May 26, 2017: Penn Manor 7, Hempfield 6
After a 16 day lay-off the 2017 Hempfield Baseball season came to an abrupt end at Zander Park on the campus of Penn Manor's Comet Field in the quarter final match up of the 6A District 3 Playoff Tournament. It was a game of extremes for Hempfield, as the offense banged out 13 hits, its second highest total for a game this season; the offense struck out a season high 11 times. Uncharacteristically, Hempfield committed five errors in the field - also a season high.
The host Comets scored one run in the 1st inning on three consecutive singles from Ryan Witmer, Brett Beiler and Dylan Frey. In the 3rd inning, Penn Manor plated three runs with two on and two outs as Hempfield committed three errors, hit a batter, and walked a batter before recording the inning's final out.
With Penn Manor holding a 4-0 edge, Hempfield broke through for a run in the top of the 5th as Justin Lichtenwalner and Cole Houser singled and Lichtenwalner scored on Greg Gambler's RBI single. Penn Manor answered in the bottom of the 5th, scoring a run without a hit, when Grant Gale walked and made his way around the bases on a stolen base and wild pitch before scoring on another wild pitch.
Hempfield would answer in the top of the 5th and tie the game when Nick Boulanger doubled, C.J. Saylor singled and Alec Santiago walked to load the bases. Mark Peterson singled to left to bring in Boulanger and Saylor and push the score to 5-3. Ronnie Swantner, running for Santiago, would score along with Peterson on Justin Lichtenwalner's 2-RBI sacrifice fly to right field. The Comets scored two runs in the bottom of the inning as Dylan Frey walked and advanced to second base on an errant pick off attempt, then advanced to third base on a fielders choice ground out to second base. Frey scored as Jeff Taylor blooped a ball to short stop over a drawn in Hempfield defense. A walk to Tanner Simet pushed Taylor to second base; Taylor was thrown out at home trying to score on Jeremy Burkholder's single to right field. However, consecutive walks to Matt Tulli and Grant Gale pushed across another run for Penn Manor.
Greg Gambler's single and a walk to Tanner Seitz put runners at 1st and 2nd with one out; Gambler would score on a two out RBI single by C.J. Saylor. Seitz and Saylor remained on the bases when the game ended via strike out.
The loss ends Hempfield's 2017 season with a 12-9 overall record.
May 9, 2017: Warwick 5, Hempfield 1
Zach Peters and Deagan Young combined to limit Hempfield to one run on five hits to lead the host Warwick Warriors over the visiting Black Knights.
Warwick jumped on the board in the first inning when the Warriors first two batters doubled before the seventh pitch of the game was thrown. Hempfield starter Justin Lichtenwalner escaped further damage by retiring the side and stranding a runner at 2nd. Warwick would add 4 runs in the bottom of the 4th inning as four batters reached base on singles and another two were hit by a pitched ball. The Warriors added an unearned run for good measure in the bottom of the 5th to push the lead to 5-1.
The win sends Warwick to the Lancaster-Lebanon League Tournament as the #2 seed from Section One. Warwick joins Penn Manor as the Tournament entrants from Section One; Penn Manor has earned the tournament berth three years in a row - for Warwick it is their first trip since 2014. Hempfield is on the outside looking in, missing the League Tournament for the first time since 2011 after earning their way for five consecutive years.
The JV Knights fell by a 2-0 score and finish the regular season 14-5. Congratulations to Coach Eager and Coach Gailor and the JV Team on an awesome job this spring.
The loss ends Hempfield's regular season at 12-8 with a 9-7 record in League Play.
May 8, 2017: Penn Manor 5, Hempfield 0
Penn Manor scored a run in the 2nd, two runs in the 5th and two more in the 6th to win 5-0 on a sunny, blustery day at Comet Field. The Section One Title in 2017 belongs to Penn Manor as the Comets went 11-4 in League Play. The Comets offense wrapped out seven singles and took advantage of six walks, a hit batsman and two Black Knight errors.
In the 2nd inning Penn Manor loaded the bases and scored a run on a Hempfield error; in the 5th the Comets scored runs on RBI singles by Dylan Frey and Tanner Simet and in the 6th it a two-RBI single by Brett Beiler to push the margin to 5-0. Dalton Landis pitched one and one-third innings in relief of starter Jeff Taylor.
