By: BRUCE MORGAN Record Express Sports Editor, Staff Writer

Photo by Preston Whitcraft
Manheim VFW second baseman Camryn Eberly gets the force out on Warwick base runner Isaac Erickson and throws to first to try to complete a fifth-inning double play.Photo by Preston Whitcraft
Manheim VFW second baseman Camryn Eberly gets the force out on Warwick base runner Isaac Erickson and throws to first to try to complete a fifth-inning double play.

In more ways than one, Manheim VFW first baseman Mason Nissley was a thorn in the side of the Warwick Cardinals on Monday night.

First, Nissley delivered a bases-loaded two-run single which highlighted Manheim’s three-run rally in the bottom of the fourth.

Then with the Cardinals rallying in the fifth inning, his diving snag of a sharp line drive off the bat of Warwick’s Ethan Heller helped to preserve the Manheim VFW’s lead.

That was one of several nice Manheim web gems behind pitchers Drew Mummau and Evan Hosler, as they frustrated the Cardinals en route to an 8-5 victory in the Lanco Youth Baseball 10-U playoff semi-finals at Mt. Joy’s Kunkle Field.

By: BRUCE MORGAN Record Express Sports Editor, Staff Writer

Photo by Bruce Morgan
Warwick freshman-to-be Walt Pelensky fired a 73 at Foxchase to place first in the LCJGT's junior boys division.Photo by Bruce Morgan
Warwick freshman-to-be Walt Pelensky fired a 73 at Foxchase to place first in the LCJGT's junior boys division.

Walt Pelensky wanted to prove that his 79 at Overlook two weeks ago wasn’t a fluke.

Mission accomplished.

This past Monday, on the third leg of the Lancaster County Junior Golf Tour, the Warwick freshman-to-be fired a 1-over 73 at Foxchase Golf Club to capture top honors in the junior boys division. Pelensky was one of 40 competitors in the junior boys division.

"I really had a good time and it was a big leap forward for me to be able to shoot it in competition," said Pelensky, whose previous best at Foxchase was a 74 from the blue tees.

Going into Monday’s action, he was third in the junior boys standings with 32 points after the first two rounds at Overlook and Four Seasons. His finish at Foxchase vaulted him into second place with 30.5 total points, behind only Connor Sheehan, who has 38 points.

By: BRUCE MORGAN Record Express Sports Editor, Staff Writer

For Tom McCabe, the timing was never right.

Until now, that is.

While serving as an assistant for 25 years in various high school basketball programs, he had opportunities to step in as the head coach. But with young children still at home, McCabe passed.

Then in April, the Manheim Central girls position became available with six-year coach Jason Coletti resigning to lead the Ephrata High School boys.

This time, McCabe applied, and at Manheim Central school board’s June 15 meeting, he was approved as the Lady Barons’ new boss.

"I’ve been wanting to be a head coach for a long, long time … I looked at my wife (Robin) and said, ‘There’s a girls job here at Manheim Central. I’d love to take it.’ And she basically said, ‘Hey, that’s good. Get out of my house,’" McCabe laughed.

The fit was right for both McCabe and Manheim Central. The 49-year-old McCabe has been a special education teacher at Manheim Central High School for nearly 30 years. And with his daughter, Megan, now going to Kutztown University and his son, Patrick, a Cedar Crest junior who gave up basketball in the last year or two to focus on baseball, the time was right.

Photo by Preston Whitcraft
Future stars (right to left) Maddie Behn, Lexie Landis, Sullivan Herrit and Payton Barnhart participate in a shooting drill at Warwick Girls Basketball Camp last week.Photo by Preston Whitcraft
Future stars (right to left) Maddie Behn, Lexie Landis, Sullivan Herrit and Payton Barnhart participate in a shooting drill at Warwick Girls Basketball Camp last week.

Approximately 40 girls participated in the Warwick Girls Basketball Camp, which was held last Monday through Thursday, June 20-23. The campers, in grades 3-9, honed their skills in daily stations such as shooting, offense, defense, rebounding, ball handling and passing. Warwick coaches Amy Derr, Fred Gerfin, Colleen Heckman and Denise Claar conducted the camp along with 13 WHS varsity and JV players who were counselors.

Two girls daily received Camper of the Day honors — one in the 3rd-6th grade group and one in the 7th-9th grade group. Those award winners included Kasie Sheaffer and Abbey Finkill (Monday), Paytan Barnhart and Gabby Quirion (Tuesday), Talia Bertrando and Jamie Kolp (Wednesday), and Hannah Reinhart and Emily Williamson (Thursday).

Other award winners included Rylee Derr and Katie Pyle, who were the 1v1 champions, while Destiny Butler, Kirsten Eberly and Kasie Sheaffer took home the 3v3 championship. The two Campers of the Week were Alexa Mohler and Emily Behn.

As it was, the Lititz Legion baseball team had a solid lineup.

But then when Cocalico wasn’t able to field a team, the Post 56′ers picked up four of their players, and all of a sudden, Lititz was an even much more dangerous threat.

One of the newcomers for Lititz is Cody Pannebecker, and he showed his abilities on Tuesday night by going 3-for-3 with three RBI’s to help lead the Post 56′ers to a 15-8 shellacking of cross-town rival Manheim Township in District 10 action in Lititz.

