Getting a one-day jump on the Lancaster-Lebanon League softball playoffs, Northern Lebanon hosts Penn Manor Thursday at 4:30 p.m.
The game was moved to accommodate Penn Manor’s prom on Friday night.
The Section 3 champion Vikings (17-2) have their sights set on advancing to their first championship game in program history.
Penn Manor earned its way into the tournament by way of the District 3 power ranking tiebreaker. The Comets (9-8) tied Hempfield for second place in Section 1 at 6-4, but got the nod with a .645 ranking, eighth in Class 6A, while Hempfield (10-10) was at .619, 10th in 6A.
The Vikings advanced to the semifinals of the 2025 tournament before falling to defending champion Warwick 3-1.
Penn Manor, eliminated by Lancaster Catholic 6-5 in the first round last year, looks to return to the championship game for the first time since winning it all in 2022.
Here’s a look at the matchup.
The Comets are paced by center fielder Zuzu Hardy, who leads the team with a .542 average, 29 RBIs, five doubles and six home runs.
Shortstop Mia Skiadis is a productive leadoff batter, hitting .404 with 16 runs. Catcher Haley Kreider is second in RBIs with 16, followed by 13 each from Kyleigh Lamborne and Calli Hickey. Hickey has three homers.
Lamborne and Hickey share pitching duties. Lamborne is 4-2 with a 2.58 ERA. In 43.1 innings, she has allowed an opponent batting average of .323, with 21 walks and 38 strikeouts.
Hickey, a freshman, is 4-4 with a 5.80 ERA, 15 walks and 23 strikeouts. Opposing batters are hitting for a .351 average.
Northern Lebanon softball Addison Kubica, left, Alyssa Shirey and Addison Hollenbach during Lancaster-Lebanon League Spring Media Day at Penn Medicine Park in Lancaster on Sunday March 8, 2026.
CHRIS KNIGHT | Staff Photographer
The Vikings’ offense is shouldered by third baseman Addison Kubica, first baseman Stephanie Palkovic, pitcher/shortstop Addison Hollenbach, outfielder Alyssa Shirey and catcher Mykenna Johnson, all of whom hit north of .450. Palkovic is the power bat with five home runs.
Assuming the mantle of staff ace as a senior, Hollenbach won eight of 10 starts with 84 strikeouts and 20 walks.
When not playing short behind Hollenbach, freshman Sophia Roye has been a revelation in her first varsity year, going 7-0 with 56 strikeouts and 17 walks.
Defense may make the difference Thursday. The Vikings have committed 27 errors in 19 games, the Comets 31 in 17.
In Friday’s first-round games, all at 4:15 p.m., Section 2 and defending champ Solanco (18-0) hosts Section 4 runner-up Annville-Cleona (8-8); Section 4 champ Lancaster Catholic (15-3) hosts Section 2 runner-up Elizabethtown (15-4); and Section 1 champ Warwick (11-6) hosts Section 3 runner-up Donegal (16-4).
The semifinals are Monday at Ephrata, starting at 4:15 p.m., with the final Wednesday at Ephrata at 7 p.m.
Don’t look now, but the L-L League spring sports playoffs are ready for liftoff.
LNP | LancasterOnline hosted L-L League softball media day on March 8 at Penn Medicine Park,…
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