The JV Knights prevailed by a score of 7-4. The JV Knights improve their record to 14-4.
With the loss, Hempfield falls to 12-7 overall and 9-6 in League Play.
May 3, 2017: Hempfield 3, Cedar Crest 1
Justin Lichtenwalner's six inning effort allowed Hempfield to take a precarious 3-1 lead into the 7th inning where Cole Houser took the ball and nailed down the save for the visiting Black Knights. Lichtenwalner allowed 5 hits, 0 walks and struck out 5. Lichtenwalner was backed by a stellar defensive effort from everyone: Angel "Ainge" Colon, C.J. Saylor, T.J. Biondolillo (no relation), Nick Fiore, Greg Gambler, Mark Peterson, Nick Boulanger and Cole Houser. Everyone but Nick Boulanger recorded a put out or an assist defensively.
Hempfield survived the swirling winds, the scrappy Cedar Crest hitters and were unaffected by remarkable umpires to plate 3 runs in the top of the 6th. Cole Houser, Angel Colon and Greg Gambler reached base on two walks and a single to set up Tanner "Big Shot Tanner" Seitz's 3-RBI triple to the crest in right center field. Hempfield had multiple opportunities to score runs throughout the game but could not break through until the 6th; the Knights left 7 on base.
The JV Knights were victorious, winning 10-2. The JV Knights improve their record to 13-4.
With the win, Hempfield improves to 12-6 overall and 9-5 in League play. The win is the 772nd for the Hempfield Baseball Program.
May 1, 2017: Manheim Township 6, Hempfield 1
Joey Rudzinski pitched into the 7th inning, allowing only 3 hits and limiting Hempfield's offense to one unearned run to lead the visiting Blue Streaks of Manheim Township past the host Black Knights.
The JV Knights were victors by a final score of 3-1. The JV Knights improve their record to 12-4.
With the loss Hempfield falls to 11-6 overall and 8-5 in League Play.
April 28, 2017: Hempfield 6, J.P. McCaskey 1
Hempfield used a patient, balanced offensive attack to methodically score runs in the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th innings to prevail over the visiting Red Tornado from J.P. McCaskey High School.
Cole Houser made his pitching debut and worked through five innings, allowing a run on one hit and two walks. Thomas LaBarbera recorded the final six outs on the mound.
Nick Boulanger, Greg Gambler and Tanner Seitz had multi-hit games while six different players scored runs for the Black Knights. Two of Hempfield's six runs came on two-strike sacrifice fly balls by Tanner Seitz and Nick Boulanger - while this team baseball approach likely did not improve their individual PBR rankings it did contribute to the success of the team.
The JV Knights won by a score of 4-3. The JV Knights are now 11-4.
With the win, Hempfield improves to 11-5 overall and 8-4 in League play. The win is the 771st for the Hempfield Baseball Program.
April 26, 2017: Hempfield 6, Ephrata 1
In the top of the 5th inning, Nick Boulanger's bases loaded, two out single to left field scored Nick Fiore and Mark Peterson to give Hempfield its first runs of the night and take a 2-1 lead over the host Ephrata Mountaineers that the Black Knights would not relinquish. In the top of the 6th inning Hempfield added three more runs by taking advantage of two Ephrata errors. The Knights pushed across their final run in the 7th when Mark Peterson was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
Tanner Seitz started on the mound for the Black Knights and battled through the game's first two innings. Justin Lichtenwalner came on in relief and went the rest of the way for Hempfield, allowing one hit and striking out four.
The JV Knights fell by an 8-7 final. Their record is now 10-4.
With the win, Hempfield improves to 10-5 overall and 7-4 in League play. The win is the 770th for the Hempfield Baseball Program.
April 24, 2017: Hempfield 11, Solanco 7
Thomas LaBarbera picked up his first career win, as he threw three innings in relief of starter Eric Sipling to help Hempfield get past the hard hitting Solanco Mules. LaBarbera held down Solanco in the second and third and escaped an ultra-weird fourth inning before turning the ball over to Justin Lichtenwalner for the final three innings.
