An anticipated showdown against rival Parkland is going to have to wait again. For the second time, the game that would feature two of the better teams in the Lehigh Valley Conference was rained out on Monday and is now slated for May 8.

At 11-2 overall and 7-1 in the LVC, the Trojans figure to be one of the teams standing in the way of the Hornets this postseason.

The rainout gives Emmaus four games in four days next week to wrap up the season. The schedule now has a game at Souderton (7-6 overall) on Monday, at Dieruff (3-11, 3-7) on Tuesday, at Parkland on Wednesday and the season finale at home against Central Catholic (5-10, 3-7) on Thursday.

Even with the Parkland game rained out, Emmaus faced good competition against Ephrata on Saturday, falling 6-4 in a game marred by Hornet errors.

Starter Trey Hinkle went the distance in the game and was charged with all six runs, but none of them were earned as Emmaus committed three errors in the game. The loss dropped the Hornets to 12-2 overall. They are 8-1 in the LVC.

Zach Fotta has been hitting the ball well and went 2-for-3 against Ephrata after coming up big against Bethlehem Catholic the day before. Against the Golden Hawks, Fotta was 3-for-4 with two runs scored and three RBI, including driving in both the tying and go-ahead runs with a triple in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Fotta credits a change in his mechanics at the plate for his recent offensive surge.

"I used to start in more of a crouched position and found out as the pitch was coming in my eye level changed because I was coming from the crouched position to standing. There was too much movement going on," explained Fotta. "I also focused on getting my foot down earlier which helped tremendously with quicker pitching."

The senior first baseman believes that infield defense, which has been one of the issues for the Hornets this season, is something that the team has to concentrate on as the schedule winds down and the postseason looms.

"For us to be able to stay successful, we need to make the easy plays in the infield," said Fotta. "Our pitching and our hitting have been great so far, and if we could make those plays, it would lower the pitch count for our pitchers and we will have more depth throughout the playoffs."

Fotta knows a little something about success in the playoffs, having delivered the game-winning hit in the district opener last season, which he lists as his top highlight from his high school career.

After graduation, Fotta plans on playing for both the Lower Macungie Legion team and the Tri-County Limeport Bulls this summer and will continue his baseball career at Northampton County Community College, having just recently signed his letter of intent with the school, where he will major in sports management.

"I feel like this year, we have a good shot at winning the LVC and districts," said Fotta. "If it wasn't for coach Schreiner and the rest of the staff, I'm not sure that I'd be the ball player that I am today."