Who to watch and who will end up on top
Any discussion about Lehigh Valleyarea softball generally starts with Parkland.
No other local program has won as many state titles as the Trojans, starting with the first one crowned in 1975. They have also been dominant at the league and district level.
Everyone talks about the numbers of kids who play softball in the Parkland community and point toward strong feeder programs.
But what most people don’t understand is how much hard work and dedication the players and coaches put in throughout the year.
Blake Morgan, Ed Stinner and Britt D’Agostino certainly do.
Just a few years ago, they were all together on Barry Search’s coaching staff when Parkland won a state gold in 2015.
Six years later, Morgan and Stinner are coaching at Whitehall and D’Agostino is leading the way at Emmaus.
Their goal is to create the same kind of program they were a part of at Parkland.
As the 2021 Eastern Pennsylvania Conference season begins Tuesday with
Allen at Emmaus, Central Catholic at Whitehall and Dieruff at Parkland, the Trojans are six-time defending league champs.
If that streak ends, both Whitehall and Emmaus are in position to move into the top with talented teams.
But it won’t be easy because as the cliché goes, tradition never graduates at Parkland.
Here’s a look at the EPC’s Lehigh County Division:
4 difference-makers
Lindsey Gawrys, Whitehall. In earning all-area honors as a sophomore in 2019, Gawrys batted .403 with 31 hits, including 11 doubles. She led the Zephyrs with 28 RBIs and a .459 on-base percentage.
Meghan Hutter, Whitehall. Another all-area selection in 2019, Hutter, a second baseman, hit .532 with an .818 slugging mark. She had 12 extra-base hits among her 41 hits.
Marah Sisnonick, Emmaus. The Green Hornets shortstop hit .324 with six extra-base hits and drove in 13 runs as a sophomore in 2019.
Katie Zaun, Parkland. It wasn’t the same sample size a full season would have provided, but Zaun showed her ability over a few days in the high school summer tournament last July.
3 who could surprise Danika Barthol, Emmaus. The sophomore pitcher is ready to get the ball and perhaps become the latest in a long line of quality Green Hornets in the pitching circle. Coach Britt D’Agostino, who was a solid pitcher herself and worked with many good ones, said of Barthol:
“She’s someone to look out for this year and in the coming years.”
Mackenzie Laub, Whitehall. Laub, who is also a top student, made her mark as a high school freshman in 2019 and then won a national tournament in the summer of 2019 with the Lehigh Valley
Patriot Flames 18U Elite team.
Jennifer Milisits, CCHS. She got a taste of varsity pitching two years ago as a freshman and returns to the circle a more experienced and polished performer.
2 storylines
Can the power of Parkland prevail again? The Trojans are the gold standard in the sport locally with 16 District 11 championships, 22 league titles and five state crowns. No matter how inexperienced they may be, the Trojans are still the team to beat.
Whitehall’s time? The Zephyrs may not have the same vast tradition that Parkland has in the sport of softball, but Whitehall has had its share of talented players and successful teams. Is this the team that stops Parkland’s streak of six straight championships? Certainly, the talent is in place for that possibility.
1 man’s opinion
Predicted order of finish: 1. Parkland; 2. Whitehall; 3. Emmaus; 4. Central Catholic; 5. Dieruff; 6. Allen.
ALLEN
Coach: Karen Nilson (first season). 2019: 2-17, 1-15 EPC.
Impact players: Alexis Kline (Sr. SS-P); Hanaje Riley (Sr. 1B); Juvitce Cortex (So. 3B); Tiffany Cook (Jr. OF); Nora Zekkaria (So. P); Kaelynn Burrell (Fr C); Adrianny Rodriguez (Sr. OF); Victoria Farrell (Sr. UT).
What to expect: Nilson, a prominent local field hockey coach who once led Allen to the state finals, replaces Eric Beltz who resigned after three seasons. The Allen program has struggled for years and making the situation even tougher is that Allen hasn’t had in-person classes since March 12 of last year. Getting kids to play and commit has been difficult, but Nilson said she has 17 players who are hungry, determined and working hard to be ready to play. Kline is a player to watch and figures to be a leader on and off the field
CENTRAL CATHOLIC
Coach: Billy Milisits (second season, 0-0).
2019: 5-16, 2-14 EPC. Lost to Bethlehem Catholic 12-2 in the District 11 4A quarterfinals.
Impact players: Jennifer Milisits (Jr. P); Emma Ossiander (Sr. CF); Lauren Egan (So. SS); Elizabeth Sayegh (Jr. UT); Breanna Garcia (Jr. 1B); Aynna Norfleet (Jr. OF); Abby Brosious (So. C).