Solanco pushed four runs across in the first inning: John Murray doubled home Tim Fetterman, and singles from Hunter Shaw, Sam Buckwalter and a double from Trent Myers gave the Mules an early edge. Hempfield responded in their first inning as Cole Houser tripled and scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Nick Boulanger. Justin Lichtenwalner walked and scored on Angel "Ainge" Colon's double. Colon would score Hempfield's third run.
Angel "Ainge" Colon led off the 3rd inning with a double and the bases were loaded after walks to Tanner Seitz and C.J. Saylor. Nick Fiore's sacrifice fly scored Colon to tie the score; a walk to T.J. Biondolillo loaded the bases again and Cole Houser's double to right-center field cleared the bases and gave the host Knights an 7-4 edge that would reach 8-4 after Nick Boulanger doubled to left field. Solanco's response in the top of the 4th would put the game in doubt as the Mules pushed across three more runs to tighten the score to 8-7. Trent Myers and Dawson Kreider singled to start the inning and three Black Knight errors aided in the Mules' run-scoring efforts.
Hempfield would add a run in the 5th when Nick Fiore deposited a pitch into the second-deck bleachers in right field; a Landisville youngster left the stadium happy after he caught it as a souvenir home run ball. In the 6th it was Mark Peterson's two-out, two RBI double to right-center that scored Jayden Ruby and Greg Gambler. The runs pushed the score to its final, 11-7.
The JV Knights were winners by a score of 18-3. Their record improves to 10-3.
With the win, Hempfield improves to 9-5 overall and 6-4 in League play. The win is the 769th for the Hempfield Baseball Program.
April 21, 2017: Lampeter-Strasburg 3, Hempfield 2
April 19, 2017: Donegal 4, Hempfield 1
The visiting Donegal Indians turned J.K. Mechanical Field into their own personal batting facility, grinding out 12 hits - two which were triples - to win over the host Black Knights. The Donegal offense put runners on base each inning but the 5th, testing the Hempfield defense with constant pressure: five times the Donegal lead off hitter of the inning reached base.
On the mound, Donegal's Kyle Hess pitched five innings and allowed two hits. He was replaced by Rich Velez who finished the last two innings and did not allow any hits.
The JV Knights were victorious by a 4-3 final score and improve their record to 9-2.
The loss drops Hempfield's record to 8-4 overall and 5-3 in League Play.
April 17, 2017: Hempfield 13, Conestoga Valley 2
Tanner Seitz starred on the mound for Hempfield, pitching 5 dominant innings to lead Hempfield over Conestoga Valley on a near perfect day for baseball at historic Jim Lilley Field in north Smoketown. Seitz struck out six and walked none. He turned the ball over to Thomas LaBarbera, who worked the sixth, when the game ended due to the 10-run rule.
Hempfield scored runs in each of their six offensive innings. In the first, Justin Lichtenwalner, Cole Houser, Angel Colon and Nick Boulanger all contributed with hits to plate two early runs. In the second inning, Nick Fiore took a 2-1 pitch deep to right field for a solo home run; later in the inning Angel "Ainge" Colon also went deep when he deposited a pitch to the upper deck in left field - the ball was thrown back on to the playing field by the raucous Buckskin faithful.
Hempfield's offense was led by Justin Lichtenwalner, Cole Houser, Angel Colon, Nick Boulanger and Tanner Seitz who all had multi-hit games.
The JV Knights were winners by a 4-3 score. The JV record is 8-2.
With the win, Hempfield is 8-3 overall and 5-2 in League Play. The win is the 768th for the Hempfield Baseball Program.
April 15, 2017: Wilson 2, Hempfield 1
For the fourth time in five games Hempfield allowed an opponent to score in the first inning as the host Wilson Bulldogs plated runs in the first and fifth innings to defeat Hempfield 2-1. Wilson scored a run in the first inning when Jaden Himmelreich and Dalton Emerich both doubled to right field. Wilson only would only get one hit the rest of the game. The Bulldogs scored the game's second run in the fifth after Matt Fiorini walked and was sacrificed to second base; advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a sacrifice fly to center field.
