Parkland (8-0, 10-0) remains the only undefeated softball team in the Lehigh Valley Conference. The Lady Trojans picked up a win last week over rival Emmaus, 9-3, as pitcher Morgan Rentzheimer allowed just four hits and struck out five in the win.

Coming into the game, Rentzheimer was a little worn down because of the number of games that had backed up on the schedule. As she was warming up for the game, she wasn't sure what she would be able to give her team, but her offense staked her to a 5-0 lead in the first inning, which made the outing much easier for the senior pitcher.

"I actually felt off today, but we just had to work through it and we came out in that first inning swinging the bats really well, so my team gave me a great lead to work with," said Rentzheimer. "That cushion helped me a lot. It's nice to have my team behind me so that if I have an off day, they can pick me right up."

The Parkland offense started slow this season, but has picked up intensity over the past couple of weeks, pounding out 61 runs over their last seven games, including beating Liberty 15-6 and Dieruff 14-0. The win against Liberty gave the Hurricanes their only loss of the season.

Against Emmaus, Jordy Augustus and Emma Varrato each had two hits for Parkland and each played a key role in the first inning rally. Augustus led off the game with a triple and later scored when Courtney Miller delivered a two-run triple and Varrato also tripled to drive in Miller. Sydney Stibitz delivered a two-run single to cap the inning and put the Lady Trojans up 5-0 before the Green Hornets even came to the plate.

Coach Barry Search has been impressed with his offense and how its turned around after a slow start, but he's not quite ready to say that they're a dominating offensive team.

"I don't know if we're stacked, but we're on a nice streak right now," he said. "Early in the season, we had some trouble, but the kids are starting to hit.

"Regardless of if we're undefeated or what we are, we go out and teams play us tough and that's a compliment and the kids know it. They have to come every night and step up to the plate."

Parkland opened this week with a 4-2 win over Freedom to reach the half-way point of the season with a spotless record. Rentzheimer again starred, throwing a complete game and allowing just four hits, but this time she also produced offensively, collecting three hits.

The Lady Trojans enjoyed five days off after their win over Emmaus before facing Abington and picking up a 6-1 nonconference win. The upcoming schedule has a game at Bethlehem Catholic (4-2, 6-3) on Thursday before two nonconference games against Wilson West Lawn and Interboro. The conference schedule picks up again on Monday with a trip to Allen (2-4, 2-6) before taking on Central Catholic (1-3, 1-5) at home next Wednesday.

For her part, Rentzheimer believes that the pitching staff can stay strong and that the offense for her team will continue to make it easier for the pitchers.

"As long as we keep playing our game and keep swinging the bats, I think we'll be good to go," said Rentzheimer.