The Warwick girls’ volleyball team ran its winning streak to three with a decisive victory over Cedar Crest in Lititz last Thursday. The Lady Warriors played possibly their best league match of the season while sweeping Cedar Crest.

"Besides the Dallastown tournament," Warwick coach Jen Wanner said, "this was our best volleyball we’ve played all season. Certainly it was our best effort in a single match set-up."

This effort resulted in a straight-set victory for the Warriors by scores of 25-10, 25-14 and 25-11. Warwick took early leads in all three matches and in two of the three sets did not allow the visiting Falcons to reach double digits in points until the outcome of the set was more or less already determined.

Cedar Crest had only one scoring run that reached as many as three points during the evening as Warwick played solid volleyball and made few mistakes.

"We have been focusing in practice on unforced errors," Wanner said. "We have been working on our awareness that unforced errors have an impact on our winning margin."

With each passing game, Manheim Central field hockey coach Becca Keener likes the way her squad is improving.

With Section Two contenders Ephrata and Cocalico coming to Elden Rettew Field on Wednesday and Friday, respectively, that is certainly good news for the Lady Barons.

The Central girls started their busy week on Monday night, getting goals from Jess Weaver and Paige Daniel on their way to a 2-1 Section victory in Manheim.

"The girls continue to play better each game," said Keener, whose squad improved to 2-2 in L-L play (4-3 overall). "Tonight, the girls put forth a great effort to come away with the ‘W.’ The crowd was roaring and Baron Nation was on their side to win."

Keener said that although much of the game was played on their left side of the field, they were able to get the job done.

"We continued to play better left side defense with our improving footwork," Central’s skipper said. "Our goal is to continue to find our strong side, the right side of the field for our offensive attack."

Lititz Record file photoWarwick junior midfielder Liz Wenger had a pair of assists in the Lady Warriors' 6-0 shutout of Cedar Crest last Friday.

Warwick field hockey coach Bob Derr looked at McCaskey and Cedar Crest as potential spoilers for his squad last week.

Fortunately, neither turned out to be.

Marleise Emrhein and Allie Lutz scored two goals apiece and the Lady Warriors capped last week by shutting out Cedar Crest 6-0 in a Section One game in Lititz. That win, coupled with their 10-0 whitewashing of McCaskey two days earlier, enabled the Warwick girls (3-1 L-L, 5-1-1 overall) to keep pace with Conestoga Valley (3-1 L-L) in a four-team race, just one game behind Penn Manor and Hempfield, who are tied for the top spot with 4-0 league records as of deadline.

Warwick was scheduled to play Penn Manor in a key league game on Tuesday night, but the game was postponed due to rain.

Rain might have been the only thing that could cool off Emrhein, who finished with seven goals in the Lady Warriors’ three wins last week. It was Autumn Hess who gave Warwick a 1-0 lead at the 11:22 mark of the first half, then Emrhein doubled it less than two minutes later, and Lutz scored both of her goals about four minutes apart to push the WHS girls’ lead to 4-0 at the half.

By: BRUCE MORGAN Record Express Sports Editor, Staff Writer

Photo by Preston WhitcraftMore than 200 runners and walkers leave the starting line in last Saturday's 35th annual Lititz Pretzel Twist.

James Stoltzfus had a unique perspective about last Saturday’s Lititz Pretzel Twist after crossing the finish line.

"It’s an automatic PR," he smiled.

It was a reference to the 3.5-mile course, an uncommon layout compared to the 5K and 5-mile distances with which runners are more familiar. But in celebration of the event’s 35th anniversary, race organizers decided to throw a twist into this year’s Pretzel Twist.

And Stoltzfus, a New Holland resident, set a PR which might be hard to beat, crossing the finish line in first place overall in a sizzling time of 17:23 in front of the Lititz recCenter in perfect fall conditions.

"It’s kinda different," Stoltzfus, 31, said of the course. "I kinda liked it actually. It’s like, you run a hard 5K and then just keep pushing for another four-tenths … I was very happy with my time."

So too was Brooke (Gelatka) Magni, a 2000 Warwick High School grad who earned first-place in the women’s race in 21:43, more than a minute ahead of runner-up Jessica Leddy, who finished in a time of 23:24.

