Northampton's softball season was supposed to begin on Friday, March 20, but the weather's put a damper on that.

In fact, the Konkrete Kids' first five games were postponed and coach Kevin Mann's team didn't get to play until Monday.

Monday's game was played in damp, breezy weather at Freedom with the Patriots spoiling Kids debut in the new Eastern Pennsylvania Conference.

Freedom, one of the favorites in the EPC's Steel Division, pulled out a 3-2 win as Julia Roman's sixth-inning single ruined Taylor Keeney's three-hit effort.

Northampton, which plays in the EPC's Skyline Division, picked up four hits - two by Auria Enright - against winning pitcher Shayla Peterson. Enright was also robbed of a possible game-winning hit with two runners on base in the seventh. Enright lashed a line drive up the middle but pitcher Peterson knocked it down and threw Enright out at first to end the game.

Both Mann and Freedom coach Nora Burger praised each other's team for how well the game was played.

Mann was said he was "disappointed, but not upset" with the Kids' loss.

"After all, you would like to win every game, but we'll just have to go on from here," Mann said. "We made a few first-game mistakes, but we got some pretty good swings of the bat by Enright, Gillian Muthard, Ali Reppert and Hallie Muffley."

Keeney, with a day's rest, was expected to pitch Wednesday against Parkland in a game that was postpone Tuesday by bad weather. The Kids also travel to Patriots Park Thursday to face Emmaus.

Meanwhile, Northampton's new schedule because of postponed games includes Easton at NHS on Monday, April 6, the Kids at Becahi on April 11, and Kutztown at NHS on May 1. No new date has been set for the Dieruff game.

Another change has Northampton playing Nazareth on Tuesday, May 5, at 7 p.m. at Tuskes Park on Route 248. It will be Nazareth's Senior/Parent Night.