Lebanon doesn’t beat Cedar Crest very often, in many sports. Football. Basketball. And especially baseball.

But on Thursday afternoon in South Lebanon, the Cedars came up with a rare victory over the Falcons. And Cody Kissinger was in the middle of everything.

In the season opener for both rivals, Kissinger pitched Lebanon High to a 6-5 victory over Cedar Crest. The sturdy junior right-hander got the pitching victory by  going the distance, scattering nine hits, allowing two earned runs, striking out two and walking none.

It was Lebanon’s first win over Cedar Crest in baseball in 22 years.

Kissinger also helped himself at the plate. Batting out of the clean-up spot in the Cedars’ lineup, Kissinger drove home a run and also scored one himself.

Kissinger’s RBI-hit in the top of the first inning staked the Cedars to a 1-0 lead. Lebanon went on to score two more runs in its opening at-bat, then extended its lead to 4-0 in the top of the third.

Also an accomplished football player and basketball player, Kissinger had been on the losing side when the Cedars and Falcons squared off on the gridiron and hardwood earlier this school year.

– Jeff Falk