This season, Whitehall’s softball team has been on its usual, productive run, as the Zephyrs began the week with an overall 10-4 record. They were seated sixth in the District 11 Class 6A bracket.

Yet, the Zephyrs recently had a bad stretch. They had a five-game winning streak snapped with a 10-0 loss to Northampton, bounced back with a 10-0 win over East Stroudsburg North, but they then suffered a 5-2 loss to Nazareth.

Head coach Jeff Vivian hopes his club can rebound with a productive week.

“Last week was a tough week,” noted Vivian. “We took huge steps backwards in the Northampton game, we were flat in the ES North game, and against Nazareth, we were better, but still couldn’t hit in clutch situations.”

Finding their identity will help.

“We are still trying to figure out who we are as a team, which should not be the case at this time,” added Vivian. “That makes this week a big week for us. I think we made some adjustments going into Nazareth and it showed. We made a couple more on Friday at practice.”

Among the regulars, Morgan Laub was hitting .419, Molly McFetridge was at .368, Julia Schell was at .379, and Josie Schulz was at .333. Laub had a 6-4 record with a 2.36 ERA and 72 strikeouts and 21 walks over 678 innings on the mound, and Jillian Pagan had a 2-0 record with a 0.77 ERA over 18 innings with 33 strikeouts and two walks.

Vivian has been pleased with the progress of younger players. Schell and Pagan, who are both sophomores, have been joined by fellow sophomores Corynn Troxell, Evelyn Hudak, and Mariah Bradley, who have made an impact. Freshmen Chloe Robinson and Kendal Fedorak also have been regular contributors.

“As for the young players, when you coach at Whitehall, you do not have the luxury of having 10 seniors,” offered Vivian. “So, talent development, teaching the game, and preaching mental toughness are paramount. And I think most of the young players have started to turn that corner.

“They are grasping what it means to live up to the Whitehall softball standard. We have had production from Schell, Pagan, Troxell, and the roles filled by Hudak, Bradley and even some freshmen in Robinson and Fedorak. It’s been a big help to the team.”

Vivian saw Whitehall’s matchup with Emmaus Monday was another show of their mettle, and how they can fare in the district. They also have Dieruff Wednesday and Parkland Friday.

“Emmaus was another test for us,” said Vivian. “This will go a long way to see if we are contenders in this district. I think we are at the point where we really have let past negative play stay in the past, and look forward to our opportunities.”