It’s been a long time since the Emmaus softball team has won a league championship.
How long?
It’s been some 25 years since the Hornets won gold, winning back-to-back league titles in 2001 and 2000.
Head coach Rich Giering thinks the time is now to win another championship.
Behind a dominant effort in the circle from junior pitcher Mari Eiswerth and an offense that pounded out 14 hits, Emmaus capped off a perfect 16-0 regular season in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference on Monday afternoon at home at Williams Street Field as they dominated rival Parkland 8-0.
“It’s an accomplishment,” said Giering the Hornets fifth year manager following the game of going unbeaten in the league. “The girls did a good job today. We had some tough league games this season and the girls earned what they got so we will see what happens come Thursday.”
“We’ve been close over the years and now it’s time for us to kick the door in,” he added.
The victory was the eighth straight for the Hornets (17-3 overall) who swept the regular-season series from their archrival after rallying for a 5-3 win back on April 10.
Emmaus also earned the top overall seed for the second consecutive season. A year ago, they defeated Pleasant Valley in the opening round 6-1 before falling to Nazareth in the semifinals 10-3. The Hornets haven’t been to the title game since 2017 when they lost to Parkland 1-0.
In yesterday’s win over the Trojans, junior catcher Julie Defanti led the offense going 3-for-3 with three RBI. DeFanti drove in the only run Emmaus would need in the game with an RBI double in the bottom of the second inning.
Senior center fielder Taylor Hauver also had a big day at the plate going 3-for-4 with two RBI, while junior shortstop Sydney Bennett and senior second baseman Bri Gitski each added two hits.
Eiswerth went the distance on the mound allowing just two hits while striking out 14.
Parkland dropped to 8-7 in the EPC and 8-11 overall with the loss. Shortstop Allie Flynt and designated player Sarah Linko each had a hit for the Trojans.
Up next for Emmaus will be the EPC Tournament which gets underway on Thursday. The Hornets will host a quarterfinal round game against the No. 8 seed. The official matchups will be announced on Wednesday.
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Emmaus 8, Parkland 0
Pa – 000 000 0 – 0-2-0
Em – 030 104 x – 8-14-0
Pa – Addison Fritzinger and Cheyanne Brawn; Mari Eiswerth and Julia DeFanti