The Emmaus softball team cleared one hurdle, but missed on its second hurdle last week in the Lehigh Valley Conference Playoffs. By beating top-seeded Northampton in extra innings, the Lady Green Hornets advanced to the LVC Championship for the first time in the school's history.

Unfortunately for the Lady Hornets, a 4-0 loss to Bethlehem Catholic in the championship keeps them searching for their first LVC title.

Beca pitcher Joelle Morey kept Emmaus' hitters off balance all game, throughout most of which the Golden Hawks held just a 1-0 lead.

It wasn't until the bottom of the sixth inning that Bethlehem Catholic was able to put three insurance runs on the board against Emmaus starter Rachel Brown.

The Hawks put up a single run in the first, but were denied a second when leftfielder Cassidy Sullivan, third baseman Claire Harris and catcher Lizzy Natiello completed a relay to nail Beca's Jackie DeSarro, who was attempting to score from first on a double by Morey.

Morey's hit drove home Lauren Visconti, who led off the inning with a single, but DeSarro was out at the plate on a close play to end the early rally threat.

The Hornets' Franni Schaeffer reached base all three times at the plate with two singles and also reached on an error.

"We had a lot of runners on base, we weren't able to get them in when we needed to; we didn't get a big hit," said Schaeffer of her team's offense.

Emmaus left seven runners on base and for coach John Eyer, that and two errors were the big numbers in the game.

"We had a lot of chances and we gave them a lot of chances that we shouldn't have given them and that's what happens," explained Eyer, who believes his team beating Northampton earlier in the tournament was a huge boost for his team. "I'm very proud of our team and actually, I still think Northampton is the better team; even better than what Beca is to be honest with you."

Heading into districts, Emmaus is seeded sixth. The Hornets' hopes are high for going deep into district play.

"I think our hitting's back on track," said Schaeffer. "We scored six off of Marly [Northampton pitcher Marly Laubach] and we didn't score tonight, but we were definitely hitting her, so hopefully, if we keep it up going into districts, we should be all right."

Eyer led Emmaus to district titles in 2003 and 2007 and believes his team will be able to compete well in districts if it tightens up defensively.

"We've got two strong pitchers and our hitting is coming around again. We're disappointed, but we can still come back in districts," said Eyer.