LANCASTER - Playing some great ball late in the season, the Lancaster varsity baseball team showed why no one wants to play them in the Division 3 regional bracket.
The Flying Arrows had little trouble beating visiting Darlington last Friday afternoon, 12-3, in the first round of regional play.
Coach Tony Leibfried’s squad used 16 hits to score 12 runs and left a total of three runners on base, not to mention having two thrown out at home.
Leading the Lancaster hit parade was freshman Nathan Tranel, who went 4-for-4 with two doubles and two singles. He also scored one run and had one RBI.
Fellow freshman Brett Snider wasn’t far behind with four hits in five at bats in the lead-off spot, accounting for three RBIs and three runs scored.
Going 2-for-3 in the contest was senior Wes Schnepper, who also had three RBIs, including a two-run double in the second inning.
Senior Trenton Pink also went 2-for- 3 in the game with two runs scored, while fellow senior Colin McCarthy was 2-for-4 with one RBI.
West Schnepper picked up the win on the mound, giving up three runs, two earned, off six hits in six innings. He also struck out seven Darlington batters and walked three.
The win moved Lancaster to a D3 regional semifinal game this past Tuesday against the second seeded Pointers of Mineral Point
* In their non-conference regular-season finale at Cassville last Tuesday, the Arrows used eight hits to pull out a 9-4 victory over the host Comets.
Freshman Andy Ryan led the team at the plate with his 2-for-4 performance that included a double and one RBI.
Fellow freshman Jake Taylor also had a two-run single in the seventh.
Collecting the win on the mound was junior Winston Zenz, who pitched all seven innings, giving up four runs off six hits, while striking out seven Cassville batters and walking four.
Lancaster 12, Darlington 3
(D3 regional quarterfinal from Friday, May 25, at Lancaster)
Darlington 010 101 0 - 3 6 1
Lancaster 141 204 x - 12 16 3
Leading hitters - D: B. Hardyman 2x3; L: Brett Snider 4x5, Westly Schnepper 2x3, Colin McCarthy 2x4, Nate Tranel 4x4, Trent Pink 2x3.. 2B - A. Geissbuhler (D), Schnepper (L), Tranel 2 (L). W - Schnepper. L - Tyler Black.
