Baseball: ELCO Unable to Recover After Conestoga Valley’s Big 2nd Inning

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LebCo Baseball Season Outlook: 2026

ELCO took to the road Thursday after dropping an 11-inning thriller to Northern Lebanon by a 2-1 score less than 24 hours earlier. Waiting for the Raiders was a Conestoga Valley team that was also looking to bounce back after falling to Manheim Central on Wednesday, and the Buckskins answered that challenge by handing ELCO an 8-4 setback.

ELCO grabbed the early lead in the top of the 1st. Austin Smith drove in the game’s first run with a ground out, giving the Raiders a quick advantage.

Conestoga Valley answered in the bottom half when Tommy Figart brought home a run with a sacrifice fly to even the score at 1-1.

The game turned in the bottom of the 2nd. Cordell Bair delivered the biggest swing of the afternoon, launching a grand slam to center field to put Conestoga Valley in front 5-1.

The Buckskins added on again in the bottom of the 3rd. Adam McDowell singled to right field to drive in a run, Bair followed with an RBI single to center, and Toby Schaub worked a bases-loaded walk as Conestoga Valley stretched the lead to 8-1.

ELCO continued to battle and picked up 3 runs over the rest of the game, but the early deficit proved too much to overcome. Zach Martin, Smith, and Braden Gettle each drove in a run for the Raiders.

ELCO finished with 5 hits in the game, getting one apiece from Tanner Hibshman, Tyce Boyer, Queston Rivera, Grant Wenger, and Isaac Tanger. The Raiders were aggressive on the bases and stole 4 bags, including 2 from Smith. ELCO also played a clean defensive game without committing an error, with Martin recording a team-high 6 defensive chances.

Conestoga Valley totaled 9 hits, with McDowell, Bair, and Gavin Sensenig each collecting 2. Bair paced the Buckskins offensively by going 2-3 with 5 RBI, while also stealing 2 bases. Conestoga Valley finished with 5 stolen bases as a team.

On the mound, Sensenig earned the win for Conestoga Valley, allowing 5 hits and 4 runs, just 1 earned, over 7 innings while striking out 5 and walking 1. Wyatt Parker took the loss for ELCO after allowing 8 runs on 9 hits over 3 innings, with 3 strikeouts and 4 walks.

ELCO (1-2) will face Middletown on the road Saturday before returning home on Monday to host Lebanon. Monday’s game will be broadcast live by YG Productions as part of the LebCo Sports Live series.

Conestoga Valley 8, ELCO 4

ELCO Leaders

Tanner Hibshman: 2-4, run, RBI, 2B, SB
Austin Smith: 1-3, RBI, SB
Grant Wenger: 1-2, run, 2B
Tyce Boyer: 1-3, 2B
Braden Gettle: 1-2, SF
Queston Rivera: 1-0, RBI, 2B, SB

Pitching
Wyatt Parker (L): 3.0 IP, 9 H, 8 R, 8 ER, 4 BB, 3 K
Owen Halpin: 3.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K

Conestoga Valley Leaders

Cordell Bair: 2-3, run, 5 RBI, HR, 2 SB, HBP
Gavin SenSenig: 2-3, run, 2B, SB
Adam McDowell: 2-4, 2 runs, RBI, SB
Aiden Styer: 1-2, run, SB
Jackson Buckwalter: 1-3
Sawyer Esbenshade: 1-3

Pitching
Gavin Sensenig (W): 7.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K