Hempfield's bats were silenced by Wilson's Jaden Himmelreich. The Black Knights struck out 8 times and were only able to score one run in the seventh inning. Despite doubling up Wilson's hitters with six hits to their three, Wilson doubled up Hempfield on runs.
The JV Knights fell 11-4 and are 7-2 on the season.
With the loss Hempfield falls to 7-3 on the season and finishes up their non-league schedule with a 3-1 mark. The Black Knights remain 4-2 in League Play.
April 13, 2017: Elizabethtown 7, Hempfield 5
The leaders in Section Two left Landisville with a resounding victory as the Elizabethtown Bears stormed Landisville with 15 hits - 4 extra base hits - in defeating the host Hempfield Black Knights 7-5 in 8 innings. Elizabethtown got on the board first when Nick Stoner's long fly ball to left field fell to the earth for a triple, and three more Bear hitters connected for hits, scoring two runs, prior to Hempfield recording the game's first out.
Justin Lichtenwalner scored Hempfield's first run after scoring on Angel Colon's RBI sacrifice fly in the 3rd inning. Elizabethtown would add 3 more runs in the top of the 5th when Cade Livingston walked with the bases loaded and Nick Stoner shot a single through the left side to score two more runs. Hempfield would rally in the bottom of the 7th to tie the game. Tanner Seitz connected for a lead off triple and singled on Mark Peterson's base hit to center field. Justin Lichtenwalner followed with a triple of his own and a walk to Cole Houser put runners on the corners with 1 out. Angel Colon was issued an intentional walk. With two outs and the bases loaded, C.J. Saylor reached on a throwing error and two runs scored to tie the game.
Elizabethtown would score two more in the top of the 8th inning with two outs and no one on base as three consecutive hits plated the go ahead and deciding runs. Chad Caley had the two out, two RBI single to center field for the Bears.
The JV Knights prevailed at home by a 4-2 score. The JV record improves to 7-1 on the season.
With the loss, Hempfield drops to 7-2 overall and 4-2 in League Play.
April 12, 2017: Hempfield 11, Penn Manor 2
Justin Lichtenwalner's complete game effort over the visiting Penn Manor Comets highlighted a fun day of baseball action at J.K. Mechanical Field on a beautiful April afternoon. Penn Manor touched Lichtenwalner for two runs in the first inning after Grant Gale reached on an infield error. Brett Beiler, Dave Mowery and Dalton Landis all singled with Gale and Beiler scoring in the frame to give the Comets an early lead. Hempfield put runners on base themselves in the first inning but were snake bitten by a line drive double play to quiet their momentum.
In the 3rd, the Black Knights pushed a run across after T.J. Biondolillo singled and was advanced to second by the crafty Mark Peterson. Two batters later Biondolillo scored on a RBI single from Cole Houser.
It was the Black Knight Defense that rose to the occasion in the 4th and 5th innings. With a runner on second base and one out, the Knights turned the unusual 5-3-6 double play as Angel Colon fielded Matt Tulli's ground ball and threw to first for the out; first baseman Nick Boulanger threw a strike to shortstop C.J. Saylor covering third base to tag runner Dalton Landis for the inning ender. In the 5th inning Mark Peterson came up firing to nail Ryan Witmer trying to score from second base on Brett Beiler's line single to center field.
In the bottom of the 5th inning the Black Knights offense struck for 8 runs when Mark Peterson reached on an infield error, Justin Lichtenwalner walked and Cole Houser loaded the bases on an infield single. An RBI single from Angel "Ainge" Colon plated one run and a walk to Greg Gambler plated the second run of the frame. After a fielders choice and a walk brought in two more runs Tanner Seitz connected on a 0-2 offering through the left side of the infield for two RBI. Hempfield would add two more runs in the bottom of the 6th.
The JV Knights were victors as well, 3-0. They improve to 6-1 on the season.
With the win, Hempfield is 7-1 overall and 4-1 in League Play. The win is the 767th for the Hempfield Baseball Program.
