It has been 12 years, and Morgan Laub, Josie Schultz, and Molly McFetridge continue to have nearly inseparable bond between them on and off the fields and courts. It seems like yesterday the now senior trio completed last year’s softball season, and it was another chapter in a seemingly endless bond.

“Molly and Josie were my two best friends by the time I started kindergarten,” gushed Laub last year, who was the Zephyrs’ top hurler this past season and will look to repeat that this season. “It was the three of us and we were truly inseparable.

“We not only played softball but we also played field hockey and basketball together. We developed the strongest friendship through the sports we loved. We were in kindergarten at the age of 5-years-old when we started playing down at Egypt Park.”

Egypt Park proved to be their proving ground that led to many successes, among them being a district softball championship last season.

“For the three of us, Egypt Park was our second home,” added Laub. “We spent many hours growing up there practicing and playing softball. It is crazy to look back at the growth we have made from being young, timid girls to strong, confident, high school athletes.

“We always had each other and supported one another through anything on or off the field. The best memory between the three of us is winning our two championships at 10U for Egypt Park. Not only was this a great moment itself, but also winning our first district championship in 15 years with them both at my side made it ten times better.

McFetridge, who handled second base, has watched their friendship flourish.

“Playing with Morgan and Josie has been great,” beamed McFetridge after last season. “We started playing at a very young age, learning the game together and overall growing together as teammates and friends. Playing with each other has forced us to work harder and want to be better. We started playing tee ball when we were in kindergarten at five years old. We played at Egypt Park, we were called the Egypt Cobras.

“It is hard to pick one memory because we have been friends for so long and shared so many great times. I loved growing up with them and seeing what we did in rec ball transform into what we do in high school. We won championships together at Egypt but by far the most memorable accomplishment with Morgan and Josie was winning the district championship for Whitehall our sophomore year.”

From the start, they appeared destined to be with each other and grew together along the way.

“Morgan, Josie and I are very close,” stated McFetridge. “We grew up living a walking distance away from each other’s houses. In the summer. we would always spend time together, we had many of the same teachers growing up, and have always celebrated each other’s birthdays.

“We learned to understand each other’s playing styles and helped eliminate bad habits and develop good habits.”

Laub believes they can be mirror images of each other.

“All of us live within two minutes of one another in the same neighborhood,” added Laub. “We would often hang out and spend time together regularly. All three of us have the same work ethic. We were taught early on to be receptive to coaching. We always did whatever we were asked to. This lifelong bond that started on the softball field is something that will never be broken.”

Schultz, who played shortstop, hasn’t forgotten the early memories that helped shape their enduring trust, respect, and love for each other.

“Morgan, Molly, and I have been playing sports together ever since we joined the Egypt softball team in first grade,” recalled Schultz. “Our friendship showed on the field and spilled over into classrooms and other sports, including Egypt Park’s first field hockey team.

“A memory that stands out is one of our softball championship games. We were the tiny second graders playing in the third and fourth-grade league. Morgan and I, playing middle infield positions, executed a game-ending double play to win the game. This is a memory that sticks with me which shows our growth and the continuous bond between us.”

They all have a sense of each other, and they hope there are more times to come this softball season.

“Throughout all these years spent together, we are familiar with each other’s habits and styles of play, added Shultz. “That naturally leads to greater success and more laughter whenever we share a field.”