The Emmaus High School softball team was one win shy of playing for both the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference and District 11 championships last season. The Hornets fell to the eventual champions in both, losing to Parkland in the conference semifinal and to Northampton in a district semifinal game. Emmaus finished the year 18-6 overall and 13-3 in the EPC.

Head coach Richard Giering saw four players graduate from that team in Lindsey Moreau, Sami Lilly, Peyton Sisonick and Sarah Sherman.

There are a large number of upperclassmen back this season that will look to give Emmaus a title. That includes Danika Barthol, Shayla Morgan, Rachel Sherman, Mason Roselli, Alexis Schoonover, Kamryn Tokar, Taylor Hiestand, Avaeha Schwab, Daria Krout and Ashlyn Sherwood. A couple of newcomers that will be relied upon to contribute in the lineup include Abby Derr, Sadie Haefeli, Brianna Amey, Taylor Gitski and Molly Yard.

Giering is excited for the group that he has entering the 2023 season. There are plenty of strengths to the team and then other areas to work on.

“Our pitching depth will be something of importance for us this season,” said Giering. “It will be a nice advantage to have multiple arms to throw at hitters. Our team speed and our hitting are also areas of strength for us this season. I think we just need to improve on our defense all around and make the plays we should in the field.”

Emmaus opened its 2023 regular season on its home field with a 13-2 nonconference victory over Abington Heights last Saturday. The Hornets began conference play this week with games against Allen and Dieruff. They close out the week with another nonconference game against Spring-Ford on Saturday.

“We will be competitive in our division and will be competing once again to qualify for league playoffs and district playoffs,” Giering said.