Mars eliminates Mounts

RED LION — When the final strike was called, the Ephrata fans on hand at Red Lion rose to their feet, cheering on the Mountaineers.

Sure, the 18-game winning streak had just come to an end, as did a magical season, in Monday’s PIAA Class 5A tournament opener.

However, these Mounts deserved the recognition for a Section Two title, a Lancaster-Lebanon League tournament crown and District Three championship.

Plus, Ephrata had just battled to the final strike against a Mars team with several Division I college commits, tying the game in the bottom of the eighth inning, before falling 3-2 in nine.

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Mounts Look Sharp

FREDERICKSBURG — Nate Young was in control on the mound while his teammates controlled the strike zone and propelled thirdseeded Ephrata to the District Three Class 5A championship game with a 12-2 victory over second-seeded Lower Dauphin on Tuesday at Wenger Field.

The Mounts will face eighth-seeded Cedar Cliff for the championship at 4:30 p.m. today, back at Wenger Field.

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Mounts win District Title

FREDERICKSBURG — As Adrian Shelley walked to the bus, little did the Ephrata baseball coach know what was lurking behind him.

Turning to look back at Earl Wenger Field, Shelley caught a group of his players sneaking up on him, but all he could do was stop and accept the ice water being dumped on his head.

The Mounts weren’t ready to stop celebrating, and for good reason.

Led by a 3-for-3, three-RBI day from Tim Beever and a dominant start on the mound by Adam Schwartz, Ephrata upended defending champion Cedar Cliff, 4-2, in the District Three Class 5A championship.

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Mounts Get Wild Victory

As Adam Maser’s bunt rolled toward the mound, both sections of the bleachers rose to their feet. Just seconds later, the Ephrata fans would break out in celebration, but one that was tempered by confusion on both sides of the diamond.

A throwing error brought Adam Schwartz in for the tying run, but visiting Lampeter- Strasburg quickly got the ball in to catcher Luke Weigel and looked to have Zac McGillan caught in a rundown. Before Weigel could apply the tag, however, the officials waved in McGillan, securing a 4-3 victory for Ephrata in the District Three Class 5A baseball quarterfinals at War Memorial Field on Thursday night.

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