Whitehall’s baseball team can verify that sometimes history doesn’t repeat itself.

Last season, the Zephyrs began the season under first-year head coach Eric Schmitt with an 0-3 record, allowing 28 runs and scoring 16. They did rebound, but it wasn’t enough as they just missed districts with a 9-11 record.

This season with a more seasoned team, Whitehall certainly has reversed the trend.

Beginning this week, the Zephyrs already have impressive wins over Allentown Central Catholic (1-0) and Easton (5-2).

In their game against Central Catholic, junior Evan Kovalcik allowed three hits and had 10 strikeouts over five innings to pick up the victory. Sophomore Matt Rader pitched two hitless innings of relief to pick up the save.

Senior Owen Ness had two hits and fellow senior Jace Duld had the lone RBI.

Against Easton, the Zephyrs received another stellar pitching performance, this time from Tyler Mastropieri, who notched six strikeouts over five innings and allowed three hits. Aurelius Haddad and Rader closed it out for the Zephyrs.

Junior Dylan Carfara had three hits – two of which were doubles – and Kovalcik and Duld each had two hits.

Schmitt is enjoying the moment.

“After starting off 0-3 last year with a big run differential, our 2-0 start against two tough local teams feels pretty good,” he stated. “It was a very good first week on many fronts.”

The second-year head credits his time in Myrtle Beach, S.C. as being pivotal in the team’s successful opening.

“I really felt our week before set the tone,” added Schmitt. “Our program had five successful scrimmages from freshman through varsity. We were much more prepared to start the season in northeast Pennsylvania.”

Schmitt credits a big part of the team’s fast start to their pitching. They have a staff ERA of 0.50 with nine hits allowed and 25 total strikeouts in 14 innings. The team is hitting .245.

“Our pitching coaches are very excited so far,” noted Schmitt. “If we can stay healthy, we think we can definitely compete in our division.”

The Zephyrs are trying to keep the momentum going when they defeated Pocono Mountain West last Wednesday, but traveled to Daniel Boone in Berks County Thursday and lost. They entered this week at 4-1.

“The pace will pick up,” said Schmitt. “We have to pick up our bats a little. But our pitching can make a big difference.”