What to expect: CCHS has a lot of new faces and appears to have more depth than it has had in recent years. The also have an experienced pitcher in Milisits. Many of the newcomers have had success in other sports. “They bring varsity game experience from various sports and have provided a positive atmosphere to the program,” coach Milisits said. “During the preseason we’ve seen improvement in many of the new and returning players.”
DIERUFF
Coach: Briana Knipe (sixth season, 18-62)
2019: 6-14, 3-13 EPC.
Impact players: Day’vonni Sturdivant (Sr. 1B-P); Paige Ramos (Sr. SS); Cassidy Turton (Jr. OF), Karina Silva (Jr. 3B), Chantall Pereira-Eras (Sr. C).
What to expect: Knipe has worked hard to get Dieruff to a competitive level, but the pandemic and no in-person classes have threatened to stop the program’s momentum. “Our keys to success this year are staying positive and fighting hard each inning,” Knipe said. “Our numbers are low but our girls work really hard every day.”
EMMAUS
Coach: Britt D’Agostino (fourth season, 28-18).
2019: 16-8, 12-4 EPC. Beat Easton 4-0, lost to Northampton 2-0 in EPC tourney. Beat Freedom 1-0, lost to Parkland 10-0 in District 11 6A tourney.
Impact players: Marah Sisonick (Sr. SS); Kira Ryan (Sr. CF); Danika Barthol (So. P); Megan Cunningham (Sr. OF); Carly Anderson (Sr. C); Summer Lenhart (Jr. 3B); Peyton Sisonick, (Jr. RF); Mason Roselli (So. C); Vanessa Anders (Sr. P); Lily Bruckler (Sr. P); Daria Krout (So. 2nd/SS); Shayla Morgan (So. OF); Natalie Lazaro (Sr. C/1st); Sarah Sherman
(Jr. P/1st); Rachel Sherman (So. OF); Avaeha Schwab (So. SS/2nd); Brooke Huczko (Jr. OF); Maura Yablonski (Jr. OF).
What to expect: Another team that lost out on a title shot in 2020, the Green Hornets return with a couple of solid pieces in place. Sisnonick is one of the best shortstops in the league and Emmaus has a lot of young talent ready to showcase themselves. “My seniors are hungry for this year,” D’Agostino said. “The senior class is strong and experienced. The younger players are eager to get varsity experience and get games rolling.”
PARKLAND
Barry Search (12th season,
Coach:
207-40).
2019: 25-3, 14-2 EPC. Beat Whitehall 2-1, beat Freedom 9-1 and Northampton 4-0 for EPC title. Beat Easton 8-3, beat
Emmaus 10-0 and beat Whitehall 6-0 for District 11 6A title. Beat Conestoga 8-0, lost to Spring-Ford 4-1 in PIAA 6A tournament.
Impact players: Katie Zaun (Sr. P); Linsey Glose (Jr. C); Katie Gontkosky (Jr. 1B); Cassidy Sweeney (Jr. 2B); Jenna Piatkewicz (Jr. SS); Maddie Konapelsky (Sr. 3B); Morgan Stay (Sr. OF); Leeanna Zagrodnik (Jr. OF-P); Maddie Houser (Sr. OF); Shana Gugliandolo (Jr. IF-C).
What to expect: Zaun is the only returner from what would have been the 2020 starting lineup. She showed what she could do in pitching the Trojans to the tournament title at Coca-Cola Park. Parkland graduated 12 players from what would have been a strong team. Search said: “As a coaching staff we are excited to see how our players will perform on the varsity level. Our expectation is to grow and learn each game so that in the end of the season we can become a seasoned team.” Don’t be fooled. Parkland will be one of the EPC’s best.
WHITEHALL
Coach: Blake Morgan (fourth season, 26-21).
2019: 15-11, 10-6 EPC. Lost to Parkland 2-1 in the EPC quarterfinals. Beat Pleasant Valley 11-2, Nazareth 7-6, beat Northampton 8-6, lost to Parkland 6-0 in District 11 6A tournament. Lost to North Penn 9-0 in PIAA tournament.
Impact players: Madison Cunningham (Sr. P); Lindsey Gawrys (Sr. 1B); Abbey Reese (Sr. SS); Meghan Hutter (Sr. 2B); Abby Vivian (Sr. OF); Kendra Fox (Sr. P); Mackenzie Laub (Jr. OF); Ally Pavonne (JR. OF); Madi Lasko (Jr. C); Paige Donohue (Jr. OF); Jess Spanitz (So. IF); Kassie Aquino (So. P); Emma Bonshak (So. OF); Kate Yadush (Fr. IF); Aubrey Steiner (Fr. C).
What to expect: The Zephyrs return eight starters from 2019 and Morgan said: “We are hoping to pick up where we left off.” He added the team has younger players who are going to have big roles. If the team stays healthy and isn’t impacted by COVID-19, it figures to be a very successful spring.