THE RIGHT STUFF: Princeton High softball pitcher Kayla Volante fires the ball in recent action. Last Friday, junior star Volante gave up three hits and struck out seven in earning the shutout as PHS defeated Lawrence 10-0 in six innings. The Little Tigers, who improved to 2-1 with the win, were slated to host Princeton Day School on April 14 before playing at WW/P-N on April 15 and Nottingham on April 18. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

After having its first two scheduled games this spring postponed due to poor weather, the Princeton High softball team finally opened its season against Hamilton last week.

But while the field at the John Witherspoon Middle School was dry for the April 5 contest, the players still faced adverse conditions as the wind howled and the temperature hovered in the low 40s.

PHS junior pitcher Kayla Volante, however, was determined to not let the blustery weather hamper her efforts.

“It was very cold,” said Volante. “I was trying to not really focus on it and just pitch.”

Volante ended up pitching very well, striking out 10 and yielding four hits as PHS edged Hamilton 3-2.

“My screwball was working pretty well,” said Volante, reflecting on her performance. “The ump was giving the low pitches so that was very helpful.”

Shutting out Hamilton through six innings, Volante ran into trouble in the top of the seventh. She gave up two runs and two runners were in scoring position before she recorded the final out to seal the victory.

“It was very exciting and intense,” recalled Volante. “It was close. I was getting a little worried there but I got the last out.”

Volante is excited to be the workhorse in the circle this spring for PHS after having shared pitching duties with the now-graduated Sarah Eisenach.

“I am ready for it, I am ready to pitch a lot of games,” asserted Volante. “I think this year I can hit my spots pretty well.”

In addition to providing superb pitching, Volante helped herself with a big hit, lining a single to drive in the final run of a three-run PHS rally in the third.

“It was very helpful from a pitcher’s standpoint, you have that extra cushion,” said Volante.

PHS head coach Dave Boehm liked the way his team didn’t let that cushion slip away in the face of Hamilton’s late rally.

“This is the type of game that in the last couple of years we would’ve lost,” said Boehm.

“That seventh inning might have snowballed into three or four more runs so I think it was a positive that we were able to get that third out before any more damage was done.”

Volante’s pitching effort was a major positive in the victory by the Little Tigers.

“She did a good job, she had 10 strikeouts,” said Boehm. “She was hitting her spots pretty good. She kept it outside and she settled in.”

The hitting of senior center fielder Natalie Campisi in the leadoff spot made a big difference for the Little Tigers, as she went 2-for-3 with a triple and a run scored.

“We had her down around the seven, eight spot before and we moved her up this year,” said Boehm.

“She has good speed, she can hit the gaps and she can run forever. That ball on the triple cut through the wind like it was nothing.”

Boehm acknowledges that PHS has to take advantage of any run opportunities that it gets.

“That is the thing we need more than anything, timely hitting,” said Boehm, whose team did get their bats going last Friday as they routed Lawrence 10-0 as junior shortstop Nancy Gray went 4-for-4 with a homer and 4 RBIs and Volante earning the shutout.

“We are not going to score a ton of runs. If we get people on base we have got to get them in. The first inning hurt a little bit, we didn’t get those runs in when we had runners on second and third with no outs.”

Getting a win in the opener, though, figures to help build confidence for PHS.

“It is the first game, it is a win and starting off on a positive note,” said Boehm. “Hopefully we can get better at it. We play some decent defense. I think we can build on this.”

In Volante’s view, the Little Tigers can get better and better as the season goes on.

“I think the keys for this year are to stay focused during the entire game and keep supporting each other when things go wrong,” said Volante.

“I think winning our first game will be very helpful confidence-wise for the entire team.”