Our next "It’s All About You" theme is Back to School, and you can start submitting those photos now for our September issue. These can include first day memories, sports photos from the start of the fall season, kindergarten snack time, scenes from the college campus, etc.

Send your high-resolution jpegs to Stephen Seeber at sseeber.eph@LNPnews.com. Photos can also be dropped off at our Ephrata office or mailed to P.O. Box 527, Ephrata, PA 17522.

When submitting photos, please include all necessary identifications and your contact information (in case we have any questions). Submitted information should include names of those in the photos, your local connection, where and when the photos were taken, and identity of the photographer.

Please limit the number of submitted photos to three.

Our Back to School photo spread will be published in our Sept. 27 issue. Deadline for photo submissions is Tuesday, Sept. 18.

Photo by Stan HallWarwick junior guard K'shawn Mickens (right), shown driving past Solanco's Tyler Constein, led Warwick to a last-second victory over the Mules last Thursday by scoring 11 of his game-high 18 points in the fourth quarter. Photo by Stan HallWarwick junior guard K'shawn Mickens (right), shown driving past Solanco's Tyler Constein, led Warwick to a last-second victory over the Mules last Thursday by scoring 11 of his game-high 18 points in the fourth quarter.

Teddy Bear Day found itself nestled between storm clouds last Saturday, but from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the weather was perfect in Lititz Springs Park.

In fact, over the last 21 years the Lititz Women of Today-sponsored event has only been canceled one time due to bad weather. That occurred last year, following Tropical Storm Lee.

This year’s Teddy Bear party enjoyed a healthy turn-out as families brought their favorite stuffed friends for games, crafts, food and fun. LWOT member reported excellent participation in the coloring contest and the highlight event — the Teddy Bear Parade.

The following winners were honored during a ceremony at the Reedy Pavilion:

Parade

Did you miss our special fall sports section in last week’s Record Express? Well, check it out the 3-D version at

LititzRecord.com, and if you’d like a copy as a keepsake, they are still available at our Ephrata office. Call 721-4411 to get yours today.

Ryan C. Brubaker

The Northern Lancaster County Regional Police Department reported Tuesday afternoon that it will continue an investigation into the death of Ryan C. Brubaker, 21, of Lititz.

Brubaker is the son Pennsylvania State Senator Michael W. Brubaker, who represents Lititz as part of the 36th Senatorial District.

According to police, Ryan Brubaker was discovered unresponsive Sept. 11 at approximately 8:12 a.m., at his residence, by a family member who called Lancaster County 911 for assistance. Regional police and Warwick Community Ambulance responded to the home on Ridge Road in Warwick Township. Brubaker was later declared dead by a representative of Lancaster County Coroner’s Office.

While Lancaster Online reported that "officials" are investigating Brubaker’s death as a possible accidental drug overdose, Regional Police Chief David Steffen said that information did not come from his department.

Also, an attempt to reach the coroner Wednesday morning to confirm this information was unsuccessful.

Steffen said no additional information is available at this time. The cause and manner of death will be determined and announced at a later date by the Lancaster County coroner’s office.

By: MELISSA HUNNEFIELD Record Express Staff, Staff Writer

Kathy Blankenbiller loves Lititz.

She’s written a book about it and has spent countless hours volunteering her time for events that have become cherished local traditions. Last year, she received the Ron Reedy Volunteer Recognition Award.

"Kathy has actively volunteered in Lititz for years," said Kelly Withum, executive director for Venture Lititz, when nominating Blankenbiller for the award. "Two years ago we had an unfortunate occurrence that changed the Christmas tradition for the children in Lititz. Kathy rallied a group of volunteers and through her painstaking efforts and leadership she started a new Christmas tradition for the children — ‘Have Yourself a Merry Lititz Christmas.’"

Have Yourself a Merry Lititz Christmas, now in its fourth year, is a day-long event with activities for children in many locations centered in the downtown area. Last year’s events, geared for kids 10 and under, included a scavenger hunt, carriage rides, a marshmallow roast, games, giveaways, entertainment, visits with Mr. and Mrs. Claus and more.