The victory improved them to 10-2 with four games left in the regular season. Starting pitcher Kris Cullen notched the victory with four innings of work, as he struck out two and yielded one unearned run on four hits and four walks.

Township took a 1-0 lead in the first without a hit, as Jake Ritchey walked, advanced to third on a couple of errors and scored on Tom Mattaini’s sac fly.

Don Hedgecock
Grand MarshalDon Hedgecock
Grand Marshal

Lititz’s big weekend has arrived.

The Lions Club will run their annual Fourth of July parade this Friday, and Saturday marks the 194th continuous celebration in Lititz Springs Park. This includes the 22nd annual baby parade, the 70th annual Queen of the Candles pageant, the 168th Illumination of the Candles along Lititz Run, and, of course, the fireworks.

With so much tradition in place, this year’s theme, "A Community Legacy," couldn’t be more appropriate.

"When I think of legacy, I think of a community that has celebrated our nation’s birthday continuously since 1818," said Ron Reedy, president of the Lititz Springs Park Board. "Lititz is one of the few communities that can lay claim to having one of the oldest continuous celebrations in the United States. Our celebration has always been a gathering for gala celebration. It is an event of community pride."

The Lions have selected one of their own, dedicated community volunteer Don Hedgecock, to lead this year’s parade as grand marshal (see related story on this page).

Lititz’s four days of Fourth culminate in the extravaganza that is Saturday in the Park, a cherished Lititz tradition.

Four days of American independence celebration got off to an exciting start last weekend.

The first event, a brand new one to the annual festivities, was the LSP Live Summer Music Festival, essentially an all-day party in downtown Lititz, with the park as the central staging area.

LSP Live featured a community picnic, volleyball tournament, live music, a downtown promenade and a surround sound movie ("Iron Man") at dusk at the park bandshell.

The live, free entertainment at the bandshell included local bands Jimmi Sexton Experiment, Engleside, EGR, The Skeeties and The Districts.

"I thought the day was a huge success," said organizer Matt Clair. "We had a steady flow of people throughout the day which kept the park from getting too crowded. All the volleyball teams in the tournament were very talented and fun to watch. There was a lot more grilling than I was expecting, and all the food was great."

He also applauded the performances of the bands.

By: GARY P. KLINGER Record Express Correspondent, Staff Writer

The findings of a study jointly sponsored by Lititz Borough and Venture Lititz revealed that while the borough does not have a parking shortage per se, it does have a perceived parking problem indicating some areas for improvement.

Carrie Krasnow from Walker Parking Consultants presented borough council with a summary of the report. One key question examined whether or not the current parking supply was adequate to support modest growth. The study indicated that it does. It appears that parking is adequate for now, with those visiting the downtown district usually able to find a space within a block or two of a destination. It was determined that owners of private parking lots are generally good neighbors who don’t mind if non-patrons use their lots for short periods of time.

But while locals may have the system figured out, those from out of town often find the parking system in Lititz a bit difficult to navigate.

"This is a much harder system to navigate if you are not from here," noted Krasnow, citing her own experience visiting Lititz. "Knowing where you can and cannot park is not entirely clear."

Lester H. Young

Lester H. Young, 77, of Lititz, died Sunday, June 19, 2011 at Lancaster General Hospital.

Born in Penn Township, he was a son of the late Phares B. and Anna M. (Hagey) Young.

A graduate of Penn Manor High School, Lester was employed for many years as a Lancaster County dog law supervisor with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and J.C. Snavely & Son in Lancaster.

Lester was a director and board member of the Humane League of Lancaster County. He also enjoyed woodworking, playing golf and reading.

Surviving is a son: Jeffrey A., husband of Nancy L. Diller Young, of Columbia; daughter: Lori Ann, wife of Timothy Kelly, of Ephrata; three grandchildren; his longtime companion with whom he resided: Jean F. Barnhart; her four children and 13 grandchildren; and brother: Wallace H. Young, of Lancaster.

He was preceded in death by brothers: Gayle, Vernon and Arthur.

Funeral services will be held June 23 at 8 p.m. at Good Funeral Home & Cremation Centre in Reamstown with Pastor Clyde M. Hollinger officiating. A viewing will be held from 6 to 8. Private inurnment will take place in Hernley’s Cemetery.

Clair D. Witmer

Clair D. Witmer, 77, of Lititz, passed away Tuesday, June 14, 2011 at Manor Care in Lancaster.

He was born in Lancaster, a son of the late Daisy Witmer. He was the husband of Doris J. (Boyd) Witmer for 50 years.

Clair was a retired laborer and a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War. He was a member of the American Legion Post 34 in Lancaster and the Lancaster Irish American Cultural Society.

In addition to his wife he is survived by three daughters: Jean M., wife of Vincent E. Burchett, of Lititz; Judy L., wife of Michael A. Peris, of Lancaster; and Patricia A., wife of Craig C. Rowe, of Mountville; 10 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

A funeral service was held at Brethren Village Chapel June 18 with the Rev. Mark Tedford officiating. Interment, with military honors accorded by the Red Rose Veterans Honor Guard, took place in Strasburg Mennonite Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be directed to Hospice of Lancaster County, P.O. Box 4125, Lancaster, PA 17604.

To offer online condolences to the family, visit gravenorhomeforfunerals.com.