The Northampton softball team declared their intentions to mount a vigorous defense of their district title when they kicked off the 2022 season with a 12-2 Mercy Rule win over presumptive EPC West challenger Parkland.

The fireworks started early for the K-Kids as Rilee Ehrlacher led off the bottom of the first with a sharp single to left and went to second when the fielder bobbled the ball. Alexa Chromey followed with a ground rule double to right that plated Ehrlacher. Chromey later scored from third on a wild pitch to put Northampton up 2-0.

The teams each scored a run in the third with the Kids’ tally coming on a 2-out 0-2 single by pitcher Kaira Zamadics.

The Trojans notched a run in the top of the fifth to make the score 3-2.

In the bottom of the inning, Devyn Demchak showed why she might be the premier power hitter in the EPC when she lined a 1-0 fastball over the left centerfield fence for a 3-run homer to put the Kids up 6-2. Three batters later, Kaitlyn Renson drove home Zamadics to add another run to Northampton’s ledger.

The K-Kids ended the game in the sixth on a 2-run single by Taylor Kranzley, a 2-run triple by Zamadics, and an RBI single by catcher Angela Fisher.

Zamadics went the distance in the circle for Northampton, scattering 4 hits and 6 walks to go with 7 strikeouts over the 6 innings.

Zamadics spoke about her, and the team’s mindsets, going into the season.

“I was excited,” she said. “We’re really hungry this season to just come out and dominate. I’m feeling comfortable with us doing that. We’re all very close because we’ve been together for so long. We all know we have each other’s backs.”

Head coach Kristy Henritzy was thrilled with the team’s performance.

“I’ve never, ever 10-runned Parkland in my life,” she said. “You know they’re always going to be well-coached. You know they’re going to have talent. It’s Parkland.

“I’m just proud. It was 3-1, 3-2 and then they just woke up their bats.”

The win also displayed the team’s resilience and depth of talent. Within the past week, two starters suffered significant injuries forcing Henritzy to juggle her lineup and defensive alignment.

Junior shortstop Chrissy Rabenold, a recent commit to Division 1 UNC Greensboro, tore her ACL for the second straight season. Rilee Ehrlacher, a first team All-EPC outfielder, is filling in at shortstop. Senior outfielder Ashley Patterson broke her nose and will miss around 6 weeks, essentially the entire regular season.

Before the season, Northampton was on the short list of teams regarded as contenders for both the EPC and District XI titles. Now, they must be considered the favorites. Their next big test should come on Wednesday when they host Bethlehem Catholic. The Golden Hawks made it to the PIAA 4A semifinals last year.