All season long, Whitehall’s softball team has been searching for consistency. The Zephyrs have had some big games this season, but they haven’t been able to piece together a long run. Their longest winning streak this season had been three games.

With their 3-2 loss to Emmaus Monday, Whitehall finished its season with an overall 10-10 record before they embark on their district run. Prior to their loss Monday, the Zephyrs suffered a 6-4 defeat to Northampton, which eliminated them from the East Penn Conference playoffs.

Vivian saw the Northampton game as a similar script for the season.

“That game is always a big rivalry game for us, but we were just flat in the beginning,” stated Vivian. “It’s concerning as a coach how your team can be flat for a game like that, but we were and as a result we were behind right from the start of the game.

“That has been a recurring theme for us, we get behind early and then have to dig our way back, which is starting to take a toll on the team. We haven’t been sharp offensively and defensively and we have to get that corrected or it will be a quick exit from districts.”

Offensively, Aubrey Steiner led the team in hitting at .538 clip with one homer and 11 RBIs; Kate Yadush, .477, one homer and 19 RBIs; Morgan Laub, .456, 13 RBIs; Nya Brown, .428, two homers, 11 RBIs; and Josie Schultz, .474.

On the mound, Laub has handled the bulk of the pitching duties.

“Morgan has been everything we thought she would be and more,” said Vivian. “She has battled, and really rounded into a solid pitcher. She has changed speeds, developed good movement, defensively we have let her down, pretty much all year. We just have not had her back most of the year.

“But to Morgan’s credit, she’s been a great teammate and she just went and worked harder. She really defined this staff and team.”

Vivian is hoping his club can find its niche in the upcoming postseason. The Zephyrs will try to get over the hump again, as they have been the district Class 5A runner-up the past three seasons.

Whitehall will open the postseason as the top seed in the Class 5A bracket.

“For us to go forward in districts and states, we will need to have a little more bite to our game,” said Vivian. “We need to get teeth to our game. We are too passive with our feet in the field and just not gritty enough at the plate. We give up too many strikes early in the count.

“We have to punish strikes. We have to punish pitchers that want to challenge us, and we just haven’t gotten to that point.”