It was a ping and pop extravaganza as the Zephyr baseball team opened district play last week.

The ping was the sound of the Whitehall bats as they pounded out 14 hits en route to a 14-0 win over visiting Freedom High School to advance to the semifinals of the District 11 4A tournament. The pop was provided by starting pitcher Jake Wloczewski who mowed down the Patriots, surrendering just three hits during his five innings of work. He also struck out nine, his fastball continuously popping the glove of catcher Ryan Bonshak.

Wloczewski didn't allow the Patriots to get comfortable in the box all day, mixing his pitches to begin Whitehall's pursuit of another title.

"It was important to get ahead, and I got ahead early today," said Wloczewski who has now pitched 12 scoreless innings in postseason play. "My slider was working real well which kept them off balance, and I mixed in a couple of curve balls in there, so that's what I did."

Manager Shaun O'Boyle said that Wloczewski's success against Freedom was his ability to throw strikes.

"When you're up around 90 miles per hour, and you're throwing strikes in high school, that's going to get you a lot of wins," said O'Boyle.

With his ability to command the strike zone and limit his walks, O'Boyle said that he's been able to have success in the postseason. The senior hurler said the key to his postseason success hinged on a couple of factors, citing stellar defensive play against Emmaus in the Lehigh Valley Conference Championships, and getting ahead of the hitters in the game against the Pates. It was also important to set the tone in their district opener, and that's what they were able to do against Freedom. That win can pay dividends down the road as it helps boost their confidence.

"It's huge, especially like this when you can put a team down early," said Wloczewski. "The runs we got early played a big part."

While the Zephs erupted for four runs in the first, Wloczewski wasn't going to alter his approach on the mound.

"I'm going to go out there and pitch and play my game," said Wloczewski. "But to get the runs and get the support that I need early, and pitching with a lead, makes it that much better."

After posting 14 runs and getting another shutout from Wloczewski, O'Boyle believes they have the combination to go far in the postseason.

"With the pitching we have, if we hit like that, this is going to be a real tough team to beat," said O'Boyle. "They're going to have to catch us on an off day."

Those occasions have been rare this season, and with the offense they displayed against Freedom, turning the game into a ping-a-thon, they reinforced their ability to deliver a knockout blow with their bats. O'Boyle said the team has been "doing it all year," with the whole line-up contributing. They had nine players collect hits in the game, with many of those hits coming with runners on base.

The Zephs also were able to take the extra base against the Pates, another key component in their success, said O'Boyle. It's a team that's intent on winning every time they step on the field.

"These guys are focused," said O'Boyle. "They have a district title on their mind, and they know it's one game at a time, and they know it's not going to be easy."

The Zephs had a multitude of players who had big days at the plate. Zach Delp was 3-3 with two doubles and 4 RBIs. Tyler Bridgwood was 2-2 with a double and a RBI, while Ryan Bonshak was 1-3 with a double and an RBI. Additionally, Wloczewski helped his cause, going 2-3 with a run batted in. But the loudest ping of all belonged to Matt Bonshak whose moon shot cleared the right field fence for a grand slam in the fourth inning. His bomb was part of an eight-run eruption in the that frame that doomed the Pates.

"I was sitting fastball," said Bonshak who finished the game 1-2 with two runs scored and 4 RBIs. "It was middle out and that's where I wanted it, and I put a good swing on it, I guess."

Bonshak said they were prepared for their home game to begin the district playoffs.

"We came out ready to play today," said Bonshak. "Jake was pitching great, throwing strikes, and our defense was playing well."

He also put the win in perspective, noting it's another step on a journey they want to continue.

"It's just another game for us," said Bonshak. "We're looking one game at a time and just play our style of baseball."