Whitehall-Coplay Press

The Parkland boys soccer team can finally say that it is on a winning streak during the 2018 season. After drawing with Central Catholic in the season-opener and then defeating rival Emmaus in their next game, the Trojans lost two of their next three games.

But after a 3-1 win over Pocono Mountain East last Saturday, Parkland (4-2-1 overall, 3-1-1 EPC Skyline) found its first win streak of the 2018 regular season after taking down Whitehall (3-3-1, 2-3) 4-0 Monday night under the rain at Parkland High School in an Eastern Pennsylvania Conference Skyline Division game.

Trailing 2-0 in a best-of-three series, the No. 2 seed Iron Financial Orioles faced a must-win situation last Sunday in game three of the Blue Mountain League semifinals against the third-seeded Limeport Bulls at Simmons Field in Egypt.

The Bulls were in the same round last year, and won the championship just two years ago. They were experienced in the postseason and seemed destined to finish off the sweep.

But that’s why they play the game.

The Balliet Vikings Connie Mack baseball team played near flawless ball Monday evening at Sammy Balliet Stadium in Coplay, and in doing so, shutout Salisbury 8-0 in the first round of the playoffs.

There was a five-way tie in the standings after the last game of the regular season, as five teams all had 12-6 records. Balliet was awarded the eighth seed and home game against the ninth seeded Falcons, who both had the same record.

The Whitehall boys volleyball team has started off 2016 unblemished through their first three games. Wins against Quakertown to open the season and then Eastern Pennsylvania Conference opponents Northampton and Nazareth the following two, had put the Zephyrs at 3-0.

But Whitehall ran into a freight train in defending PIAA champion Parkland last Tuesday night. The Trojans swept the Zephyrs 3-0 by scores of 25-18, 25-14, and 25-18 to give Whitehall its first loss of the year.

Each year the high school basketball season wraps up its year with a special event, not only for senior players, but also for a group of youngsters who may never get the chance to suit up in a varsity basketball game.

The 41st annual All-Star game was held last Saturday at Northampton Community College and featured representatives from 35 high schools around the Lehigh Valley. The Classic raises funds to support Via of the Lehigh Valley’s services for children and adults with disabilities and promotes community involvement.

In its 35th year, the Lehigh Valley Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame introduced five new members for its 2015 class at a dinner last Friday night at the Northampton Area Community College Center.

Among the five inductees were two local to the Lehigh Valley Press coverage area, Steve Pritko of Northampton High School Class of 1939, and Vincent Rogusky from Catasauqua High School Class of 1976.