Even more L-L League baseball previews for you. Today, Dave Byrne tackles Section 3 …

Since Todd Garber became the head baseball coach at Lampeter-Strasburg, the Pioneers have won six Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 3 championships, including five in a row from 2001-05.

Title No. 6 came last year when L-S outlasted Elco by a game and Manheim Central by two.

But it was fellow Section 3 resident Donegal, a fourth-place finisher in the section, by four games, that became the belle of the postseason ball, winning the District 3 Triple-A championship — 4-3 over Elco — on Devin Gorski’s walk-off home run.

Meanwhile, the Pioneers were bounced from the league playoffs in the first round by eventual league and District 3 Quad-A champion Solanco.

L-S then exited Districts in the quarterfinals, eliminated by Elco, 11-6, when the Raiders rallied for six runs in the top of the seventh inning.

That loss came three weeks after Chad Babcock tossed a two-hitter at the Raiders, shutting them out 3-0.

Babcock is one of three pitchers and nine letter-winners returning for the defending section champions.

He finished his junior campaign with a 5-3 record and 1.63 earned run average, striking out 77 in 56 innings.

He’s joined on the mound by fellow seniors Cody Harmes (4-2, 2.52) and Adam Bukowski (2-3, 2.77).

“Our strength this season should be our pitching staff,” Garber said. “We have most of our pitchers back from last year’s team. (And) six position starters returning. However, this does not mean instant success.”

Senior centerfielder Derek Lefever led the Pioneers in batting average (.414), at-bats (70), hits (29), singles (18), triples (two), homers (four), RBI (17), and stolen bases (14).

His is not the only potent bat.

Leftfielder Mark Thiboldeaux (.333) and second baseman Jon Carlson (.306) also hit over .300, while the Pioneers hit .291 as a team.

“I feel our team underachieved offensively last year,” Garber said. “I’m expecting more from this year’s team.”

Here’s a look at how Section 3 might fall in place.

Lampeter-Strasburg
COACH: Todd Garber (11th season).
2007 RECORD: 13-9 overall, 12-5 Section 3, section champ.
KEY PLAYERS LOST: Billy Dorgan, C; Jeff Groff, 2B; Brantley Lefever, OF; Mike Zurbrick, 3B.
KEY PLAYERS RETURNING: Derek Lefever, sr., OF (L-L League All-Star); Mark Thiboldeaux, sr., OF-P-1B (Section 3 All-Star); Chad Babcock, sr., P-1B-3B (Section 3 All-Star); Jonny Gainer, sr., C; Cody Harmes, sr., P-OF; Joe Good, jr., 1B; Evan King, jr., SS; Jon Carson, jr., 2B; Adam Bukowski, jr., P-OF.
OUTLOOK: As Garber says, it’s not a given, but look for L-S to make it 7-of-8.

Donegal
COACH: Frank Stellar (10th season).
2007 RECORD: 16-8 overall, 10-6 Section 3, District 3 Triple-A champ.
KEY PLAYERS LOST: Tyler Persun, P; Ryan Beamenderfer, P-1B; Ryan Hershey, 3B.
KEY PLAYERS RETURNING: Nate Witwer, sr., C; Darryn Giberson, jr., P; Morgan Rupp, jr., 1B; Nick Herbert, sr., 2B; Jeff Heisey, jr., SS; Devon Gorski, jr., 3B; Nick Zito, jr., OF; Bobby Peterson, sr., OF-P; Tom Houseal, sr., OF (Section 3 All-Star); Marty Moore, sr., OF; Mike Nau, sr., OF; Seth Hershey, jr., P-OF-INF.
OUTLOOK: Can the Indians re-establish the momentum that led them to their first District 3 title since 1990? Stellar believes the Tribe should be solid on defense and offense. But pitching could be a question mark.

Manheim Central
COACH: Jason Thompson (ninth season).
2007 RECORD: 13-9 overall, 10-6 Section 3.
KEY PLAYERS LOST: Jeff Knosp, P-1B; Derreck Shenk, 3B; Justin Gordon, 1B.
KEY PLAYERS RETURNING: Scott Garber, sr., 2B; Devon Almodovar, sr., SS; Tim Ruth, sr., 3B; Mike Kemp, jr., C (Section 3 All-Star); Dan Baker, sr., LF; Justin Herman, sr., CF; Tony Ferrari, sr., P; Casey Ebersole, so. SS-P; Seth Weidle, so., OF; Brandon Keath, jr., 1B.
OUTLOOK: The hitting should be there, led by Kemp (.419) and Garber (.312), and the defense should be solid with three-fourths of the infield and two of the three outfielders returning.

Elco
COACH: Chris Weidner (10th season).
2007 RECORD: 15-11 overall, 11-6 Section 3, District 3 Triple-A runner-up.
KEY PLAYERS LOST: Brent Nolt, P-3B; Travis Thome, P-SS; Craig Adams, OF; Mark Hassler, OF.
KEY PLAYERS RETURNING: Brandon Lawrence, sr., C; Seric Kapp, jr., P; Dustin Stamm, sr., P-SS (Section 3 All-Star); Lucas Kramer, sr., SS-3B; Kyle Wenger, so., P-CF.
OUTLOOK: Replacing the 13 wins lost with the graduation of Nolt and Thome will be a tall order.

Northern Lebanon
COACH: Daryl Hess (13th season).
2007 RECORD: 8-11 overall, 8-8 Section 3.
KEY PLAYERS LOST: Derick Boltz, DH; Clay George, OF; Kevin Reichert, INF; Ryan Stouffer, P-INF.
KEY PLAYERS RETURNING: Stefan Caporaletti, sr., OF-P; Jason Gardner, sr., INF-P; Eric Herman, sr., INF; Brady Kimble, sr., OF; Steve May, sr., C-INF-P (Section 3 All-Star); Josh McKinney, INF-P; Ryan Schaeffer, sr., OF-P.
OUTLOOK: An intriguing mix of experienced players and players learning new positions, the Vikings need Caporaletti (2-0, 1.62) and McKinney (3-1, 3.20) to step up.

Lebanon
COACH: Robert Nordall, Jr. (first season).
2007 RECORD: 2-17 overall, 1-15 Section 3.
KEY PLAYERS LOST: Tyler Spancake, P-SS.
KEY PLAYERS RETURNING: Julio Viera, sr., C-P; Asiell Gonzalez, sr., SS; Pablo Gonzalez, jr., 1B-P; Tyler Mease, jr., OF-P; Alex Luzon, sr., OF; Scott Rittle, sr., OF-P.
OUTLOOK: Nordall lists working together, believing in themselves and improved defense as keys to a successful season.