When Hayden Reyes got called up to the Princeton High varsity baseball team as a freshman in 2013, it didn’t take long for him to make an impact.

“They put me in one game and I wasn’t doing well,” said Reyes.

“Then they moved me up to second in the lineup and I went 2-for-5 that game and ever since then I have never looked back.”

Over the last four seasons, Reyes has been a fixture in the PHS lineup, playing shortstop and batting leadoff.

Earlier this month, Reyes achieved something he never imagined was possible when he made his varsity debut, collecting the 100th hit of his high school career.

“It was exciting, it was something I never even thought about until my junior year,” said Reyes, who got the milestone hit on May 12 in an 8-2 loss to WW/P-N. “It was a relief to get it, I was thinking about it since my 95th hit.”

With the PHS coaching staff believing that no player has previously reached the 100-hit mark in program history, the achievement has special significance for Reyes.

“It is exciting to be the first one to ever do it and record it,” said Reyes. “It is something I will remember forever.”

While accumulating 100 hits is an individual achievement, Reyes knows he couldn’t have done it alone.

“I had a lot of help from my teammates, winning games and getting around the order,” said Reyes. “I have been getting four or five at bats in a lot of games.”

For Reyes, helping the Little Tigers win more games has been the main highlight of his PHS experience.

“Turning the program around is the thing that will come to my mind,” said Reyes, reflecting on his career.

“Before I was here, I think the team was 3-21 previously. In my freshman year they were 1-8 and called me up and I think we ended 9-14. We won 10 games last year. We have improved a lot.”

While PHS ended the 2016 campaign at 9-14 as it fell 2-0 to Monroe last Monday in the opening round of the Central Jersey Group 4 sectional, Reyes was excited to wrap things up with a tournament appearance.

“We have had a lot of injuries, our ace (Joaquin Hernandez-Burt) got hurt,” said Reyes, who had 104 career hits through an 11-1 regular season loss at Nottingham last Friday.

“We qualified for a state game. It is our second time in eight years; we did it my sophomore year. It is exciting to end in a state game.”

Reyes’ career will not be ending any time soon as he will be attending Montclair State and playing for its baseball program.

“I had an on campus tour with their coach; I really liked the campus and two weeks later, I decided I was going to go there,” said Reyes.

“I think it is a good fit for me. I am looking forward to playing there. It has been a dream for a while and it is great to get it all accomplished. Looking back, I have worked hard and it has paid off.”