RECAP >> The bats of the Emmaus softball team continued to remain red-hot as the Hornets piled up 53 runs in completing a perfect 4-0 week.
Head coach Rich Giering’s team (11-4 overall) rolled to victories over Central Catholic twice (10-0 & 20-0), Easton (10-2) and Pleasant Valley (13-2) last week and the Hornets have now won eight straight after a four-game losing streak.
The question now is, can they continue it?
Playing arguably its best softball of the season, Emmaus now prepares for a huge test this week with two key league games and a difficult non-league matchup.
On Tuesday, the Hornets will host a Northampton team it lost to back on April 5 (2-0) and on Saturday night they’ll face the the only unbeaten team in the EPC, Whitehall, a team that edged Emmaus on March 31 (4-3). In between, defending PIAA state champion Spring-Ford will come to Williams Street Field on Thursday. Both the Whitehall and Spring-Ford games will be aired LIVE on The Eastern Pa. Sports Network.
The Hornets are right in the thick of league standings and can secure a berth in the eight-team tournament with wins this week.
Currently, Emmaus is tied with Liberty at 9-3. Whitehall is atop the standings at 12-0 followed by Northampton (10-2) and Freedom (9-2). Nazareth (8-4) is behind the Hornets followed by Bethlehem Catholic, Pleasant Valley and Easton (all 7-5).
Emmaus’ 10-2 victory over Easton last Thursday on Senior Day was key as the Hornets now hold the tiebreaker in head-to-head.
In that game, the Hornets trailed the Red Rovers 2-0 in the fourth inning before rallying with 10 unanswered runs.
Senior second baseman Daria Krout led the offense with a game-high four RBI and going 2-for-5 at the plate, while senior center fielder Shayla Morgan and freshman first baseman Abby Derr each had three hits.
In the circle, senior pitcher Danica Barthol was outstanding allowing just five hits while striking out 13.
Before the game, Emmaus honored its 10 seniors along with their parents – – Krout, Morgan, Barthol, Mason Roselli, Avaeha Schwab, Taylor Hiestand, Alexis Schoonover, Rachel Sherman, Ashlyn Sherwood and Kamryn Tokar.
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EPC Standings (Top 8 playoffs):
Whitehall 12-0
Northampton 10-2
Freedom 9-2
EMMAUS/Liberty 9-3
Nazareth 8-4
Easton/Pleasant Valley/Becahi 7-5
PME 7-6
Stroudsburg 6-6
ESS/Parkland 5-7
PMW 4-8
CCHS 1-10
Allen 1-11
Dieruff 0-11
ESN 0-12