April 10, 2017: Warwick 2, Hempfield 1
Warwick's Zach Peters and Hempfield's Tanner Seitz locked into a pitchers duel on a sun-splashed, beautiful day for baseball in Landisville. The two pitchers traded zeros on the score board until the 5th inning, when Warwick scored two runs with two outs an none on base. After Warwick's lead off batter Bryce Zimmerman reached on a Hempfield error, Nate Hess doubled and Justin Byler singled to plate Warwick's runs. Seitz would retire Zach Peters to retire the side. The Black Knights answered with a run of their own in the bottom of the 5th. Tanner Seitz singled to right field, and courtesy runner Owen Snyder advanced to third on a two base error and eventually scored on a wild pitch.
Both Warwick and Hempfield loaded the bases in the 4th inning but neither offense was able to produce runs. Hempfield put runners on base in the 6th and 7th innings but were held in check by Peters.
The JV Knights fell by a score of 6-5 in 8 innings. They are now 5-1 on the season.
With the loss, Hempfield falls to 6-1 overall and 3-1 in League play.
April 7, 2017: Hempfield 5, Cedar Crest 4 (8 innings)
Nick Boulanger's bases loaded, two out, two strike single to center field scored Cole Houser from third base to give the Black Knights the deciding run over the visiting Cedar Crest Falcons. Playing in conditions suitable for a hockey game, Eric Sipling took the ball and allowed 3 runs in the first inning as Logan Horn, Kyle Poorman, Joseph Carpenter, Nate Trovinger, Chad Ryland and Zach Keefer all reached on singles. However, Sipling would retire the side and battle the elements through the next two innings before giving to ball to C.J. Saylor. Saylor worked innings 4, 5 and 6 and allowed a run on three hits. Justin Lichtenwalner picked up the win as he worked the 7th and the 8th innings, pitching out of jams in both innings when Cedar Crest put runners in scoring position.
The JV Knights did not play, as the home playing field was not playable.
With the win, Hempfield is 6-0 overall and 3-0 in League Play. The win is the 766th for the Hempfield Baseball Program.
April 5, 2017: Hempfield 13, Manheim Township 1
The Hempfield Black Knights rode the tide of an unusual baseball game to eventually pull away from the host Manheim Township Blue Streaks on a sun-splashed, beautiful day for baseball in Neffsville. It was not easy, however, as both pitching staffs had to deal with a strike zone that was anything but. The two clubs combined for 17 walks on the day, and in the unfortunate era of pitch counts, threw a combined 330 pitches.
Tanner Seitz battled the elements with poise and stoicism and a superlative Tao. He allowed one run in the 1st inning and battled through three before turning the ball over to Justin Lichtenwalner, who came on for the 4th and 5th. Thomas LaBarbera finished the game for the Black Knights, recording the game's final six outs.
Offensively for Hempfield, runs were scored in the 1st, 3rd and 7th innings. The Black Knights bats connected for 12 hits as the line up kept moving to produce runners and opportunities.
The JV Knights won by a score of 11-1 and improve their record to 5-0.
With the win, Hempfield is 5-0 overall and 2-0 in League Play. The win is the 765th for the Hempfield Baseball Program.
April 3, 2017: Hempfield 19, J.P. McCaskey 3
Eric Sipling, C.J. Saylor and Nick Boulanger connected the innings and stretched across five defensive frames on the mound to lead the visiting Black Knights to a win in the Red Rose city. The Black Knight hurlers allowed 5 hits and 4 walks and pitched out of jams in the 2nd and 5th innings. Sipling pitched out of a bases-loaded, 0 out situation in the second inning when the Red Tornado connected for two singles and a walk and used a single to center field and a sacrifice fly to push across two runs. Sipling would retire the side on a fly ball to left field and a pop up to third base to escape further damage. In the 5th inning, Nick Boulanger also worked out of a bases-load, 0 out situation when McCaskey put runners on base by an infield single, a hit batter and a single to left-center field. Boulanger worked out of trouble as the defense converted a fielders choice before he ended the game on a strike out.
Offensively for Hempfield, Greg Gambler and Justin Lichtenwalner had multi-hit days while Angel Colon, C.J. Saylor, Nick Boulanger, Nick Bair, Nick Fiore, Tanner Seitz, T.J. Biondolillo and Mark Peterson all reached base multiple times.
