SPECIAL DELIVERY: Princeton High softball pitcher Kayla Volante delivers a pitch in action last spring. PHS is depending on junior Volante to be a workhorse in the circle this season. The Little Tigers start their 2016 campaign by hosting Hamilton on April 2. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

The good news for the Princeton High softball team is that it boasts a solid core of veterans.

“We have got eight players who had a lot of varsity time last year; we only lost Sarah Eisenach,” said PHS head coach Dave Boehm, who guided the Little Tigers to a 7-16 mark last spring for the second straight season.

The bad news, though, is that PHS doesn’t boast a lot of depth. “I was carrying 11 on varsity and now I am down to 10,” said Boehm, noting that sophomore Bianca Guidi is currently sidelined due to injury. “We have to shift some personnel around sometimes.”

Boehm is looking for junior Kayla Volante to carry the pitching load. “Kayla has been doing well, we will be as good as long as she holds up,” said Boehm, whose team starts its 2016 campaign by hosting Hamilton on April 2.

“She hits her spots; she is pretty good with her location. She throws pretty well and has good movement. I think we will be OK as long as she stays healthy.”

Junior Nancy Gray should also see time in the circle. “Nancy is a work in progress; she throws pretty hard,” added Boehm. “She just needs to hit location and change speeds sometimes.”

With such battle-tested players as senior Natalie Campisi, senior Kelli Swedish, junior Christina Cuomo, senior Stephanie Wu, senior Genna Garlock, senior Emily DiLella, and Gray, the PHS hitting attack figures to be potent.

“Natalie Campisi will be at the top of the order, she has got some good speed, she can lay down the bunt and gets the ball in play,” said Boehm.

“My number 3-4 hitters will be Gray and Kelli Swedish; they will be the meat of the order for us. I would like Christina Cuomo to come through and bat second for us, she can slap and put players in motion. Stephanie Wu has looked OK, she is our jack of all trades. Emily DiLella has been hitting pretty well so I am pretty confident with her too. Genna Garlock is counted on to get some hits out there.”

Boehm is confident in his defense, which features Cuomo at catcher, DiLella at first base, Wu and junior Megan Shanahan at second, Gray at shortstop, Swedish at third with Garlock in left field, Campisi in center, and junior Celia Gleason in right.

“I think we will be OK defensively, the fact that they are getting to play different positions in the scrimmages should help us out in the long run if we do have to move people around,” said Boehm.

“The outfield is pretty solid, they will catch the balls out there. I am not really worried about the infield.”

In Boehm’s view, the Little Tigers have the potential to produce a solid season.

“Going double digits in wins is possible but things have to go our way,” said Boehm.

“It all depends on how Kayla holds up; she is going to have to throw a lot of games. We have to get some timely hitting, that has to be our big thing. We can’t have those big snowball innings in the field either.”

Noting that his players have a good time playing with each other, Boehm sees that chemistry as a big plus for the Little Tigers this spring.

“This is a team with no drama, they all get along,” said Boehm. “There isn’t any backbiting, maybe because I have small numbers they realize that they can’t afford any of that. There is going to be plenty of playing time for everyone.”