When looking back at this past season for the Whitehall softball team, the temptation may be to frame everything around their loss in the district championship game.

However, that one game doesn’t define them as a team. This season should be viewed as an entire journey, one that eventually led to the district finals.

And it started out in grand fashion with Kay Solderitch pitching a no-hitter against Bloom-Carroll High School in their season opener. Along the way they kept winning, establishing themselves as one of the premier teams in the league, especially after defeating Parkland 5-2. They wound up winning the Skyline Division of the eastern Pennsylvania Conference, the toughest division in the league.

That put them in the league playoffs where they defeated Pocono Mountain East, putting them on a collision course with the Trojans in the semifinals. They lost 7-5, but those two teams would meet again in arguably one of the best high school softball games to ever be played in this area.

The finals featured a pitching duel between Kay Solderitch and Aubree Fritzinger that showcased two of the brightest stars in the EPC. The Zephs broke the scoreless tie when they scored two runs in the top of the ninth, but fortune ultimately did not smile on them as the Trojans plated three in the bottom of the frame to win the game.

You certainly don’t get to the finals by luck and the Zephyrs had a roster full of players who had helped them reach that goal. Everyone contributed and that’s what made the journey one they’ll remember. They finished the year at 19-6.

“What can I say but ... what a great season, filled with success, hard-fought wins, memories, and fun for the girls and the coaching staff,” said head coach Alexis Berg-Townsend.

Berg-Townsend said that the season produced a lot of memorable moments.

“The 2016 season is the type of season that, as a coach, you don’t want to see end,” said Berg-Townsend. “I couldn’t be more proud of the team for their hard work, their drive, their determination and their want to win.

“They believed from the very start of the season that they were good enough to reach their goals and win.”

They demonstrated that drive every time they took the field. And that was the case against the Trojans in the finals. It just didn’t bounce their way.

“The district title will continue to hurt but it eases as days go on,” said Berg-Townsend. “We showed that night that the title was ours. Our goal for next season is to not let that game haunt us but use it as motivation and a driving force to put teams away.”

The Zephs will lose eight seniors from this squad. That includes EPC first team all-star Julia Solderitch, RBI machine Rachel Spanitz, power hitter Gabby Molitoris, crackerjack center fielder Jill Rex, as well as Taylor Kosman, Kieran Frankenfield, Karla Rodriguez and Taylor Stephens.

“Losing all eight seniors will be difficult,” said Berg-Townsend. “Each had a role, whether it was as a starter or a sub, that helped guide us to our success and be the family we were.”

However, they return a lot of talented, experienced players and that should bode well for next season. That begins with the returning EPC Player of the Year, pitcher Kay Solderitch, and catcher Mackenzie Guzy who was a first team EPC all-star as well.

“Having our battery return will keep us competitive and the mental drive to want to be better,” said Berg-Townsend.

They’ll also return starters Ashlee Brosky, Cara Bonshak and Rachel Arner, as well as Logan Bortz and Veronica Rodriguez.

“The underclassmen know what it’s like now to be successful and be considered a good team, and next year will need to be the year to show the conference the consistency we have as a program of being good and winning,” said Berg-Townsend.