The Pine Grove softball team ran into a thorny adversary when they visited Whitehall last Saturday.

One player in particular was extremely prickly, her presence a constant source of irritation throughout the game. That player was Ashlee Brosky who vexed the Cardinals while on the mound and at the plate.

Brosky was a one-girl wrecking crew, getting the complete game victory, allowing just five hits and three runs. She was also 4-4 at the dish, smacking a triple and double with two RBIs and two runs scored.

Her effort helped the Zephs remain undefeated as they improved to 5-0 after beating Pine Grove 9-3 on a windy afternoon at Whitehall.

Brosky had to work out a few jams throughout the afternoon, most notably in the top of the fourth when Pine Grove loaded the bases with nobody out. But two comebackers to Brosky resulting in two Mackenzie Guzy putouts at the plate gave the righty a little breathing room. Brosky got the next batter to fly out to Cara Bonshak in right to end the threat.

She also had to work out of a sticky situation in the second. After yielding a run to the Cardinals on a hard hit ball that ticked off the glove of second baseman Rachel Arner, Brosky was the beneficiary of an outstanding play at short as Amanda Mortimer snagged a humpback liner. Mortimer quickly regained her footing after pursuing the fly ball and fired a strike to first to complete the double play.

Brosky’s ability to stay away from the big inning helped the Zephyrs stay undefeated.

“I just calmed down a little bit, took a deep breath, and worked in the zone, in and out, ” said Brosky about her mindset during those situations.

Brosky said the wind was a bit of a factor, but she credited the Pine Grove hitters for staying aggressive that forced her to bear down as the worked with runners on base.

In that critical fourth inning, Brosky said that she was working high, both inside and outside, and that’s what helped her induce those two softy hit balls back to her.

“Overall she pitched well,” said head coach Alexis Berg-Townsend. “But it’s always more difficult when the wind’s blowing. It’s hard to grip the ball so she was having some gripping difficulties periodically throughout the innings.”

Berg-Townsend said that Pine Grove possessed a lot of good hitters and that Brosky did well in facing that lineup, keeping them on their toes.

Brosky showed her composure when facing some tough situations, and Berg-Townsend said that will bode well as the season progresses.

“That’s what we’re looking for early on in the season to be able to get out of those jams because we’re going to find those same jams later on,” said Berg-Townsend. “She will continue to build that confidence as she gets out of those.”

Brosky’s triple in the top of the second led to a run, scoring on a wild pitch to extend the Zephyrs lead to 6-1. She also singled in the fourth as well as the fifth, her hard shot to left in that frame scoring Kay Solderitch who had advanced to third on a passed ball.

“I feel really confident at the plate,” said Brosky who bats third in the Zephyr’s potent lineup.

“She’s really seeing the ball well,” said Berg-Townsend. “And when you see the ball well, and you have the swing and the power that she’s got, you’re going to have nice things happen.”

The Zephs plated five runs in the first, a trend that’s seen them score 14 runs in the opening frame the last three games. In addition to Brosky’s two RBIs, Lauren Peters also had two runs batted in, while Bonshak, Logan Bortz, Guzy and Mortimer each knocked in a run.

Brosky said that her time in the circle so far this season has been great. It’s a role she’s embraced, said Berg-Townsend. While the senior has a lot to deal with right now which includes her role as a run producer in the middle of their lineup as well as the workhorse on the mound, she’s responded with some stellar performances.

“She’s really worked hard and is doing a great job doing it,” said Berg-Townsend.

The Zephs have now scored 54 runs in their first five games. This week they play Emmaus and Freedom as they get into the heart of their Eastern Pennsylvania Conference schedule.