Five things I’ll have my eyes on as the Lancaster-Lebanon League transitions into the spring sports season:
CAN JANIS WIN POSTSEASON GOLD?
Cocalico javelin heaver standout Jhet Janis has signed with the University of Oregon, and now he can focus squarely on having a whopper senior season for the Eagles.
Janis, who had a PR throw of 204-6 last spring, got off to a fast start, winning the Tim Cook Invitational with a throw of 199-7, setting meet and Chambersburg stadium records on March 22.
The previous Cook record? Janis’ friend and former L-L rival Cole Proffitt had a 184-11 in 2012; Proffitt, the former Manheim Central standout and reigning PIAA-AAA champ (with a throw of 201-0 last spring), is at Penn State, leaving the spotlight clearly on Janis this spring.
Janis finished behind Proffitt in all three postseason meets last spring, including the state finals, where Janis finished seventh with a throw of 179-6.
We’re anxious to see if Janis can better all of last year’s marks, and cap his standout career with some gold medals before he heads off to Oregon.
“It’s definitely a cool feeling to break records because I work really hard,” Janis told PennLive after he won the Cook a couple of weeks back. “I really want states. I’m not worried about getting a number. I just want that gold medal.”
CAN AN L-L LEAGUE LACROSSE PROGRAM MAKE IT TO THE PIAA FINALS?
L-L League boys’ and girls’ lacrosse programs are definitely ahead of the curve in our neck of the woods.
Manheim Township’s girls’ team won its fifth District 3 championship in a row last spring, knocking off 1-loss Kennard-Dale in the finale.
The Blue Streaks made it a clean sweep last season, with Manheim Township’s boys’ team capturing District 3 gold with a win over 1-loss Wilson.
But when it comes to PIAA success, the L-L programs have yet to hurdle their District 1 counterparts.
Last spring, Manheim Township’s boys’ team lost to eventual state runner-up Conestoga — the fourth-place team from District 1 — in the first round, while the Blue Streaks’ girls’ team lost in the state semifinals to eventual champ Harriton, the District 1 winner.
Is this the season an L-L lacrosse team — boys or girls — can conquer a District 1 contender and make the state finals?
CAN HEMPFIELD DEFEND ITS L-L SOFTBALL CROWN?
With the returning talent second-year coach Brian Lohr has back in the dugout, the Black Knights are the runaway early-season favorites to win L-L gold.
It’ll start in the pitching circle, where Hempfield returns a trio of aces in Lauren Lichtenwalner, Kaitlyn Hohman and Maddy Popalis. Plus a lineup loaded with power bats.
The Black Knights should also have plenty of motivation; Hempfield took a nifty 23-2 record into last year’s District 3-AAAA semifinals, but lost to Daniel Boone 3-1 before falling to Cumberland Valley 3-2 in the third-place game, missing out on a trip to the PIAA playoffs after a superb regular-season run.
CAN HEMPFIELD’S HAGINO DEFEND L-L, DISTRICT 3 TENNIS TITLES?
Derek Hagino, Hempfield’s standout junior, pulled off the double-double last spring, winning L-L and District 3-AAA singles titles.
And he beat the same player in both finals — Conestoga Valley’s Darren Mast; Hagino won 7-5, 6-0 in the league finals before topping Mast 6-3, 6-4 for district gold.
Now the tough part: Repeating, with big bull’s-eyes on his back.
Hagino dropped a match to Warwick ace Tony Deimler already this season, so the race is most definitely on.
MORE McCASKEY BASEBALL MAGIC?
Skipper Dave Hinnenkamp and his Red Tornado grabbed everyone’s attention last spring, reaching the District 3-AAAA semifinals, winning the third-place game and advancing to the PIAA playoffs for the first time in 30 years.
Bad news: Graduation was not kind to Hinnenkamp, who lost several studs off last year’s roster, including ace pitcher James Hartman.
Good news: All-Stars Aaron Taylor and Miguel Torres are back for another go at it, with plenty of good vibes coming off last year’s memorable ride.