The 2024 season was one of the best in the past decade for the Emmaus High School softball team.

The Hornets were senior-laden and lost more than 75 percent of their starting lineup to graduation. But fourth-year head coach Rich Giering believes they have a good combination of young talent and experience back this season to make another run at some championships.

“We lost seven starters to graduation, but some of the younger players returning got varsity experience a year ago,” said Giering. “We have a good nucleus of older girls mixed in with the younger girls. We also had a good JV season last year, so we’re going to have a good mixture between the two.

“The girls have been working really hard getting ready for the upcoming season. There is a different feeling with this group of young ladies as far as how well they get along.”

Last season, Emmaus finished 18-5 overall and 13-3 in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference but lost in the first round of the conference tournament to Pleasant Valley. The Hornets got revenge against the Bears in the District 11 quarterfinal round. The season ended the next round as Emmaus fell to eventual champion Liberty in the semifinals.

Some of the top returning players this season include senior second baseman Sadie Haefeli, junior catcher Abby Derr, junior outfielder Taylor Hauver, senior third baseman Avery DeFanti, and senior outfielders Avery Shank and Sophia Tranguch.

A couple of newcomers that look to break into the lineup include senior Amanda King, juniors Brianna Gitski and Sarah Longbons, sophomores Julia DeFanti, Caylie Granitz, Sydney Bennett, Mari Eiswerth and Morgan Schwab, along with freshman Haleigh Gigliotti.

This group will be strong offensively, but will need to work on its defense.

“Hitting is a strength of ours, but defense sometimes is a weakness,” Giering said. “Our goals are to be in the league playoffs every year.”