Hempfield defeated Manheim Township Friday 8-7 and in doing so kept their grip on first place in Section One. They have an 12-2 LL League record.

Second place means a playoff birth and there is now a log jam of 3 teams tied for the possible playoff spot with 8-6 L-L League record; Penn Manor, Township and Warwick.

Playoffs begin Thursday.

Two players for the Black Knights scored six runs in the victory at Hempfield.

Their shortstop Pete Fiore and catcher Josh Toole.

Fiore was 1-for-2 with a double and two walks and scored three times in the game’s first four innings. Toole was 2-for-2, walked twice and also scored three times in the game’s first four innings.

Harelson pitched into the sixth inning, striking out nine while walking 6.

Nick Tomlinson homered for Hempfield.

Township (10-7 overall) holds the tiebreaker edge over Penn Manor based on two head–to-head wins in three tries.

Warwick swept the season series with Township, and Penn Manor gets the tiebreaker over Warwick, which it beat twice.