When the names were announced for the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference softball all-star team, the line-up had a distinct maroon and gold hue to it.

It’s safe to say that 2016 was the year of the Zephyr as evidenced by the presence of Whitehall players on this year’s first team. And it wasn’t just limited to players as Alexis Berg-Townsend was also recognized for her contribution guiding the Zephyrs to a terrific regular season.

At last Thursday’s EPC meeting, Whitehall earned the top seed for this week’s conference tournament. As the No. 1, they opened the tourney facing Pocono Mountain East.

Earning that top seed was the result of a number of factors, and the role that Kay Solderitch supplied was one of the primary reasons they landed the No. 1 spot. Her impact on the game, both in the circle and in the batter’s box, earned her the league’s highest honor: player of the year. It marks the first time a Whitehall softball player was named the league’s top player.

Kay Solderitch, who finished the regular season with 11 wins, was dominant in the circle. She tossed a no-hitter in her first outing this season and posted a minuscule 0.88 ERA. The southpaw also struck out 78 batters over 79 innings of work.

She was equally proficient at the plate, batting a lusty .541. While she bats leadoff, she possesses a clean-up hitter’s power. She can also execute a successful drag bunt, and is aggressive on the base paths, either stealing a bag or taking the extra base.

Kay Solderitch also fields her position well, and that’s another area that helped separate her from the rest.

It marks the second year in a row that Kay Solderitch was named to the starting team.

Capturing the player of the year wasn’t something on her radar this season. She plays the game full out whenever she steps on the field and whatever comes her way in the form of recognition is an outgrowth of her commitment to being the best she can be.

“I just worked really hard,” said Kay Solderitch. “I wasn’t really expecting MVP. My coach called me that night and told me and I was really surprised. I felt good and I was thankful for my teammates and coaches who pushed me to get that award.”

Kay Solderitch said she’s been leading off since her freshman year - a position in which she’s comfortable.

“We have a very strong line-up this year,” said Kay Solderitch. “Usually if I get on, if I start us off, which I try to do my best every game, then I know that someone will knock me in.”

That role of run producer has been ably filled be her sister Julia who bats second, as well as Rachel Spanitz, Ashlee Brosky and Mackenzie Guzy who all have double digits in RBIs.

She was also happy that she got to share first team honors with her sister Julia, who got the nod at shortstop, and her catcher Guzy who was her battery mate.

“That was really great,” said Kay Solderitch.

Kay really deserves it,” said Berg-Townsend. “There is not another player I can think of who works as hard as she does.”

Berg-Townsend said that Solderitch took her fair share of lumps her first two years, but emerged stronger.

“Her freshman and sophomore years could have put the nail in the coffin on some kids,” said Berg-Townsend. “They would have thrown their hands up and said ‘this isn’t worth it, I can go play in the outfield and be a hitter. But she was that determined and really worked.”

Whitehall wound up getting three players named to the first team, the most of any.

Julia Solderitch finished the regular season with a .468 average. As the team’s second hitter, she’s often in RBI situations and has delivered with a team-leading 20. It’s also the first time she’s been named.

“It’s my senior year, and I really wanted to have a good year,” said Julia Solderitch. “I wanted to take that into my at-bats, into the field, and do the best I can.”

Guzy’s selection as first team catcher marks a first for her as well. Guzy batted .441 this season and had 10 RBIs.

Guzy said that her hitting has carried over from last season, and now it’s just a matter of working to maintain it.

“I just keep working hard every day at practice with my team and it just gets better and better every day,” said Guzy.

Catching Kay Solderitch is something that Guzy has done since she was young and has gotten used to it.

“It just comes naturally now,” she said.

It’s the first time the league instituted a coach of the year award and Berg was the inaugural recipient after guiding the Zephs to a 16-4 record. She has received an informal award before, in 2009, but this marks a first official recognition.

She said she that once it was announced, she was more comfortable taking a backseat and letting the team shine.

“For me, it’s always about the team,” said Berg-Townsend. “Even the first thing I said when I told my coaching staff is that the head coach doesn’t get where they’re at without their assistant coaches. The coach of the year award may be in my name right now, but to me it goes to my assistant coaches and the team itself.”