It only took four innings for Whitehall’s softball team to take care of unfinished business with Pocono Mountain East after the Cardinals won last year’s Class 5A district championship by one run against the Zephyrs, who took it to the Cards in this year’s semifinal, 15-0, on May 22 at Patriots Park, Allentown.

“I’m very proud,” said Whitehall first baseman Kate Yadush. “Top to bottom, we all produced.”

Pitching in her first district tournament, Zephyr sophomore Morgan Laub delivered three strikeouts to start the game.

“There was definitely some pressure before the game, a little bit of nerves, but talking with Coach Jeff (Vivian) and (catcher) Aubrey (Steiner), and figuring out what was gonna work best in the game and situations, and looking at film from the previous game, I think really helped us,” Laub said. “I was throwing a little mixture of everything. Aubrey’s a big help, and learning the strike zone of different umpires helped too.”

Laub had the first Zephyr hit, a single down the third base line, and Yadush knocked the ball to deep right that rolled under the outfield fence for a ground rule double.

The Zephyrs ended the first inning with two runs and put up five runs in the second inning.

Nya Brown slammed a triple that hit the right field fence, Molly McFetridge had an RBI double, Hannah Bundra reached first base on an error, and Laub brought in two runs with a line-drive double.

Said Brown, “During the postseason, I worked a lot on my hitting, and I knew I had to keep my hands loose because when I get in the box my hands get tight. She had two strikes on me, if I recall, and I like outside pitches, so I drove it. I honestly thought it was gonna go over, but it was a hit. As someone who was in a slump, and to hit when it really matters, it feels really good.”

While Laub worked toward the shutout, the Zephyrs had three doubles in the third inning from McFetridge, Laub, and Yadush, and the score stood at 11-0.

“Just having that support and doing a great job, we just wanted to back [Morgan] up, and do the same thing, so it takes pressure off her,” said Yadush. “I was just trying to score the run and be smart. [Pocono Mountain East pitcher Emily Dubisz] had pretty good speed, and we were focused on driving the ball and not trying to play hero ball.”

Dubisz’s leadoff double in the fourth inning was the Cardinals’ last hit as Laub struck out two Pocono Mountain East batters and forced a ground out.

Bella Muth’s RBI forced the mercy-rule ending with a 15-run total by the Zephyrs.

The semifinal victory sent Whitehall to the district final against Southern Lehigh on May 24.