Their bats may have lost their fizz at Coca-Cola Park last Saturday, but they found their pop against William Allen High School Monday afternoon.

The Zephyrs pounded out 11 hits and scored seven runs, rebounding with a come-from-behind win against the Canaries after getting shutout by Parkland High School at the annual Lehigh Valley Conference Play Day at CCP.

They needed every one of those runs as they beat Allen 7-6 on Senior Night. It was a game in which they had to battle the entire game, as starter Matt Hassick struggled with his command throughout his outing.

With the bases loaded in the top of the seventh, Hassick was lifted after surrendering a hit to load the bases. Reliever R.J. Yost came in to try and get the last out, but walked the first batter he faced, bringing the Canaries within one. However, the game ended when shortstop Jeff Charles fielded a ball in the hole, opting to get the final out at third for the force on a close play.

It may have been a bit unconventional, but Charles said that he and third baseman Tyler Bridgwood have discussed this scenario many times.

"Every time we're out here, I always tell Bridge that whenever there's a ball in the hole, and even if I have to lay out and give a toss to him, I'm going to get it to him," said Charles. "It's just something we talked about a while ago.

"I couldn't do anything with a throw to first, I wouldn't have had him. The play was at third; he was there. Got him."

Charles made a nice play to end the game, throwing from his knees, and Bridgwood stretched like a first baseman to complete the force, keeping the Zephyrs bid for a league title berth still in tact.

The Zephs are now 13-4 overall and 8-3 in the LVC. With two more league games remaining, the Zephs control their destiny and could enter the league championship as a wildcard.

Right now the major concern for manager Shaun O'Boyle is simply playing better baseball. Before Monday's win, they lost two consecutive games, and even the win against the Canaries was tough.

"We're not playing our best baseball right now," said O'Boyle. "That's a little concerning."

O'Boyle said they can ill afford to come out flat like they did against Allen. They were down a run early and had battle a feisty Canary squad to preserve the win.

While Hassick may have struggled at times, working out of a number of bases loaded jams, he hung in there to get the win. O'Boyle said he needed Hassick to go deep in the game, and the lefty complied, helping them stay on track for a chance to defend their league title.

O'Boyle said that Hassick needs to attack the strike zone to be successful.

"When he's on, he's on, said O'Boyle. "He has to concentrate and throw strikes."

Still, they were able to bounce back and get the win which demonstrates their maturity and resolve, said Charles.

"It's huge bouncing back like that," said Charles. "It just shows that we don't give up."

Charles said the team, which has locked up a district spot, isn't flustered by what happened in the past. They're excited about what's in front of them.

"We have all the confidence in the world," he said.

The Zephs got on the board when Jacob Meyers and Gianni Sinatore singled to start the second. They moved up a base on a wild pitch, then after a walk to Alexander Bruneio to load the bases, Tyler Cyriax struck out, bringing R.J. Yost to the plate. He lifted a ball to center, scoring Meyers on the sacrifice, but was doubled at second trying to advance to end the inning. The run held up, and the Zephs kept chipping away, adding six more runs in the next two innings.

Charles had a good day at the plate. He was 2-4, including a double and an RBI. He said his approach is to strike early.

"Every time I'm up, I'm always looking first pitch fastball," said Charles. "I'm always looking for my sweet spot. If it's not there and he throws me a breaking ball away, I won't swing at it. If he throws me a fast ball away, I won't swing at it. It has to be my pitch."

Bridgwood also swung a hot stick, going 2-4. While Sinatore was 2-3 with an RBI.

The Zephs honored their departing seniors before the game. That list includes Ryan Bonshak, Bridgwood, Charles, Adam Miller, Matthew Rohrbach, Matt Melosky, Hassick and Yost.

While it may have gotten ugly at the end, O'Boyle knows it's not a beauty contest.

"The bottom line is a win's a win," said O'Boyle.