In their PIAA Class 5A first-round match on Monday afternoon, the Zephyrs led 2-1 after three innings, but visiting West Chester East added seven more runs in the fifth to take an 8-2 lead.
With a two-run double by senior first baseman Kate Yadush in the bottom of the seventh inning and an RBI double by sophomore pitcher Morgan Laub in the bottom of the fifth, Whitehall was not going down without a fight.
Regretfully, the Zephyrs were only able to muster that rally as the District 1 runner-up prevailed 8–5 on the road. They deserve praise. Good team, that’s West Chester East, according to Whitehall coach Jeff Vivian.
Rebecca Opperman, the senior pitcher, pitched well. She moderated some of our movement, keeping us at bay. Bravo to them. Excellent group. young group as well.
For us, it’s a different game; hit here, hit there. We simply were unable to modify. That sort of sealed the deal for us because we were unable to enter and exit our adjustments much faster.
Whitehall had a 12-11 record at the end of the season.
West Chester East, which raised its record to 16-8 overall, will take on Thomas Jefferson, the runner-up from District 7, on Thursday in the state quarterfinals.
On Monday, Thomas Jefferson defeated District 3 runner-up Solanco 17–4 on the road.
Senior left fielder Hannah Bundra beat out an infield single in the seventh inning after junior right fielder Nya Brown reached base on an error and there was a strikeout.
A popout followed by a two-run double into left field by Yadush cut the Zephyrs’ lead to three runs
Emma Antczak, a rookie third baseman, was forced to pop out by senior pitcher Rebecca Opperman to seal the victory for West Chester East.
In the bottom of the third inning, Laub hit an RBI double into center field to tie the score at one.
Yadush then drove in an RBI single to center field to give the Zephyrs a one-run lead. In the fourth inning, the Vikings scored five runs to take a 5-2 lead.
With a two-run double into center field, junior right fielder Lauren Maguire gave West Chester East a 3-2 lead.
Three runs was the score after consecutive RBI doubles by freshman catcher Ava Cross and senior left Grace Koberg.
Maguire increased the advantage to 7-2 in the fifth inning with another two-run single. With an RBI single from Cross in the fifth inning, West Chester East increased their lead to six runs.
In her last softball game, Yadush went 2-for-3 with a double and three RBIs. The senior will not be playing softball after graduating from Whitehall on Monday night.
She is currently enrolled at Fordham University. Yadush remarked, “It felt good to go out with a good hit and help our team.” But in the end, we were just unable to complete it.
I’m hoping the girls can continue next year. “You bring up that child. Yadush has been the team’s rock for the past four years—well, I’ve had her for three—said Zephyrs coach Jeff Vivian.
She pretty much always puts up a consistent effort at the plate, so you can bank on her. The teams that begin pitching around her are the ones that she doesn’t play in.
She persevered through today. She deserves praise. And praise be to her four years here. Though we were unable to do so today, I thought perhaps this is the year we could kind of sneak through and make a run.
In the circle, the sophomore pitcher also recorded ten strikeouts. For the Zephyrs, Bundra had two hits and Brown had two runs scored.
For West Chester East, Maguire went 2-for-4 with four RBIs. For the away team, Cross added two hits and two RBIs.
In the circle, Opperman gave up three earned runs, had two walks, and struck out ten batters for the Vikings.
A unique senior class of Yadush, Bundra, Aubrey Steiner, Sienna Meli, Allison Kern, Elizabeth Holderman, Kassidy Nester, and Sandra Eaddy will say goodbye to Whitehall.
Regarding the seniors, Vivian remarked, “They did a lot for this team, for this school, and for myself.” They deserve praise for persevering and battling through to the very finish.
This year, our team was pretty close, Yadush stated. We had highs and lows, defeats and victories.
Together, we completed the task. The season is one that Steiner, who will play softball at Saint Joseph’s University, said he would remember for a very long time.
Being in the district finals for all four of my years at Whitehall makes me very proud and then coming out on top our final year. And then having one final game on the home field. It was simply an amazing sensation.