The Whitehall softball team is still battling that inconsistent bug, losing to Bethlehem Catholic High School on Monday, a loss that leaves them little margin for error in their quest for a playoff berth.

After winning consecutive games against Dieruff and Pocono Mountain East High Schools, the Zephs fell to the Golden Hawks, losing 9-1 to their Lehigh Valley Conference counterparts.

The loss drops them to 5-8, adding weight to the remaining games on their schedule since two more losses officially eliminates them from the district playoff picture.

Head coach Alexis Berg-Townsend knew that facing Bethlehem Catholic would be a challenge. Their last meeting paired these two at Pates Park as part of Play Day, a game in which the Hawks won 8-1. The Hawks have soared this season, winning 11 games, losing only to Northampton Area High School for that singular blemish.

Berg-Townsend said that the Hawks have been consistent all year, and were an experienced group that would require the Zephs to be on the top of their game to leave with a victory.

"We knew we had to come out and bring our A game, and at times that showed through, and at other times it didn't, and [Bethlehem Catholic] was able to remain consistent the whole time, while we weren't," said Berg-Townsend.

She said that the Hawks stayed aggressive at the plate all afternoon, taking advantage of some pitches that weren't working. Conversely, she said they didn't have that same approach, letting "too many good strikes go by" which put them in a hole.

In the wins against the Huskies and the Cardinals, their bats came alive, scoring 23 runs in those two games. Berg-Townsend said it was a matter of executing which led to the consecutive victories.

"We took care of business where we needed to," said Berg-Townsend. "They were hitting, they were aggressive, and they had fun at the plate again."

In those wins, a number of players shined, including Rachel Spanitz who was 2-3 with an RBI against the Huskies, while Lauren Mortimer was 2-3 with three runs batted in.

The Cardinal win featured a two-run homer by Regan Bortz. Also whacking it around the yard was Kelly Spanitz who went 3-3, and Molly Graveno who was 2-4 with 4 RBIs.

While those wins displayed their offensive capabilities, she said that at times they have a tendency "to clam up," discarding their aggressiveness, and instead of attacking, sit back on their heels and then have to chase the pitcher's pitches.

Berg-Townsend said that was the case against Bethlehem Catholic's Joelle Morey who made the Zephs swing at her pitches, enhancing her ability to get batters out.

Starting pitcher Andrea Emery had flashes of that in the game against the Hawks, hitting her spots and getting them to swing at her pitches. Berg-Townsend said she gets in trouble when she lays them flat across the plate, and then teams take advantage of that mistake.

In the loss, Madison Kelly was 2-4 at the plate, and made an outstanding catch in short left field, showcasing her defensive ability.

With two games scheduled this week, Berg-Townsend knows their season is at stake.

"We can't afford to lose any more games," she said.