York-Adams League 2024 spring sports preview: Players, teams to know as seasons begin

Spring sports are underway all across the York-Adams League.

It was a quick turnaround from the official start of practices on March 4 to the first boys’ tennis matches last Tuesday, and the majority of teams around the area will begin their campaigns by the end of this week.

Each spring follows a congested regular-season schedule, with only eight weeks separating opening days and league playoffs in baseball, softball, lacrosse and boys’ volleyball. The boys’ tennis postseason starts at the end of April, with a trio of major track meets in May. All district team champions will be crowned in May before the state playoffs follow in June.

Basketball:Central York boys' season to come full circle vs. Reading in PIAA semifinals

Swimming:York Suburban girls lead local medalists at state championships

Bowling:Dallastown's Tempe finishes fourth at state tournament

Only a handful of local teams reached state tournaments last spring. Central York boys’ volleyball reached the PIAA semifinals, while Hanover baseball, Susquehannock boys’ lacrosse won state playoff games. Dallastown boys' tennis won the District 3 title and reached the state quarterfinals. Central York boys' lacrosse made history by reaching the district final. The York-Adams League also had four individual state track and field champions, three of whom are back in 2024.

As the action heats up, plenty of new faces are set to enter the spotlight. Here’s a quick look at what to know across all seven local spring sports.

BASEBALL

Nobody has surmounted Dallastown for a Division I title since 2015, but this year’s race should offer plenty of intrigue. Red Lion returns D-I Player of the Year AJ Lipscomb and all-stars Connor Lawrence and Lane Heuer. Dallastown’s Cade Flinchbaugh, Central York’s Ethan Hall, South Western’s Cade Baumgardner and Northeastern’s Nate Moser and Connor Rippo will all look to lead their teams out of a crowded pack. South Western’s Carlos Caraballo, the division’s Pitcher of the Year in 2022, is a wild card to watch.

Susquehannock bumped up from D-III to D-II last year but cruised to another division title before repeating as league tournament champions. But the Warriors lost most of their lineup, perhaps opening the door for Spring Grove or New Oxford, who tied for second after splitting the 2022 title. Both of those teams return multiple all-stars, including Rockets standout Nizeah Mummert, who hit .444 with a .608 on-base percentage last spring.

Bermudian Springs, which beat New Oxford 15-2 last Friday, is the on-paper favorite in D-III with Co-Pitchers of the Year Gabe Kline and Nate Keller both back for the reigning division champs. Kennard-Dale, Littlestown, West York and Eastern York all return a handful of all-stars and begin the year with playoff hopes. Koy Swanson, last year’s Player of the Year for Kennard-Dale, has moved on to Maryland.

Delone Catholic bested Hanover for the Division IV title in 2023, although it was the Nighthawks who made the league’s deepest playoff run and reached the state quarterfinals. Aidan Wittmer and Brady Dettinburn highlight the Squires’ returners, while Hanover still has Jaxon Dell and Tyler Hansford. York Catholic, Biglerville, York Tech and Fairfield are all seeking steps forward after losing seasons.

SOFTBALL

South Western is the team to watch, as the D-I champion Mustangs return Player of the Year Kinsley Proepper and Pitcher of the Year Jayda Koontz, as well as all-stars Olivia Bateman and Riley Crowl. Dallastown and Central York lost aces Gabby Fowler and Ava Beamesderfer but still figure to be playoff contenders.

In Division II, reigning champ Northeastern also returns the Player of the Year (Paige Reichard) and Pitcher of the Year (Brooke Shorts), with Colleen Finnegan helping spearhead a potent lineup. Susquehannock and New Oxford bring back key pieces from playoff teams and will hope to make a run at the Bobcats.

Littlestown has most of the lineup intact from last year’s division and league championship squad, minus two-time D-III Player and Pitcher of the Year Chelsey Stonesifer, who’s now at Limestone University. Sarah Loveless, Libby Brown and Isabella Olvera anchor a still-dangerous Thunderbolt lineup. Eastern York and West York had winning records in 2023; the Golden Knights bring back ace pitcher Alexis Kirkessner.

Expect Delone Catholic and Fairfield to battle for another D-IV title after sharing first place last spring. While the Squires lost Pitcher of the Year Amy Anderson and the Knights lost Player of the Year Sarah Devilbiss, both squads have a bevy of all-stars returning. Biglerville and York Tech narrowly missed out on districts in 2023.

BOYS’ LACROSSE

Dallastown won the regular-season league title in 2023, but Central York blew out the Wildcats in the league final and took a district semifinal rematch in overtime. Neither side returns a first team all-star, but the Wildcats still have star attackers Griffin Pickett (65 goals, 63 assists) and Connor Farrell (59 goals) alongside goalie Nick Ungerland, midfielder Evan Atwood and FOGO Colin Chapman. The Panthers lost a lot of their lineup but brought back attackman Mitchel Myers and midfielders Cameron Diehl and Kiran Gupta.

