The Notre Dame softball team dropped a hard-fought battle to the Palisades Pirates, 7-6, on Wednesday.

After falling behind early, the Crusaders showed fight, narrowing the gap in the later innings. Emily Szczepanski drove in two runs and pitched 1.2 innings in the circle. Rachel Fisher provided a steady presence with two hits and 4.1 innings of relief. Kelsey Bedics contributed with two stolen bases, and the defense turned a timely double play.

The Crusaders return home on Friday for Senior Day as they take on the Pen Argyl Green Knights. Come out and support our seniors in their final regular season home game!

The Notre Dame softball team earned a hard-fought 7-4 win over Bangor on Monday, led by a standout performance from Addison Ryan. Ryan delivered at the plate with two clutch hits, driving in four runs on a two-run home run in the first and a two-run double in the third to spark the Crusaders' offense.

After Bangor briefly took a 4-2 lead in the second inning, the Crusaders responded quickly. In the bottom of the third, back-to-back doubles by Addison Ryan and Sydney Ryan put Notre Dame back in front, 5-4—a lead they would not surrender.

Emily Szczepanski earned the win in the circle, going the distance while allowing four runs (two earned) on 13 hits. She struck out four and walked just one in the complete-game effort.

Offensively, the Crusaders totaled 12 hits. Hannah Lilly set the tone from the leadoff spot, going 3-for-4. Rachel Fisher and Riley Palank also recorded multiple hits to help seal the win.

Notre Dame will look to keep the momentum going as they hit the road to face Palisades on Wednesday.

The Notre Dame softball team earned a hard-fought 4-3 win over Salisbury on Wednesday, led by a perfect 3-for-3 performance from Claire Ceraul.

Ceraul was unstoppable at the plate, collecting two doubles and a single, driving in a run in both the fourth and sixth innings. Her offense helped Notre Dame retake the lead in the fourth alongside Makenna Deemer, who also had an RBI single.

After Salisbury tied the game in the fifth, Notre Dame responded immediately, taking a 3-2 lead on an RBI hit-by-pitch drawn by Addison Ryan.

In the circle, Emily Szczepanski started strong, allowing just one run over three innings while striking out four. Makenna Deemer came on in relief to earn the win, striking out five over three and two-thirds innings, while Rachel Fisher secured the save.

Riley Palank added to the Crusaders’ offense with a 2-for-3 day, and the team showed discipline at the plate, drawing five walks.

The Crusaders return back in action tomorrow vs. Executive.

The Notre Dame softball team put up a strong fight on Tuesday but ultimately fell to Bethlehem Catholic, 11-5. After trailing early, the Crusaders rallied in the fifth inning to tie the game. Emily Szczepanski sparked the comeback with an RBI single, followed by a clutch triple from Natalie Lilly that brought the score even.

Despite their efforts, the Crusaders couldn’t hold off a late surge from Bethlehem Catholic. Rachel Fisher pitched 5.1 innings, striking out nine batters, while Natalie Lilly led the team with two RBIs. Addison Ryan had a solid day at the plate, going 2-for-3, and Hannah Lilly added two stolen bases to the Crusaders’ stat line.

Notre Dame will look to regroup as they prepare to host Salisbury on Wednesday.

The Notre Dame softball team earned a solid 9-5 victory over Liberty on Thursday, thanks to a powerful offensive showing and a complete-game effort from pitcher Rachel Fisher.

The scoring started early with Riley Palank blasting a home run to left field in the bottom of the first to put the Crusaders on the board. Notre Dame added two more in the fifth, sparked by Natalie Lilly’s solo shot to center.

Notre Dame broke the game open in the sixth inning with four more runs. Addison Ryan crushed a two-run homer to center, and Emily Szczepanski delivered a clutch double, plating two more.

Rachel Fisher earned the win, tossing seven innings while giving up 12 hits and five runs, striking out one and walking none.

The Crusaders racked up 11 hits in total. Addison Ryan, Natalie Lilly, and Riley Palank each collected two hits, with Ryan leading the team with three RBIs and a 2-for-3 performance at the plate.

Hannah Lilly also turned a double play defensively to back up Fisher's strong outing.

The Crusaders improve their record to 9-4 and will look to keep the momentum going when they host Bethlehem Catholic on Tuesday.

Notre Dame softball was held scoreless in a 5-0 loss to Pen Argyl on Wednesday afternoon. While the Crusaders couldn’t get the bats going, their defense delivered impressive moments—including both a double play and a rare triple play in the same game.

Rachel Fisher started in the circle, allowing three runs (two earned) on three hits over 1.1 innings. Emily Szczepanski came in for relief, pitching 4.2 innings and allowing just two runs on seven hits.

