Revenge was sweet for Freedom High School's softball team as the Patriots defeated Whitehall 10-8 last week after losing 2-1 to the Zephyrs two weeks prior.

"We wanted to redeem ourselves," said Freedom first baseman, Hunter Schantz. "Our coach [Nora Borger] said we needed to get pumped up and string hits together."

Freedom struck first with five runs in the bottom of the first inning, including a grand slam by Schantz.

"I felt it going that way. I knew I hit it far, but I didn't know it was going to go over. I thought she was going to catch it. I was excited because I was in a slump, and that kind of broke it," Schantz said.

The Zephyrs responded with five runs of their own in the top of the second inning.

Freedom pitcher, Kylee Schwind, said, "I just thought, it's 0-0. It's a new game. I knew our team would pick us right back up. I knew they were right there behind me."

By the end of four innings, the score was tied again, 8-8.

Schantz hit another home run, this time, a solo shot over the leftfield fence.

"That one I knew was going over as soon as I hit it," she said.

The Patriots held the Zephyrs scoreless for the rest of the game, scoring two more runs, one in the fifth inning and one in the sixth.

Schwind said, "I was feeling more confident when they didn't score those four innings. We all had more confidence. I give a lot of credit to our fielders."

Dana Pollock, for one, had a spectacular catch in leftfield.

"That pumped us up," said Schantz. "We were really excited. I was just really happy we came back and proved we could be better."