Parkland shortstop Nicole Klass had the first hit for the Trojans in their 6-0 District 11 championship victory over Whitehall last Friday at Pates Park, but she was just getting warmed up.

Her double to center field in the third set up a four-run inning for the consecutive district champs.

“I went into it clear-minded,” said Klass. “I had to get something started for the team and swing at the first strike that came. It felt good off the bat.”

Right fielder Renee Snyder hit a grounder to Whitehall’s shortstop but the throw to Amanda Mortimer at third base popped out of her glove and Klass was safe. As Snyder continued toward second base, Klass scored the Trojans’ third run of the game.

Third baseman Megan Fenstermaker had a base hit to center and Snyder scored the Trojans’ fourth run.

“Sometimes you can feel when it’s going to be a good hit and that was one of those hits,” said Fenstermaker. “I’m just trying to stay relaxed up there. That’s the most important thing, to be calm. It’s just another game. Of course, it’s a big game, but it’s just like every other game this season.”

Two more base hits, one by pitcher Kelly Dulaney and another by Hailey Druckenmiller, scored the last two runs of the game.

Dulaney’s second inning two-run homer got the Trojans on the scoreboard, initially.

“It was really cool,” said Dulaney. “We know they have great pitching over there, and they’re a great team all around.”

Dulaney got out of a first-inning jam when Whitehall left Meghan Hutter and Rachel Arner on second and third base. The Zephyrs threatened again in the sixth inning with Hutter’s line drive and Arner’s base hit, but both players were left on second and third base again.

“I was trying to keep them off balance with that off-the-plate pitch,” Dulaney said. “One of our big things is about confidence, and we all have a lot of confidence in our teammates and our coaches, so when we go out on the field, we’re all playing for each other.”

Parkland began its PIAA state championship run earlier this week and continued Thursday with a game against Spring-Ford at Moravian College. The Trojans reached the state championship game last year and finished as runner-up.

This year they’re hoping to pick up state gold to go along with last year’s silver medals.

“There are a lot of really great teams we’re going to face along the way, but I just think that we’ll keep pushing hard,” said Dulaney. “It was so exciting to get there last year, and even though we came up short, I was still really proud of our whole team, and I think that’s what’s motivating a lot of us.”