The Northampton softball team kicked off their season with an 8-4 win over Bethlehem Catholic Tuesday afternoon.

Head coach Kristy Henritzy noted that team speed was a key strength for this year’s squad and the K-Kids demonstrated it early when the first three batters of the game all reached base with infield singles, two by bunt and scored the first run on a Golden Hawks’ outfield error.

With two down and runners on first and third, Devyn Demchak clobbered a shot into the wind and over the right-centerfield fence for a three-run homer to stake Northampton to a 4-0 lead after the first half inning.

The homer came in Demchak’s first varsity at bat.

“It was a nice feeling,” she said. “My team did a really good job getting on base today, so I had the runners there, I just had to move them over.”

Becahi responded by turning 4 walks, 2 errors, and a single into four runs of their own to knot the game at 4-4.

Kendyll Strohl scored the go-ahead and ultimately winning run by drawing a walk to lead off the second inning and coming around to score on a Taylor Kranzley single past the shortstop.

The K-Kids added two runs in the fifth and one in the sixth to complete the scoring.

Kaira Zamadics went the distance for the win. She scattered 5 hits, struck out 7, and walked 9.

Kranzley was 4-for-4 with a pair of RBIs. Ren Herschman went 3-for-4.

Despite missing the entirety of last season when the spring sports were shut down due to COVID, Northampton’s roster still has plenty of varsity experience. The two senior captains, Kendyll Strohl and Katelyn Stuhldreher return as starters at third base and shortstop respectively. After starting at second as freshman, Kranzley holds down the same position as a junior.

Lily Stuhldreher starts in the outfield as a junior after doing the same as a freshman. Herschman saw significant playing time two years ago. Zamadics assumes the role as the ace of the pitching staff after sharing those duties with Madison Biechy in 2019.

Seniors Jessica Hunt and Taylor Sommer will handle the catching duties. In the outfield will be seniors Lindsey Nemeth and Ryley Stanchock, juniors Ashley Patterson and Rilee Ehrlacher, and sophomore Christina Rabenold.

Demchak, a junior, starts at first base. Junior Alexa Chromey can play infield and outfield.

Kaela Edleman and Kaitlyn Renson round out the varsity pitching staff.

As in other sports this school year, the K-Kids will be in the Northampton County division of the EPC and play Becahi, Easton, Freedom, Liberty, and Nazareth twice each. They also have 8 non-division EPC games scheduled, including a pair at Parkland.