Susquehannock, after three straight Class 2A state quarterfinal trips, is tasked with replacing nine of its 10 starters. The Warriors will face stiff competition from South Western, Red Lion and New Oxford for league tournament spots. South Western long-stick midfielder Ben Klein is the Y-A League’s only returning first team all-star, and the Mustangs also have 60-goal midfielder Cole Dettinger back. New Oxford’s Ryan Carver tallied 66 goals and 49 assists in 2023.

York Catholic and Eastern York comprised the middle of the 14-team pack last spring. Kennard-Dale, Dover, West York and Spring Grove followed in that order, with Delone Catholic and York Suburban tied at the bottom.

GIRLS’ LACROSSE

Four teams tied for first place a year ago, with York Catholic claiming the tournament title over South Western, while Red Lion and Susquehannock reached the semifinals. All four teams lost top producers, but the Irish have perhaps the most notable returning core with all-star midfielders Katie Bullen and Delaney Staples alongside goalie Amanda Reed. The Mustangs bring back Most Valuable Goalie Cam Storey, while the Lions still have star attacker Hailey Hayes.

Kennard-Dale and Dallastown finished fifth and sixth, respectively, in 2023 and both have their eyes on the top four. All-star attackers Poppy Fornoff and Alexis Federline figure to lead the charge for the Rams and Wildcats. New Oxford defender Keira Linebaugh and Spring Grove defender Macy Baum will look to help guide their teams into the mix as well.

York Suburban went just 7-11 (3-9) in 2023, but midfielder Cambria Rice impressed with 96 goals in an all-star freshman campaign. The Trojans will be one of several teams looking to climb the ladder in the coming weeks.

BOYS’ VOLLEYBALL

All eyes are on Central York, which loses four seniors but returns four all-stars from last year’s state semifinal run. Trevor Ketrick, Christian Bucks, Lance Shaffer and Ryan Roberts will be the headliners for the 2023 Y-A champions and District 3 silver medalists. Northeastern split the regular-season title with the Panthers and will now be led by George Miller, a former longtime assistant in the program.

The league returns three all-star first team outside hitters in Northeastern’s Hugh Rogers, Red Lion’s Tyler Good and Dallastown’s Jaidyn Bethel. Northeastern’s Koltrin Forry, Red Lion’s Justin Fry and Eastern York’s Aaron Hildebrand are all back after earning all-star honorable mentions. York Suburban’s Nathan Efiom-Ekaha was also an honorable mention last year but is playing tennis this season.

York Suburban and York Catholic rounded out the 2023 league playoff field, with the Irish squeaking past Dallastown and Red Lion for fourth place. There was a noticeable gap between the top six and bottom seven last season, but with plenty of new faces all around the league, plenty of change could be in store.

BOYS’ TENNIS

Dallastown, the D-I champion every year since 2016, has won the last two District 3 titles and will seek a three-peat in Hayden Koons’ senior season. The reigning Y-A Class 3A singles champion and two-time league doubles champ has helped lead the Wildcats to a 2-1 start, including a division win over Northeastern. Jacob Horn has stepped into Dallastown’s second singles spot, with Nirvan Joshi rounding out the top three.

Biglerville bested Hanover for the D-II title in 2023, but the Nighthawks knocked off the previously unbeaten Canners in the district playoffs. Both squads lost their top singles players to graduation — Biglerville’s Guillaume Schmitz won the 2A singles crown as a senior — and Hanover standout freshman Yahir Corona tore his ACL over the winter. That could open the door for Bermudian Springs, which brings back division singles runner-up Parker Sanders and his postseason doubles partner, Eli Snyder.

Other top returners in Division I include Central York’s Kai MacLennan and Susquehannock’s Derek Baughman. Littlestown’s Cyrus Marshall and West York’s Ryan Steele are names to know in D-II. South Western and Red Lion were playoff teams last year but will rely on new faces this spring.

TRACK AND FIELD

It’s the last ride for Spring Grove’s Laila Campbell, who has won state titles in the 100 and 200 meters in each of the last three years and will run for LSU next season. The Rockets boast another rising star in sophomore Ella Bahn, who won a state title in the 300 hurdles, district gold medals in the 100 hurdles and high jump and the league crown in the 800 meters.

Bermudian Springs junior Lilyana Carlson is the reigning 2A girls’ pole vault state champ, while senior teammate Alison Watts won district gold and state silver in the long jump. None of the league’s other district and state gold medalists return, although a slew of athletes can claim repeat league titles. Red Lion’s LaDainian Strausbaugh is the reigning Y-A boys’ champion in the 400 meters and the top returning finisher in both the 100 and 200.

Dallastown’s boys and girls both won D-I team titles in 2023 despite competing on the road while their stadium underwent renovations. Susquehannock and York Tech won the D-II and D-III boys’ races, respectively, while Dover and Bermudian Springs captured girls’ titles.