Whitehall’s first-round game in the PIAA Class 6A state softball tournament was a matchup against North Penn, the state’s number-one seed, and despite a 5-0 loss, the Zephyrs held their own against the Knights on Monday afternoon at North Penn in Lansdale, Pa.

“They didn’t shy away or make this moment too big,” said Whitehall coach Jeff Vivian. “They were up for it. Coming from a first-year coaching perspective, that’s awesome to see them take that step. I’m so proud of these girls that they were able to focus beyond that, live in the moment, and come out and fight.”

North Penn got out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning, and added a run in the third after pitcher Julia Shearer’s triple.

In the fourth, Whitehall left fielder MacKenzie Laub was hit by a pitch, and Kate Yadush had an infield single, her first of two, but the Zephyrs couldn’t score.

North Penn scored its final two runs in the fifth inning, but Annabelle Smink was stopped from stretching her single into a double when Whitehall left fielder Ally Pavone fielded the ball and relayed it to Emma Bonshack who made the tag despite a collision with Smink.

“Ally Pavone, she’s so steady, as always,” Coach Vivian said. “She picked that up, knew she was gonna try for the extra base, threw an unbelievable strike to second base, and it was a great play all the way around.”

Whitehall shortstop Jess Spanitz also made nice plays in the state playoff, including a backhanded catch in the sixth inning.

Zephyrs pitcher Kassy Aquino delivered three strikeouts and forced 11 ground outs against the Knights.

“This is bittersweet. I’m from Norristown, I grew up 10 miles from here, was a Kenrick kid, so I had this circled. I wanted to come back. Family’s here, friends are here, old teammates are here, but you gotta look at where we started, and not many people picked us to get here,” said Vivian. “These girls, and I said at the beginning, it’s gonna be fun to watch them come together, play as a team, fight for one another, and they did that to the bitter end. They were all business. They all wanted the ball. They all wanted to get better, play for one another, their school, their community, and that’s a huge success.”