MIGHTY KACEY: Hun School softball player Kacey Abitz takes a cut in the state Prep A semifinals against Peddie last Wednesday. Senior third baseman/pitcher Abitz and the Raiders went down to a 7-0 defeat to the Falcons in the contest. Hun finished the spring with a 13-3 record, winning the Mid-Atlantic Prep League (MAPL) title along the way. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

For the Hun School softball team, starting the spring with an 11-10 victory over nemesis Peddie gave it a heavy dose of self belief.

“The win against Peddie, the first game of the season, set the tone for us,” said Hun head coach Kathy Quirk.

“We had been so close to them for years and have just not been able to beat them. I think that gave us a lot of confidence.”

Building on that triumph, Hun went on to post a 12-2 regular season mark, winning the MAPL title in the process as it defeated Peddie a second time, prevailing 9-5 on April 19.

After rolling past Kent Place 10-0 in the state Prep A quarterfinals, Hun faced Peddie again last Wednesday in semis and Quirk was sensing a third triumph over the Falcons.

“In the first inning, we shut them down 1-2-3 and I thought this was going to be a great game,” said Quirk.

But after giving up four runs in the top of the second, Hun’s season came to an end as Peddie went on to a 7-0 victory as the Raiders were held to five hits by Falcons pitcher Sydney Hixenbaugh.

“That did put us in a hole and we couldn’t get out of it,” said Quirk, referring to Peddie’s second inning outburst.

“I thought we were ready to play. Things didn’t go our way. It is not like we made tons of errors, they just had a couple of key hits. We gave them a couple of walks and you can’t defend a walk. They scored with those walks on base.

We struggled a little with their pitcher and her change up. We just couldn’t connect with the ball.”

While Quirk was disappointed with the finale, she will look back fondly on this spring.

“I was very proud of them, the way we won the MAPL,” said Quirk. “We went undefeated in that league which I don’t think has ever been done by anyone. I don’t think anyone has won it as clean as we have. They worked hard.”

Hun got good work from senior stalwarts, Alexis Goeke (.617 batting average in 2016 with 16 RBIs), Kacey Abitz (.444,15 RBIs), Alyssa Hampton (.205, 5 RBIs), Sierra Hessinger (9.385, 12 RBIs), and Shannon Dargan (.286, 2 RBIs), who were four-year members of the squad.

“They have done a lot for the program with their leadership and what they bring to the team,” said Quirk. “That is going to be missed, being there for four years is a long time.”

In Quirk’s view, there are good times ahead for the program, with such returning stars as junior catcher Julie Fassl (.579, 25 runs scored), freshman first baseman Megan Donahue (.569, 21 RBIs), sophomore second baseman Keelan Ryan (.222, 3 RBIs), and sophomore pitcher/first baseman Julia Revock (.345, 14 RBIs).

“We have a good core of underclassmen coming back,” asserted Quirk. “Julie is just a natural softball player; she is fun to coach, she is fun to watch. She puts her heart and soul into the game and never gives up. Donahue had a good season and she is still so young. Never in a million years did I think Keelan would have been our starting second baseman but she did such a nice job there. Whether Julia Revock is pitching, or playing first, or hitting, she did a great job.”

In order to keep contending for titles, the Hun players have to keep showing heart.

“I think it was a great season and I think we have to build on this for next year,” said Quirk.

“I have confidence that as long as they work hard, we will be right there again. As long as you believe in yourself and continue to work hard, you can achieve things that you want to from day one.”