Whitehall softball’s 10-0 victory over Bethlehem Catholic was more than a six-inning, mercy-rule shutout on April 1 at Bethlehem Catholic.

“We had to force them to come up to our level, and I’m glad the girls did that today,” said Whitehall coach Jeff Vivian. “Morgan (Laub) really stepped up there and took over the game early. She was accurate, she had her movement, and she was building off of a pitch-by-pitch sequence. She had a great game, and we want to set a benchmark of where we expect our play to be at, and today we got there.”

Laub faced the minimum amount of batters and gave up just one hit which came in the bottom of the fifth inning.

“It feels good,” Laub said. “I had a very solid defense behind me today, and I couldn’t do it without them. Coach giving us the correct pitch selection, what pitch to throw on each count, each batter, it really showed today. Making them go for pitches that normally aren’t better strikes to swing at was key today.

I think my pitches with a little bit of spin on them have been working out a little bit better.”

Whitehall infielders Molly McFetridge, Josie Shultz, and Jules Muth turned a double play in the fifth inning, and Laub struck out the third batter to retire the side.

“We’re starting to see girls, especially in the field, with heart and starting to fight for one another,” Coach Vivian said. “Morgan can go out there and deal, but if she doesn’t have eight people behind her wanting to fight and throw some leather behind her, it’s gonna be tough. I’m glad to see we’re starting to turn some corners and get there.”

Whitehall right fielder Nya Brown made a sideways diving catch in the bottom of the second inning, one of several tough catches Brown has made this season.

“It was a long run,” Brown said. “At first, I thought it was gonna drop in front of me. I couldn’t tell, but I was like, I’m gonna go for it. I do like right field. I wouldn’t want to be in any other position.”

Brown also had 2 doubles and 3 RBI.

“I was going primarily off of my teammates, looking at how [Maddie Bixler] was throwing a lot of first-pitch strikes, middle outside, so I had the plan of going for that first-pitch strike, going to right field, and I think that worked out good for me, and I saw the success in my at bats,” said Brown.

Amya Espinal had the first hit for the Zephyrs, and courtesy runner Jillian Ziegler scored the Zephs’ first run after McFetridge’s RBI single dropped behind first base, all in the second inning.

Alyssa Dunbar’s bases-loaded, 2 RBI double, along with a 10th run scored in the top of the sixth primed the Zephyrs for the mercy-rule shutout.