The duality of sports is that one team’s thrilling comeback must be another team’s heartbreaking loss. That scenario played out in last Thursday’s EPC softball clash between Northampton and Whitehall. The Zephyrs jumped out to a 5-0 lead after two innings only to see the K-Kids score 4 runs in the sixth inning to claim the win 6-5.

The fireworks started in bottom of the first inning. A potential third out at second base on a fielder’s choice was ruled a juggle, loading the bases for Whitehall. The Zephyrs took advantage of the opportunity. Kassy Aquino was hit by a pitch to force home the first run and then Aubrey Steiner smashed a bases-clearing double to centerfield to extend the lead to 4-0.

Whitehall extended its lead in the second when Emma Bonshak ripped a double off the fence in left center. She scored the fifth Zephyr run with her legs by reaching third and home on a pair of wild pitches.

With 2 outs in the inning, Whitehall drew 3 straight walks to load the bases, but Northampton starter Kaira Zamadics got the strikeout to end the threat and keep the score 5-0.

Whitehall head coach Jeff Vivian acknowledged the missed opportunities, “We had them on the ropes in the third, fourth, and fifth innings with runners on base. We’ve got to be productive, at least with our outs.” He added, “When you look at a scoreboard and you see five-nothing, you know that zero’s not going to stay up there forever against this team.”

Northampton began chipping away at the lead in the third inning. Arianna Patterson scored on Alexa Chromey’s sacrifice fly to make the score 5-1.

In the fifth, three singles led to Rilee Ehrlacher driving in Sam Barber with the K-Kids’ second run.

Northampton loaded the bases with three straight singles to start the sixth inning. Whitehall got a force out at home and a Patterson sacrifice fly put the score at 5-3 with 2 outs and runners at first and second.

Hitting out of the ninth spot in the order, Hannah Makovsky took a 1-2 pitch to the right field fence for a double to drive in two runs and tie the game. Ehrlacher then singled to drive in Makovsky with what proved to be the winning run.

Kaitlyn Renson took over the pitching duties in the third inning for the K-Kids kept Whitehall off the board over the final five innings including a 1-2-3 seventh.

Not to be overlooked were the defensive contributions of Northampton infielder Taylor Kranzley. In the second inning, she made perhaps the catch of the year when she tracked down a foul ball behind first base and snagged it while diving and sliding into the chain link fence surrounding the field.

In the sixth inning, she snuffed out a potentially rally by making a putout at first and then immediately starting a textbook rundown between second and third that led to a double play.

Northampton head coach Kristy Henritzy talked about the plays, “I want to say it was great, but I’m also like, ‘Don’t dive into a fence ever again.’ That was amazing. She’s just an amazing athlete. She goes hard no matter what is thrown in front of her.”

She continued, “It was great to see her (execute the run down), but the next level of that play is that she’s smart enough to run them back toward second base.”

The EPC tournament starts Thursday. The K-Kids are the top seed and host Nazareth. Northampton beat the Blue Eagles 13-4 on April 21.

The Zephyrs are the sixth seed and travel to Emmaus. The teams split a pair of 9-inning classics during the regular season.

The semifinals will be at Pates Park in Allentown on Monday.