RECAP >> Brittany D’Agostino was at a loss for words in describing what happened to her team in its District XI Class 6A semifinal game with Parkland on Thursday afternoon.
“This is something that hasn’t happened to us all season long. I’m speechless, shocked,” said Emmaus’ second-year coach.
So too were those on hand that witnessed what took place at historic Pates Park in Allentown following consecutive days of postponements.
Not necessarily by who came away the winner on the scoreboard at the end of the game, but the final margin of victory.
10-0 in five innings? Who saw this coming?
Unfortunately, that was the harsh reality that D’Agostino and her players had to come to grips with as they saw their season end in disbelief after their arch-rival put together a dominant performance in the blowout win.
“They pieced everything together, everything that you need to win a game,” said the Hornets coach of the Trojans. ” Their offense, their defense. Unfortunately, we were just a little flat today in a game that mattered the most.”
Parkland, the defending District XI champs, scored the most runs against Emmaus this season as they jumped out to a 5-0 lead after the second inning, pounding out 12 hits in avenging one of their two losses on the season, a 3-1 setback to the Hornets back on May 4 at Parkland.
The Trojans (23-2 overall) wound up winning its second straight championship on Friday night back at Pates Park as they blanked sixth-seeded Whitehall 6-0. Senior pitcher Kelly Dulaney tossed a three-hitter with 10 strikeouts and also had two-run home run.
Dulaney was also dominant in ending Emmaus’ season as she kept the Hornets off the scoreboard allowing just a pair of hits – a first inning single to designated player freshman Summer Lenhart and a second inning single to senior first baseman Jordyn Bruckler.
The hard-throwing right-hander struck out seven and didn’t walk a batter. She also helped her own cause at the plate going 2-for-3 with a game-high three RBI.
Her counterpart, senior Hannah Palinkas, had a rough day as she gave up a career-high nine runs on eight hits in just three innings of work.
“She (Palinkas) unfortunately had been sick all week and not using that as an excuse, but she just didn’t feel like herself and her ball was a little flat,” said D’Agostino. “This game should not define Hannah as a player because she did an amazing job in the circle all season long. I couldn’t be happier with the season she had.”
Palinkas and Bruckler, along with catcher Abby Bartles, center fielder Lily Trexler and third baseman Olivia Sander, were the team’s departing five seniors.
“These seniors have meant a lot and it’s going to be tough to say goodbye to them,” said D’Agostino. “I wish I just could keep them for another year. It’s great group of kids with a lot of energy and just sweet people in general. It’s going to be tough to see them go.”
Emmaus bounced back from a disappointing 12-10 season a year ago and finished with an overall mark of 16-8, having reached the semifinals in both the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference and District XI Tournament.
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Emmaus – 000 00 – 0-2-2
Parkland – 050 41 – 10-12-0
Hannah Palinkas, Tatum Kresley (4) and Abby Bartles.
Kelly Dulaney and Giana Schick
WP – Dulaney (21-2), LP – Palinkas (12-5)
Emmaus – Kresley lf/p 0-2, Lenhart DP 1-2, Palinkas p 0-1, Ryan pr 0-0, Bartels c 0-2, M. Sisonick ss 0-2, Bruckler 1b 1-2, Moreau pr 0-0, Hark 2b 0-1, P. Sisonick rf 0-1, Anderson ph 0-1, Trexler cf 0-2, Sander 3b 0-0
Parkland – Rivera lf 1-4, RBI; Klass ss 1-3, 2R, RBI; Snyder rf 2-4, 2R; Hlay 1b 2-2, 2RBI, 2 BB; Fenstermaker 3b 1-2, 2 RBI; Dulaney p 2-3, 3 RBI; Druckenmiller dp 1-3, Schick c 1-2, Ondrejca 2b 1-2, RBI, Polash 2b 0-0.