On Monday, April 28, the Manheim Township softball team played against J.P. McCaskey at their home stadium. The Blue Streaks secured a 13-2 winTownship improved their record to 9-8, while McCaskey was brought down 7-11.

Before the game started, six seniors were recognized for their commitment to this year’s varsity softball team. The seniors are first baseman and outfielder Ashley Bryant, third baseman and outfielder Ellie Comerford, catcher and outfielder Sara Hess, manager Lorelai Laughman, pitcher and first baseman Ava Stern and outfielder Mya Zeigler.

“I’ve seen these seniors grow on the field by being top performers and leading the team to success. They have worked hard through the season with MT softball and various travel teams,” said head coach Terry Bender. “Off the field they have been excellent students, volunteered in the community and have worked while playing softball.”

Bender said that the Blue Streaks’ game against Hempfield on Monday, April 21 was a moment where he saw the seniors demonstrate strong leadership this season. All the seniors understood the importance of the game, and thus led by example in leading their teammates to come out of the game with a win. Each senior played a role in the team’s 6-1 victory over Hempfield.

Typically for Township softball, the coaches name senior captains. Instead, this season, coach Bender asked all five senior players to “lead in their own way.” This offered each senior an opportunity to be involved.

“Since then I have seen all five seniors lead by example, supporting teammates, form player-only meetings and supporting the coaches,” said coach Bender.

He said that what sets this season’s seniors apart from last year is their “continued drive to achieve the team’s goals which were set at the beginning of the season.”

Bryant has played softball for 12 years. She previously played for PA Surge for one year before playing for Aftershock for another year. She currently plays for the Keystone State Bombers 18U Gold, for whom she has played for two years now. In addition to softball, she is a part of NHS, Tri-M Music Honor Society, symphonic band and symphonic band’s wind ensemble. She said that her most memorable achievement as a Township softball player was when she made LL League Section One First Team All-Star last year as a junior.

“[I] put in a lot of hard work in the off season and during the season, so I was really proud of myself and glad that it all paid off,” she said.

She said that being a part of the softball team for the past four years has provided her with special opportunities, including participating in the Mini-THON showcase and helping out with the recreational softball program. Being able to create a community of student-athlete friends has been extremely memorable for her. Bryant will be continuing her softball career at Messiah University while majoring in digital media.

Comerford has played softball for 10 years. She has also played for PA Surge for two years, and Keystone State Bombers for another two years. In addition to softball, she is a Morgan’s Message club ambassador, a club supporting athletes’ mental health. Comerford stated that her biggest achievement was securing a starting spot on varsity. She began her high school softball career as a floater and JV captain her freshman year. Although she later received a varsity letter her sophomore season after being a swing player, she still had bigger goals.

When describing her junior season, Comerford said she “again had to fight for a spot and earned my starting spot at third [base]. Senior year was the first year I knew where I stood and to know that I worked my way up to now to earn a starting captain position makes it all worth it.” She said that being a part of “a team like this one gives you a second family in and out of school”.

Comerford will be continuing her softball career at Stevenson University while majoring in middle school education, with a focus in social studies.

Hess has played softball for 10 years. She has also played for Keystone State Bombers for three years. In addition to softball, she is involved with Morgan’s Message. Hess said that her most memorable achievement during her high school softball career was being named an L-L League All-Star both her sophomore and junior year. She also said that being a part of the softball team has impacted her overall high school experience because it has given her her best friends. Hess will be continuing her softball career at Franklin & Marshall College while double majoring in business and art.

Laughman has played softball for 11 years, and has been on the high school team for three. This is her first year as manager. In addition to managing, she is involved with Aevidum, a club working to de-stigmatize mental health. Her most memorable moment as the team’s manager was coming to her first practice and feeling welcomed by all of the girls.

Being on the Township softball team has positively impacted her high school experience.

“[I get] to spend time with an amazing group of girls and celebrate all of their victories with them,” she said.

Laughman will be attending Harrisburg Area Community College before transferring to Millersville University to major in secondary education with a minor in mathematics.

Stern has played softball for eight years, and began playing softball when she was 10 years old. She has also played for Nita Rumble for the past four years. In addition to softball, she is involved with Morgan’s Message, Mini-THON, Link Crew and NHS. Stern’s most memorable achievement was being named a section All-Star and Most Valuable Player. A memorable moment during her high school softball career was during her freshman year when she pitched in a state game. She also played in the district finals game that same year. Being a part of the softball team has allowed Stern to meet a great community of people who she can rely on to be supported by.

“[I] met some of my best friends through softball and that’s something I wouldn’t trade for the world,” she said.

Stern will be continuing her softball career at Lancaster Bible College while majoring in business.

Zeigler has played softball since she was 7 years old. She played for varsity all four years of her high school softball career. In addition to softball, she is involved with soccer. She has played for Township all four years of high school and played for her club team for eight years. She was the Mini-THON food head her junior year, and is an overall head this year. She is also involved with Interact Club, Link Crew and NHS. She said that looking up to the upperclassmen during her freshman and sophomore seasons was the most memorable part of her high school softball career. She also said that advancing to district finals her freshman year was her most memorable achievement.

When asked about how being a part of the softball team has impacted her overall high school experience, Zeigler said that she “loves playing softball because my teammates are people I don’t usually hang out with outside of softball, but I love them to death and would do anything for them. When we are in season we just love playing the game for each other. The relationships I’ve made through softball is something I am so grateful for.”

Zeigler plans to go to Ohio State University to major in criminology and forensic science.

The next and final Township home softball game of the season will be on Monday, May 5 at 4:15 p.m. against Cedar Crest.

MT softball will be hosting a home run derby on Saturday, May 10 at the MT softball field. Each contestant will be given five front tosses to swing at on the field. Afterwards, the contestant will be provided with three minutes to swing 20 times. Each home run will result in being awarded with a point. The amount of balls hit over the fence will be the contestant’s score out of 20. The cost to enter varies by age. For ages 10-13, the cost is $10. For ages 14 and up, the cost is $20. The prizes for the contestants with the most points will be gift cards. Further information and the sign-up can be found at this link.