Despite the loss, Notre Dame's defensive execution shone through, giving them momentum to build on. The Crusaders return to action at home on Thursday against Liberty.

In a tightly contested matchup on Monday, the Notre Dame softball team came up just short in a 2-0 loss to Wilson. Both teams displayed dominant pitching performances, but a fifth-inning error proved to be the turning point.

Rachel Fisher was a standout in the circle for the Crusaders, going the distance with seven innings pitched, allowing four hits, two unearned runs, and recording five strikeouts.

Offensively, Claire Ceraul and Gabrielle Apgar provided the Crusaders' spark, each collecting a hit while batting back-to-back in the lineup. 

Wilson Area’s Kiera Hartzell-Ham earned the win, allowing just two hits over seven shutout innings. 

The Crusaders look to bounce back in their next matchup on Wednesday against Pen Argyl.

The Notre Dame bounced back dominating Palmerton in a 13-3 victory on Thursday, fueled by a stellar performance from Emily Szczepanski at the plate and on the mound.

Szczepanski was unstoppable offensively, going 3-for-3 with a double and two singles, while also pitching a complete game, allowing just one earned run on eight hits with two strikeouts over five innings.

The Crusaders set the tone early, scoring two runs in the first inning off an RBI double by Riley Palank and an RBI single from Sydney Ryan. The offense exploded in the second inning with six runs, highlighted by Szczepanski’s two-run double and Natalie Lilly’s RBI double. The third inning brought another five runs, including a two-run single by Hannah Lilly and a triple from Palank.

Notre Dame’s offense racked up 12 hits, with Szczepanski and Palank each collecting three. Sydney Ryan and Hannah Lilly also contributed multiple hits, while Kelsey Bedics showed patience at the plate, leading the team with two walks.

The Crusaders look to keep the momentum going when they host Wilson on Monday.

The Notre Dame softball team fought hard but fell to the Northwestern Lehigh in a 10-2 loss on Wednesday. After giving up an early solo home run in the first, the Crusaders responded in the second inning when Hannah Lilly delivered a clutch single to drive in two runs, giving Notre Dame a brief 2-1 lead.

Northwestern Lehigh regained control in the third inning with a run-scoring single and continued to build their lead throughout the game. Rachel Fisher started on the mound for the Crusaders, pitching five innings while allowing eight runs—only five earned—on ten hits, striking out one and walking two.

Hannah Lilly led the offensive effort, going 1-for-4 with two RBIs. Emily Szczepanski, Natalie Lilly, and Riley Palank each contributed a hit. Defensively, the Crusaders turned a double play, showing flashes of strong fielding.

Notre Dame will look to bounce back in their next game on Thursday against Palmerton.

The Notre Dame softball team struggled to keep up with the Nazareth in an 11-1 loss on Saturday. Despite a determined effort, early mistakes and strong hitting from Nazareth proved too much to overcome.

Riley Palank provided the lone RBI for Notre Dame-Green Pond, going 1-for-2 at the plate. Hannah Lilly also contributed with a hit. On the mound, Emily Szczepanski took the loss after giving up two runs in one inning, while Rachel Fisher battled through three and two-thirds innings in relief, allowing nine runs—only four of them earned—on seven hits.

Despite the loss, the Crusaders will have an opportunity to regroup and refocus when they take on Northwestern Lehigh on Wednesday.

Notre Dame softball dominated Saucon Valley with a 12-2 victory on Friday. 

The Crusaders built an early lead, scoring in the first inning with a sacrifice fly by Natalie Lilly. In the second inning, they added three more runs, with Kelsey Bedics drawing a walk and Hannah Lilly hitting a double. The lead extended to 5-0 in the third inning after Claire Ceraul's single brought in another run.

Rachel Fisher earned the win, pitching five strong innings, allowing six hits and two runs while striking out two and no walks.

Offensively, the Crusaders collected 10 hits, with freshman Riley Palank leading the way, going 2-for-4 with four RBIs. Addison Ryan, Hannah Lilly, and Riley Palank each recorded two hits, keeping the offense rolling throughout the game.

Notre Dame will look to continue their strong start when they travel to Nazareth tomorrow.

The Notre Dame softball team dominated Catasauqua with a 26-4 victory on Wednesday. Natalie Lilly had an outstanding performance, driving in eight runs on four hits, including a triple, two doubles, and a single. Another standout moment of the game was senior Hannah Lilly’s 100th career hit, a remarkable milestone in her softball career.

Notre Dame offense came out strong in the first inning, scoring on a series of hits, including doubles from Natalie Lilly, Riley Palank, and Claire Ceraul. They continued to pile on runs, scoring 12 in the second inning, highlighted by a Riley Palank home run, a Sydney Ryan solo homer, and a three-run triple from Natalie Lilly. Briana Deschane hit a grand slam for Catasauqua in the second, but it was not enough to close the gap.

