"It was a phenomenal season and I'm proud of the girls," is Sally Whittaker-Kahan's reaction to the Northampton softball team's season.

Whittaker-Kahan is "so very proud" of the Konkrete Kids who rode a 22-2 season to Northampton's first District 11 championship in 17 years - the last was in 1996 when the Kids also won the PIAA state title.

"I felt we could beat everyone … and we almost did. Our 17-0 start was unreal. I didn't expect that kind of start, but the girls were very dedicated. Of course, I'm biased, but our girls were fighters all season," added Whittaker-Kahan.

Even after their first loss-1-0 to Whitehall, the girls rebounded to win their final two Lehigh Valley Conference games to wind up 13-1 with the LVC's North Division title and the league's best record. And, after being upset by Emmaus in the LVC semifinals, the Kids rebounded again to beat Pottsville, Parkland and Liberty for the District 11 title.

"Our girls are fighters, they don't give up. Even after losing to North Penn (1-0 in the PIAA playoffs), it was devastating, but not the end of the world. The girls were singing on our bus ride home," said Whittaker-Kahan.

Making Whittaker-Kahan even prouder than having a 22-3 record was that the Konkrete Kids also won the Lehigh Valley Softball Umpires Association's Sportsmanship Award.

"It's usually not the team with the best record that wins that one," said the coach.

As for the girls themselves, the league's top pitcher - Marly Laubach - earned an LV Umpire Association scholarship and outfielder Erin Tiwold earned East Penn Umpires Association Scholarship.

Laubach is headed to Penn State as a walk-on; Tori Gollie will play softball at LaSalle; Erin Tiwold and her twin sister Megan are headed to Moravian and Kutztown to play field hockey; Lauren Brosky is headed for West Chester and Kendra Makovsky is going to East Stroudsburg.

As for next year, Whittaker-Kahan has many good young girls returning such as Leandra Sterner, Taylor Kerbacher, Brianna Dalton, Hannah Peters, Amber Saylor, Ali Reppert, Kendel Reed, Makenna Marhefka, Rachel Heimbach, Emily Schwartz, Aurie Enright, and plenty of help from an outstanding JV team.