Softball – Senior-laden Hornets hungry and ready with high expectations coming into season. PREVIEW

Coach – Rich Giering (2nd year)

Assistants – Adam Schwab, Art Getchius, Jerry Lewis (JV)

Last year – 18-6 overall (13-3 EPC). Qualified for EPC playoffs – defeated Whitehall 4-3, lost to Parkland 3-0 in semis; Districts – defeated Nazareth 5-1, lost to Northampton 3-1 in semis

Key players lost to graduation:  3B Sami Lilly, OF Peyton Sisonick, 1B Lindsay Moreau, P/1B Sarah Sherman, OF Brooke Huczko

Returnees – Sr. P Danika Barthol (2nd Team EPC), Sr. 2B Daria Krout, Sr. C Mason Roselli, Sr. CF Shayla Morgan (1st Team EPC), Sr. OF Rachel Sherman, Sr. SS Aveaha Schwab, Sr. OF Ashlyn Sherwood, Sr. INF Alexis Schoonover, Sr. P/3B Kamryn Tokar, Sr. INF Aubrey Molnar, Sr. Taylor Hiestand

Newcomers: Jr. Taylor Gitski, Jr. Brianna Amey, Jr. Autumn Held, Soph. Sadie Haefeli, Jr. Molly Yard, Soph. Abby Derr, Jr. Cora-li Moyer

Coach Geiring: “We have some good talent returning. Our seniors are ready and hungry for the season and we have some underclassmen looking to fill the role of those seniors lost to graduation. We expect to be in both the EPC and District XI playoffs and hopefully beyond.”

Season-opener: March 18 vs Abington Heights, Home (Noon)

Follow on social media: Twitter (@Emmaussports, @EmmausSoftball); Facebook (Emmaus softball), Eastern Pa Sports Network (www.easternpasportsnetwork.com)