The Crusaders added eight more runs in the fourth inning, with strong contributions from players like Addison Ryan (who homered) and Claire Ceraul (who also homered). Makenna Deemer earned the win, striking out four over two innings, while Emily Szczepanski threw two innings of hitless relief, striking out four.

In total, Notre Dame racked up 25 hits, with multiple players contributing, including Addison Ryan, Claire Ceraul, Sydney Ryan, and Riley Palank. The Crusaders’ next game is against Saucon Valley on Friday.

Notre Dame softball dominated Southern Lehigh with a 15-3 victory on Monday, powered by Sydney Ryan’s two home runs and five RBIs. The Crusaders exploded for eight runs in the first inning, highlighted by Sydney Ryan’s three-run homer, Addison Ryan’s solo shot, and key hits from Kelsey Bedics and Natalie Lilly.

The offense continued in the second with five more runs, including a three-run double from Hannah Lilly. Sydney Ryan added another home run in the fourth, driving in two more runs to extend the lead.

Rachel Fisher earned the win, allowing three runs (two earned) over five innings with no walks. The Crusaders tallied 14 hits, led by Addison Ryan and Hannah Lilly with three each. Riley Palank drew three walks, and Natalie Lilly was active on the bases, stealing twice.

Notre Dame will face Catasauqua on Wednesday.

Sydney Ryan led Notre Dame softball with three hits, including a home run, in a dominant 15-3 win over Bangor. 

The Crusaders jumped ahead early, scoring seven runs in the first inning, highlighted by Addison Ryan’s two-run homer. Sydney Ryan’s single in the second extended the lead to 8-0. In the third, Riley Palank doubled in a run before Ryan’s two-run homer capped a three-run inning.

Rachel Fisher earned the win, allowing just one hit over three scoreless innings. The Crusaders tallied 16 hits, with multiple contributions from Emily Szczepanski, Addison Ryan, Kelsey Bedics, and Fisher. Bangor’s Kaylynn Figurski and Marissa Siu each drove in a run, while Marissa Siu and Abby Orlemann collected two hits apiece.

The Crusaders look to keep their momentum going as they host Southern Lehigh at home today.

Notre Dame softball secured a strong 8-1 victory over Northern Lehigh on Tuesday. After the Bulldogs took an early lead in the first, the Crusaders responded in the second with an RBI single from Emily Szczepanski to tie the game. They pulled ahead in the third when Natalie Lilly and Sydney Ryan delivered back-to-back RBI singles, making it 3-1.

Riley Palank added to the lead with a solo home run in the fifth, and the Crusaders continued to apply pressure at the plate, racking up 11 hits. Szczepanski, Addison Ryan, and Hannah Lilly each recorded two hits, while seven different players contributed RBIs.

Rachel Fisher dominated on the mound, going the distance with a complete game, allowing just three hits and one run while striking out eight.

Notre Dame looks to keep the momentum going when they travel to Bangor on Saturday.

Senior, Addison Ryan led the Notre Dame softball team to a dominant 28-4 win over Lehighton, driving in five runs on four hits, including two triples, a double, and a single.

The Crusaders set the tone early, scoring four runs in the first inning before exploding for 14 runs in the second and 10 more in the fourth. Riley Palank, Claire Ceraul, and Natalie Lilly contributed multiple RBIs, while the team racked up 27 hits overall.

Rachel Fisher earned the win, allowing four runs on seven hits over three innings, while Emily Szczepanski pitched a scoreless inning in relief.

Lehighton’s Ava Trach drove in two runs, and Amber Yeakel went 3-for-3 at the plate.

The Crusaders face Bethlehem Catholic next on Monday.

Sydney Ryan powered Notre Dame-Green Pond to a dominant 17-0 win over Jim Thorpe, blasting two home runs and driving in four runs. The Crusaders took control early, scoring twice in the first on an Addison Ryan single. A five-run second inning featured key hits from Emily Szczepanski, Hannah Lilly, and Sydney Ryan’s first homer. They added six more in the third, highlighted by Riley Palank’s double and Ryan’s second home run. Addison Ryan capped the scoring with a three-run homer in the fifth.

Rachel Fisher earned the win, allowing just one hit over five shutout innings with five strikeouts. 

The Crusaders racked up 11 hits, with Addison Ryan driving in five runs and multiple hits from Claire Ceraul, Sydney Ryan, and Hannah Lilly. Natalie Lilly swiped two of the team’s four stolen bases. Jim Thorpe managed just one hit from Zacharias and turned a double play. 

Notre Dame is back in action on the road at Lehighton on Friday.