Black Knights hand Blue Streaks first loss of 2022 in gusty road matchup, 5-2

The Manheim Township Blue Streaks hit the road for the first time in 2022 on Friday afternoon as they traveled to Landisville to take on the Hempfield Black Knights. For the second consecutive season, this matchup was hit with heavy winds all afternoon leading to a fairly chilly early-April baseball game.

Township’s starting pitcher, JT Weaver, led off at the plate for the Blue Streaks in the top of the 1st with a 4-pitch walk before Michael Heckman walked behind him. A badly bunted ball turned into a double play for the Black Knights, but MT regained the early momentum on a line drive single up the middle off the bat of Fisher Druck. Weaver scored from 2nd on the hit to give the visitors the early lead, 1-0. On the mound in the 1st, Weaver held steady after giving up an early double to Dunlop and Township still led by 1 after 1. 

Hempfield’s second double play in as many innings ended Township’s hope for runs in the top of the 2nd before a leadoff walk to Sheerer for the Black Knights proved invaluable as a single and SAC fly later in the inning tied the game at 1-1 through 2.

A 2-out double to the left field fence from Heckman and a walk for Ryan Flury put men on base for MT in the 3rd, however a groundout ended the scoring threat. Hempfield capitalized on a Township fielding error after a leadoff double from Rodenberger to break the tie in the bottom half of the 3rd. Now leading 2-1, Fiore walked before Toole cleared the bases for the Black Knights to quickly make it 4-1. A SAC fly before the half inning was up put the home team in front 5-1. 

Quick half innings from both teams in the 4th, 5th, and 6th innings moved this game along to the 7th. Gavin Glass, on the mound in relief of Weaver, held the Black Knights scoreless from the 4th inning on. With one final chance for runs, the Blue Streaks got on the bases early in the top half of the 7th. Ty Jenkins collected a full-count walk and advanced to 2nd base on a Glass groundout before a Hempfield infield error on a grounder by Trey Eckman kept Township’s hopes alive. Weaver nabbed back a run from the Black Knights with an RBI single up the middle to score Jenkins from 2nd to inch the Blue Streaks closer at 5-2, but Hempfield went on retire the next two batters to seal their fate on this not-so-fun April Fool’s Day.

Manheim Township’s first loss of the 2022 season also goes down as the first regular season loss for the program since May 1, 2019 against J.P. McCaskey. This loss also ends the Blue Streaks’ 11-game Section One winning streak that extended back to the same date. Varsity and JV will host Penn Manor on Monday (4/4) at home at 4:15pm.