Bethlehem Catholic High School's softball team was crowned District XI Class AAA champions with a 6-4 victory over Southern Lehigh last Tuesday at Pates Park in Allentown.

It marks three-straight district titles for the Hawks, four in the last five seasons, and five titles in the last seven seasons.

"If you had asked me a couple weeks ago, I would have said we wouldn't be standing here," said Becahi coach Rich Mazza.

What Mazza had been waiting for were hits by the Hawks offense, and on Tuesday, there were plenty.

Two of the biggest were an RBI double in the third inning and a two-run triple in the fifth inning, both by catcher Julia Siedz.

Regarding the triple, Siedz said, "I saw the pitch right as it came out of her hand. It was a curve."

By the end of the top of the fifth inning, the Hawks led 6-0, but the Spartans began their comeback in the bottom of the same inning, scoring two runs.

Becahi pitcher, Alexa Panuccio, said, "Julia just told me to stay calm and break up their momentum. My nerves were there a little bit. I just tried to do my best."

In the bottom of the sixth, the Spartans loaded the bases, and with one out and another run scored. Becahi pitching coach Chuck Billy decided to relieve Panuccio with Elyse Cuttic.

"I hadn't pitched in four weeks, but I knew I had to get it done," said Cuttic, who retired the next two batters.

The Spartans scored another run with one out in the bottom of the seventh. A ball hit to right field was just missed by outfielder, Brooke Rau, but another hit to the same spot was caught by Rau.

"Honestly, I was really upset that it didn't stay in, but once you get down, that's when the ball is going to come to you," Rau said. "I'm just happy I made the play."

Cuttic ended the inning and the game with a strike out, which made the victory that much sweeter.

"Yeah, it was," she said.

Before the district final last week, Coach Mazza wasn't sure he'd be handing out gold medals to the Hawks.

"We felt one of our strengths this season would be hitting, but it didn't come to be that, and Elyse, I wasn't going to use her," he said.

Until now.