For Northampton’s softball team, one of the major goals of the season was to exact revenge against Nazareth, who had knocked them out of the Mountain Valley Conference (MVC) championship for three-consecutive years.

They didn’t see the season resulting in a state championship.

“Absolutely not,” stressed then head coach Debbie Anthony about seeing the possible outcome before the season. “We had something to prove, though.

“We did get our revenge against Nazareth when Cortney Madea threw a two-hitter with nine strikeouts, and she had 15 strikeouts when we beat them the second time, 4-0. When we entered the district playoffs, again, we felt we had something to prove. No one gave us much of a chance because they believed the MVC was a much weaker league than the East Penn Conference (EPC).”

The Konkrete Kids pieced together one of the most impressive runs in Lehigh Valley softball history, as well as the state, as they won 25-consecutive games to capture the PIAA Class 3A title.

In the process, the Kids posted a perfect 12-0 mark in the MVC and went on to win five-straight, one-run games in district and PIAA play before exploding in a 10-2 win over Corry in the state championship game. They lost their second game of the season to eventual 2A champion Northern Lehigh, 2-1, and rolled from there to an overall 26-1 record.

Overall, the Kids hit. 308 as a team and had an on-base percentage of .517. They held opponents to a .154 average.

Current Kids’ head coach Kristy (Gestl) Henritzy was one of the junior starters on the team that had five senior starters. She was the leadoff hitter and centerfielder, who hit .264 with 11 RBIs and a team-high 17 walks. Henritzy also had 32 stolen bases (perfect 32-for-32 in ’96) and 75 for her career, both school records.

“We just all worked well together,” said Henritzy. “We believed in ourselves and we knew we could go far. We knew what we wanted. We all felt like we had something to prove. We got knocked out the year before and there was a great chemistry with us.

“We grew up together and knew each other. We were a real family.”

Anthony saw a bond that wouldn’t be easily broken.

“We were driven by the previous losses to Nazareth,” she said. “They were also driven by the friendship they had with each other, and their belief in each other and themselves.

“We knew many of these girls had played together successfully growing up. They were friends who would do anything for each other.”

The head coach believed a turning point was an 8-7, extra-inning win over Parkland in District 11 title game, in a true turn of events - and fate headed their way.

“Before we left for Patriots’ Park, we were told that our starting catcher (Jill Beltz) had mono and could not play,” noted Anthony. “Then in the 10th inning, our backup catcher got injured in a collision getting a tag out at home plate.

“We didn’t want to put another catcher in at that point of a tie ball game. So we got together as a team and told our pitcher (Courtney Madea) that she had to try and hit the glove because our catcher would not be able to move to retrieve the ball. Being a strong competitor with a will to win, she did exactly that ,as did the fielders.

“The injury time gave our pitching coach, Ty Stofflet, a chance to give Courtney a pep talk. She was literally dragging, as if her arm was stretching to the ground. It was cold and getting late, and we were getting tired. We called a timeout, and Parkland had two hits, a fielder’s choice, a go-ahead run, and a walk. She did come back to get the third out on an easy grounder.”

The Kids rallied with three hits and a sac fly to win the game.

“It was up to the rest of the team to do their best to come back for her,” added Anthony. “It was a total team effort.”

Madea had a season of near perfection with a 22-1 mark with a 0.86 ERA, notching 213 strikeouts in 147 innings. She twirled a no-hitter against Chambersburg in the East title game, one of four that season and nine in her career in addition to 10 shutouts in 1996. Madea also led the team with a .382 batting average.

“This was my best year by far,” said Madea. “Our initial goal was to beat Nazareth and win our league. We just took off from there.”

“I don’t remember specifics about the game, but I do remember the feelings we had as we went through the games.”

Senior second baseman Christine (Biechy) Hunsberger knew the season would be a progressive process. She hit. 276 with 18 RBIs.

“At the beginning of the season we did not talk about winning districts or states,” she said. “This team focused on one game at a time. We had high expectations of ourselves and each other. We had a high level of confidence in one another that anyone, at any given time had the capability of a key hit or a great play in the field. We had each other’s backs.

“We enjoyed playing together and we had amazing support from our family, friends, and community. The turning point was the win over Parkland in the district final. It was a long, back and forth game, and the win just proved we could rise to the challenge. The road to states was not easy. Every game was a battle and team effort.”

Starting senior shortstop Suzie Kropf, who hit .274 with 11 RBIs, viewed the state title as a culmination of lifetime friendships.

“Winning the state championship is one of my fondest memories,” said Kropf. “What made it so special wasn’t just winning, but it was the relationships and friendships with my teammates and coaches. We were a group of girls who grew up playing together and we couldn’t ask for our time playing together to end in a better way.”

Anthony understood patience would be a key down the road.

“Our motto as coaches always was one game at a time,” she said. “So we really didn’t focus on the fact that we had one loss.

“We told them to treat the team you are playing today as if they are the best team you’re going to face. Take no one for granted.”

During that season, the Kids certainly followed every bit of the script.