The JV Knights were also winners, 5-3. Wyatt Hershey and Alec Santiago pitched brilliantly for the Black Knights, who improve their mark to 4-0 on the season.
With the win, Hempfield is 4-0 overall and 1-0 in League Play. The win is the 764th for the Hempfield Baseball Program.
March 30, 2017: Hempfield 16, Governor Mifflin 3
The Hempfield Black Knights scored runs each of its first four offensive innings to go home winners on a cool, cloudy and rainy day at historic Rulon Griffiths Field in picturesque Shillington, PA.
Hempfield scored six of its seven first inning runs with two outs, as Angel Colon and Cole Houser contributed RBI hits in the frame. Governor Mifflin would answer with two runs of their own, taking advantage of two infield errors between doubles from Ajay Sczepkowski and Austin Baker.
Hempfield added four runs in the second inning thanks to RBI singles from Mark Peterson and Justin Lichtenwalner and added four more in the third when capitalizing on a Mustang error with the bases loaded.
On the mound, Eric Sipling worked through three innings before turning the game over to Thomas LaBarbera. In making his pitching debut, LaBarbera recorded six outs - four via strike out - to end the game after 5 innings and send the visitors from Landisville home happy.
The JV Knights were victors by a margin of 11-4 and improve to 3-0 on the young season.
With the win Hempfield is 3-0. The win is the 763rd for the Hempfield Baseball Program.
March 29, 2017: Hempfield 8, Dallastown 0
Tanner Seitz pitched through 5.2 innings of shutout baseball before falling victim to the PIAA pitch count rule and turning the ball over to Justin Lichtenwalner, who recorded the game's final four outs. Seitz allowed three hits while walking four and was assisted by his defense in converting outs when Dallastown threatened.
Hempfield scored in the first inning as Cole Houser, Angel Colon, Greg Gambler, C.J. Saylor and Nick Boulanger put up consecutive hits and pushed four runs across the plate for the Black Knights. Hempfield added a run in 5th on Greg Gambler's RBI double and three in the 7th when T.J. Biondolillo, Cole Houser and Angel Colon scored runs in the frame.
The JV Black Knights were winners by a score of 5-3 and improve to 2-0 on the season.
Hempfield moves to 2-0 on the season. The win is the 762nd for the Hempfield Baseball Program.
March 25, 2017: Hempfield 6, Lower Dauphin 5 (8 innings)
Hempfield scored runs in the 1st, 5th, 6th and 8th innings to prevail in a back and forth battle with Mid-Penn Conference Powerhouse Lower Dauphin. The Black Knights jumped on the scoreboard when Nick Boulanger's bases loaded walk plated Justin Lichtenwalner for the season's first run. Starting pitchers Eric Sipling (Hempfield) and Hunter Crawford (Lower Dauphin) would trade zeros until Matt Kephart's single to right field scored lead off batter Clay Spencer for the Falcons in the bottom of the 4th.
In the top of the 5th, Nick Boulanger's two-run double scored Angel Colon and Greg Gambler. Boulanger would eventually come around to score the inning's third run. In the bottom half of the frame the Falcons answered with a run scoring sacrifice fly from Tim Townsend and an RBI single to left field from Michael Geesaman. The Black Knights would score a run in the 6th on an RBI single by Greg Gambler, but two 7th inning doubles from Lower Dauphin's Derek Wyld and Clay Spencer brought the score to within one run before Michael Geesaman evened the score with an RBI single to center.
Hempfield opened up extra innings with singles from T.J. Biondolillo and Justin Lichtenwalner. Biondolillo was plated on a fielders choice off the bat of Cole Houser to push the score to its final, 6-5.
The JV Black Knights were winners by a 7-5 score. Alec Santiago relieved starter Brandon Husted to convert the save. Offensively for Hempfield, Matt Drenchko and LeBronnie Swantner had multi-hit days to help the Black Knight's run production. Congratulations to Coach Eager on his first victory as the JV Head Coach!
Hempfield Varsity and JV open up the season with 1-0 records.
The win is the 761st for the Hempfield Baseball Program.
