JV Knights were winners by a score of 10-0 and improve to 3-0 on the season.
With the win, Hempfield begins the season with a 2-0 mark. It is the 805th win for the Hempfield Baseball Program.
March 29, 2021: Hempfield 1, Governor Mifflin 0
The 2021 Baseball Season began with a pitchers duel between the chalk lines of historic Rulon Griffiths Field. Hempfield and Governor Mifflin traded zeros on the scoreboard for the balance of the afternoon as both teams struggled to find traction on offense.
For Hempfield, Tim King got the start and Cameron Berger got the finish. The alpha and omega pitching tandem held the Mustangs to five hits while striking out seven and walking two. King finished the game as the winning pitcher of record while Berger stopped Mifflin to post the season’s first save.
Hempfield scored its lone run in the 3rd inning. After the Black Knights offense seemed to want to give away the inning, the indomitable King breathed life into it by doubling to right field. A walk to Christian LaBarbera brought Austin Dunlap to the plate. Dunlap’s line drive was knocked down by Mifflin second baseman Matt Sarbaugh, whose throw to the plate was too late to put out Marcus Rivera (running for King).
The Black Knights would push runners in scoring position in three of the next four innings but were unable to score them on a very strong Mifflin pitching staff and defense.
The JV Knights were winners by a score of 8-0 and improve to 2-0 on the season.
With the win, Hempfield begins the season with a 1-0 mark. It is the 804th win for the Hempfield Baseball Program.