It had been almost a full year since the Northampton softball team had suffered a shutout, but their potent offense was stymied by Quakertown’s Syd Andrews in the first round of the PIAA 6A playoffs. The K-Kids’ season came to an end at the hands of the Panthers, 2-0.

Andrews surrendered two hits and one walk, struck out 13, and collected 3 hits at the plate. Her courtesy runners scored both of Quakertown’s runs.

Maya Hellyer drove in both runs for the Panthers. The first on a 2-out double in the second inning and the second on a fielder’s choice in the fourth.

For the Kids, Taylor Kranzley broke up Andrews’ perfect game with a 2-out single in the fourth inning. Kaira Zamadics led off the fifth inning with a single and her courtesy runner was bunted over to second. However, a pair of strikeouts ended Northampton’s only real scoring threat of the game.

Zamadics went the distance in the pitching circle for the K-Kids, giving up 10 hits, and a walk while striking out 8.

Head coach Kristy Henritzy’s reiterated her message to the team after the game.

“You guys should not hang your heads,” she said. “You should be really proud of who you are and what we’ve accomplished this season. We can’t just hang our heads because we got this L. It was an honor to coach them. Unfortunately, it does end on an L, but it’s a good team. We accomplished a lot this year.”

Among those accomplishments were a 19-1 regular season record (24-3 overall), a second straight appearance in the EPC championship game, and of course most importantly, a second-consecutive District XI 6A title, the first time the program has gone back-to-back in 36 years.

If the K-Kids are to three-peat, they will have to rely on some new faces next season. The entire infield graduated, and its members included first-team All-EPC players Devyn Demchak and Rilee Ehrlacher as well as the EPC MVP in Kranzley.

Zamadics, a second-team All-EPC performer and staff ace since her freshman year, also graduated. Two-time All-EPC honorees Lily Stuhledreher and Kaitlyn Renson have their diplomas and have played their last games for the K-Kids.

There’s no doubt that Henritzy will have the returning players ready to compete and in the mix in 2023. She also spoke excitedly about the talent on the middle school team that went 15-0 with all but 2 of those wins by 10 runs or more.