Barons Stop Mounts

As Manheim Central and Ephrata traded flashes of offense midway through the second half of their Lancaster-Lebanon League Section Two clash in Manheim Tuesday, flashes of lightning led to a weather delay. As the lightning continued, officials deemed the game final and the host Barons, who led 1-0, moved into first place in the section.

"There were two good teams going at it," said Rod Brenize, Manheim Central's coach. "I don't like that it was a weather-shortened event, but I don't make those rules. It is what it is."

With the win, the Barons improved to 5-1-1 in Section Two games with an overall record of 8-4-2. They took a one-point lead over Ephrata (5-2-0, 8-4-1) and remained two points ahead of Elizabethtown (4-1-2, 9-3-2), which defeated Garden Spot 3-1 Tuesday.

"In our section," said Rob Deininger, Ephrata's coach, "you've got to protect your home turf. You've just got to win at home, and it's very difficult to win on the road, as they found out and we found out. It makes things interesting."

Zach Reed scored the game's only goal at 27:58, depositing a pass from Mavrick King at the Ephrata goalmouth. Hunter Hess had challenged an Ephrata defender along the sideline before sending the ball in to King, who flicked it over to Reed for the finish.

After a Manheim Central chance early in the second half, Ephrata mustered pressure in the Barons' end for a spell. Manheim Central goalkeeper Mason Nissley stopped the Mounts' Tyler Shue in the 58th minute. He stopped the three shots the Mounts sent toward the Manheim Central goal.

At the other end, Ephrata goalkeeper Cole Hummel finished the game with seven saves, stopping a flurry of Barons chances and coming up with three saves in a span of two minutes before the lightning flashed across the Manheim sky.

"I'm really impressed with Cole Hummel," Brenize said. "He made a save in the second half where the ball ended up between his legs somehow. I don't know how he stopped that. I think that's a goal with a normal goalie."

The Section Two schedule resumes Thursday with Manheim Central scheduled to visit McCaskey and Ephrata set to travel to Elizabethtown.