The Northampton girls softball team continued their winning season this week with a win over Central Catholic but also had a hard-fought loss to undefeated Nazareth.

The girls sit at a 6-4 this season.

On Saturday, April 21, Northampton traveled to Nazareth for their ninth league contest of the season. Northampton came out strong against the undefeated Eagles as pitcher Madison Biechy swung for a double in the first and teammate Madison Fraley rocketed a home run which drove in three runs. Nazareth answered with two runs in the bottom of the first but the Kids held a lead through two and a half innings.

In the bottom of the third, Nazareth would drive in two runs which remained unanswered as Northampton, despite their best efforts, went scoreless for the rest of the game making the final a 5-3 loss. Biechy pitched a strong game with four strikeouts and no walks.

To first year coach Kristy Henritzy, the important take away was the team’s resilience.

“We stay in the present and just focus on us,” explained Henritzy. “The team is a very tight group and a bunch of fighters.”

And fight back they did.

The girls came off the loss welcomed Central Catholic for a home game on Monday, April 23. The girls held Central scoreless for five innings as Biechy got the win, racking up seven strikeouts, allowing only two hits and no walks. Northampton outhit the Central 12-2, including a triple by Northampton’s Emily Stuhldreher, doubles by captains Heather Alich and Liz Moore as well as doubles from teammates Kendyll Strohl and Katelyn Stuhldreher.

The end result was a 10-0 win.

Alich and Moore have both enjoyed a strong season so far with Alich totaling 16 RBIs, six double, three triples and one home run in the team’s April 12 game vs. Allen. Moore has had an equally impressive season, totaling five doubles and 10 RBIs, including four against East Stroudsburg North on March 28.

According to Henritzy, these two co-captains have emerged as strong leaders for the team.

“It’s hard to be a leader and a captain with such a young team but Alich and Moore are both very steady, excellent captains and team leaders. They just bleed black and orange,” said Henrizty. “They are bringing on these young freshman and sophomores and making sure the culture and tradition of the team are instilled in them.”

Henritzy expressed her appreciation for the leadership of her co-captains as well as the tenacity of her starting pitcher and catcher for the Kids. Madison Biechy has been the starting pitcher this season for most of Northampton’s games with Madison Fraley behind the plate at catcher.

Henritzy commented on the success of the pair saying, “We have a very young pitching, catching battery. They have a lot of experience from tournament ball but [Varsity ball] is a different thing, it takes a lot of mental toughness.”

Toughness that Henritzy appreciates in the team’s battery as well as in the rest of her roster.

“I think they’ve done really well as team and I’m so proud of them,” said Henritzy. “I can’t wait to see what the future holds for them – but I think we’ll be making a statement this year and I’m so excited for that.”