The Emmaus High School softball team was back in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference tournament this year, playing its best softball of the season at the right time. The Green Hornets (12-9 overall) entered their latest game riding a four-game win streak, but had that streak snapped at the hands of a familiar opponent.

Emmaus fell to Whitehall 5-2 in the EPC quarterfinal round at Whitehall High School last Thursday afternoon. It was the third consecutive game that the Green Hornets fell to the Zephyrs this season. But this one was a much more competitive game for the Green Hornets, who lost 7-0 and 10-2 in two games against the Zephyrs in mid-April during the regular season. Like Emmaus, Whitehall is playing its best softball to date, winners of 16 straight games.

“This was a much better performance than the other times we played them,” said Emmaus head coach Britt D’Agostino. “We showed more of what we are capable of today.”

Whitehall (19-2) took control of the game in the bottom of the second inning, plating four runs to take an early lead. Jess Spanitz had three of Whitehall’s seven total hits. She recorded an RBI hit in the second and Abby Vivian had two run-scoring hits in the inning, along with a wild pitch that brought home Meghan Hutter to cap the scoring in the frame.

Emmaus finished with six hits overall on the day. The offense was led by Lindsey Moreau, who homered for the Green Hornets, and Daria Krout, who contributed to the other run with an RBI single.

“Our energy has improved in the last two weeks or so,” D’Agostino said. “The girls have the right mindset. It’s just a matter of putting it all together when we need to.”

Whitehall advanced to the EPC semifinal round, while Emmaus will wait for its fate in next week’s District 11 Class 6A tournament. It will play either Tuesday, May 25 or Thursday, May 27.

“We’re looking forward to continuing our season,” said D’Agostino. “We’re happy to be able to still be playing together and we want to move on from this last game and look to make another run at districts.”