The Emmaus High School softball team won its first two games to start the 2021 season and was victorious in four of the first five. It was just the start to the year that first-year head coach Brittany D’Agostino and her players wanted after missing out on a whole year of competitive softball last year.

“It feels great to be back,” said D’Agostino. “The girls are so excited to be on a field this season. Seeing the girls in their uniforms for the first time was surreal.”

Following the fast start, however, the Green Hornets hit a little roadblock. Since a win over Allen High School on April 9, Emmaus has lost four consecutive games. The Green Hornets (4-5 overall, 4-2 EPC) dropped games to Southern Lehigh, Whitehall twice and Hazleton. But D’Agostino knows it is just a small bump and her team will push past it and continue to contend for more wins this season.

“We had a rough week but we are eager to improve,” D’Agostino said. “When these kids put everything together they are amazing and a special group. We are a strong group with offense and defense. If we put it all together we are an even stronger team.”

In the most recent game against the Cougars last Saturday afternoon at Patriots Park in Allentown, Hazleton had four innings in which it recorded multiple runs and played sound defensively in defeating the Green Hornets 9-3 in nonconference action. Hazleton only outhit Emmaus by one (8-7), but three errors by the Green Hornets defense aided in the Cougars runs. Emmaus scored a run in the second, fourth and sixth innings. It was a learning experience against a quality opponent that can be used as a good, early-season test.

“Hazleton is always a strong team,” said D’Agostino. “We are always happy to see them on our schedule. It’s good to have a hard season schedule. We don’t want anything to be too easy for us. It only helps later on if you are in playoffs.”

Summer Lenhart and Shayla Morgan both finished with two hits each. Lenhart went 2-for-4 and had two RBIs, while Morgan was 2-for-3 with an RBI. Lily Bruckler started the game and Danika Barthol came in to relieve Bruckler in the fourth inning. For the Cougars, McKenna Balay had a three-hit day, including a triple, and Kaitlyn Wolk had a home run.

Emmaus has a busy week of action this week. The Green Hornets hosted Parkland Tuesday, are on the road at Dieruff Wednesday and at Parkland Thursday. They end the week by hosting Pottsville on Friday.