Oley Valley advances to district final after death of teammate
Baseball
His death sent shockwaves through the Oley Valley community.
Now, Oley Valley’s baseball team is trying to honor fallen teammate Preston Rowe and his family as they all reel from the sudden death of the junior stemming from a singlecar accident last Wednesday night.
Two days following the death of their teammate, the Lynx clinched a spot in the upcoming PIAA tournament with a 7-0 victory over No. 5 Biglerville behind a one-hit shutout from Gavin Blankenbiller and a 2-for-3, three RBI effort from Tyler Wentzel. Video from the Reading Eagle after the game had shown members of the Lynx baseball team walking up into the stands to console the parents of Rowe after the game.
Oley Valley advanced to the District 3-3A Championship against Lancaster Catholic. It’s the second straight year the two have met for the district title, the Lynx winning 6-0 in the then-2A classification last season.
Softball
Brandywine Heights (19-2) advanced to the
District 3 Class 3A championship game against Pequea Valley after defeating Tulpehocken, 8-2, in the semifinals Thursday, May 25.
Taylor Sweigart and Savanna Ruppert led the way with home runs as the Bullets pounded out 12 hits in the victory,
The Bullets, winners of seven District 3-AA championships since 2005 (2013, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2005), vied for the Class 3A title Tuesday, May 30.
KUTZTOWN FALLS >> The Kutztown Area High School softball team could not repeat its quest to repeat as District 3 champions as the Cougars fell to No. 2 Pequea Valley, 101, in the Class 3A semifinals Thursday afternoon at Pequea Valley.
The Cougars scored its only run in the fifth inning, falling behind 10-0 after the first three innings. The loss ends the Cougars’ season after the team won the then-Class 2A championship last season against Peqeua Valley, 2-0, behind a no-hitter from pitcher Katie Calkins.
In the first round of districts, Jordan Dunn hit a tie-breaking RBI single in the bottom of the sixth inning to lead the Cougars past No. 6 Susquenita.