COMING THROUGH: Hun School softball player Meghan Donohue taking a swing in recent action. Last Thursday, sophomore star Donohue had two hits and an RBI to help Hun defeat WW/P-North 5-0. The Raiders, who defeated Hopewell Valley 10-0 last Monday to post their 12th straight win and improve to 12-1, play at Springside Chestnut Hill (Pa.) on May 13 and then start play in the state Prep A tournament. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

As a sophomore, Meghan Donohue has taken on new roles this spring for the Hun School softball team.

After playing at first base and batting third last year as she enjoyed a superb freshman campaign, Donohue has moved to third base and is now hitting out of the cleanup spot in the Hun batting order.

“Usually I am a first baseman but the team needed me at third and that’s where I play and I am trying to do my best there,” said Donohue.

“This year I am hitting fourth. I know (Alexis) Goeke hit fourth for us last year so I have got to keep the team going. Gigi Venizelos has been hitting third for us. She is the new freshman and she has been great.”

Last Thursday against WW/P-North, Donohue contributed an RBI single in the first inning as the Raiders pushed across three runs to take a 3-0 lead on the way to a 5-0 win.

“I think it is really important for us to just have a good start,” said Donohue, reflecting in the first inning rally.

“Julie (Fassl) leads off and she really gets us off to a good start. As soon as we get that power in the beginning, we really pull through. I am just trying to make contact there, doing my part to help the team and trying to get those runners over.”

On Monday, Donohue kept making contact, going 2-of-4 with two runs as the Raiders topped Hopewell Valley 10-0 to post 12th straight win and improve to 12-1.

“I think this year our team has really come together as a whole,” said Donohue in assessing Hun’s winning streak.

“We have the whole teamwork thing down, we really support each other. I think it is the chemistry within the team. We really support each other and we all get along. We are just one big family.”

Hun head coach Kathy Quirk liked the way her team came out swinging against WW/P-North.

“We tell them that we want to score a run an inning,” said Quirk. “We like scoring first and getting up on the board and just moving from there. The tone did shift. I think they felt a little bit more confident.”

Hun is getting more and more confident in junior pitcher Alanna Pearson, who struck out 11 and gave up five hits in the win over the Northern Knights and then had 12 strikeouts in holding HoVal to three hits.

“She has been doing a nice job for us,” said Quirk. “I am very pleased for her, she has become a nice team player. Normally her bat is strong but today it wasn’t as strong as it has been in the past. She did her job on the mound, that was the most important thing. She just works hard everyday. Her and Fassl work well together. She is just moving the ball.”

Senior star catcher Fassl enjoyed a strong hitting day against WW/P-North, going 3-for-4 with a homer, an RBI, and two runs.

“She is just a great player, she is the cornerstone behind this defense,” said Quirk of Fassl.

“I was happy for her to see that ball go out. She is just a great kid and she works hard. We are going to miss her next year.”

Quirk has been getting good work from Donahue along with Gigi Venizelos and Julia Revock at the top of the order.

“Meghan has been doing a nice job for us,” said Quirk. “With Gigi is batting third, Meghan is able to get either her or Fassl in. Revock’s job is to move them up. They all know what their job is.”

With the state Prep A tournament coming up next week, Quirk is hoping that her team can keeping getting the job done.

“I think we are confident but we can’t get cocky,” said Quirk. “They work together, they talk, and they support each other. I am very happy and pleased. I just hope we can continue.”

In Donohue’s view, the Raiders are primed to work hard for the goal of a prep title.

“Last year we didn’t have a good showing in preps,” said Donohue. “We lost that game to Peddie, that was really hard for us. This year we are really motivated to get it. That is our goal and we really want to bounce back.”