Remember those commercials where an athlete would win a championship game and proclaim "I'm going to Disney World"? Well, the Emmaus softball team is hoping that their trip to Disney will be preceding a championship.

The team spent some time at the happiest place on Earth recently and came back with a 2-1 record in their three games at the Wide World of Sports complex in Orlando. The team heads south every three years to take part in some sun, fun and softball prior to heading into their regular schedule of games here at home.

"The trip was pretty good. It was a great way to open the season and I think it built a lot of team unity," said senior first baseman Frannie Schaeffer.

Last year's team finished 10-4 in the Lehigh Valley Conference, capturing the West Division. Overall, the Hornets finished 16-7 and were District 11 runners-up, falling to Liberty 4-0 in the district championship game. Liberty also ended Emmaus' hopes of an LVC title with a 1-0 extra innings win in the LVC semifinals. Two key players - third baseman Emily Hockman and second baseman Anna Corch - both graduated. Hockman is attending DeSales, while Corch is attending Lehigh University.

The good news is that the core of the team, including the two talented young pitchers, Rachel Brown and Olivia Marcks, are returning and give Emmaus a good shot at repeating as division champions and possibly winning their first LVC crown under coach John Eyer.

"I think our team is going to be really good this season. Both of our pitchers are really strong and we have a lot of players returning," said Schaeffer.

The team has six seniors to give them a lot of stability and Schaeffer says it's easy to be a leader on this team.

"It's not difficult to be one of our leaders because we really don't clash," Schaeffer said. "We get along well and we support each other a lot."

Besides having good pitching, Emmaus softball is known for playing sound fundamental ball and not giving away games with errors. Last year's squad didn't expect to have too much offense, but turned out to have some pop in their lineup and should have a decent offensive attack again with players like Schaeffer, shortstop Miryah Palko, catcher Lizzie Natiello, outfielders Cassidy Sullivan, Kayla Higley and Anna Snyder and second baseman Morgan Patterson all figuring prominently in the offense.

The biggest competition this season figures to come from Bethlehem Catholic. The Golden Hawks have won the LVC in each of the past two seasons after qualifying for the playoffs as a wild card team and in both seasons, they barely secured the wild card spot. In each of those seasons, Beca defeated Liberty for the LVC crown and it's likely that Liberty is again going to pose a serious threat this season. Parkland and Easton figure prominently into the LVC title race this season, as well.

"Our goal this year is definitely to get back to district finals and come away with a win this time around," said Schaeffer.

With their Florida road trip out of the way, the Hornets jump right into LVC competition with a game at Allen Thursday, followed by their home opener against Dieruff next Tuesday. The toughest part of the schedule comes in about a month when they play Easton, Liberty, Beca and Freedom all in the span of one week.