BRINGING HER A-GAME: Hun School softball pitcher Alanna Pearson fires the ball in the state Prep A title game against the Blair Academy last Thursday. Junior star Pearson hurled a four-hit shutout with nine strikeouts as Hun prevailed 7-0, earning its first Prep A crown since 2004. She also went 2-for-3 with a double and two runs at the plate to help herself out. The Raiders ended the spring with a 14-2 record. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Alanna Pearson was looking to come out firing as the Hun School softball team hosted Blair Academy in the state Prep A title game last Thursday.

“We all knew we had to come out and play our hardest,” said junior pitcher Pearson, noting that the rivals had split their two regular season meetings

“They have pretty good bats throughout the lineup. I had to just keep throwing my stuff, go to my rise, and mix in my curve and change up to keep them off balance.”

Pearson was sharp in the top of the first inning, retiring the Buccaneers in order on two ground outs and a strikeout. Then in the bottom of the first, Hun scored four runs to seize the momentum.

“Pitching-wise having those four runs, I knew we had set the tone for the other team that we were coming out to fight,” said Pearson.

“We would definitely win that game but we couldn’t let up.”

The Raiders didn’t let up, scoring three more runs in the bottom of the seventh with Person contributing a double in the rally.

“I knew the way she (Jessie Schable) was going to pitch to me,” said Pearson, reflecting on her big hit on a day which saw her go 2-for-3 with two runs scored. “She was going to go off-speed so I just went with the pitch.”

Armed with the 7-0 lead, Pearson kept pitching superbly despite the 90 degree heat. “Even though it was pretty hot and humid, I usually pitch well in this weather,” said Pearson, who struck out the side in the fifth inning. “I had my mind focused and tuned in the whole game.”

In the top of the seventh, Pearson worked out of a jam with two strikeouts to put the final touches on a 7-0 triumph as Hun earned its first Prep A crown since 2004 and ended the season with a 14-2 record.

“It was getting a little bit rocky but I knew I had good defenders behind me because in the previous inning our left side carried us through that inning,” said Pearson, who ended up hurling a four-hit shutout with nine strikeouts.

For Pearson, who transferred to Hun this past fall, there was a sense that her new team could accomplish some special things this spring.

“I came from Immaculata so I don’t know what winning a championship is like,” said Pearson.

“In travel ball, I do because I have had those moments. It is a great group of girls and I knew we could do it from the start.”

The bonds formed between the players before they had even played a game helped pave the way to the title.

“The coaches make us get involved with each other,” said Pearson. “In Florida down in our spring training, we all just hung out and had a great time and that set the tone for the entire season.”

Longtime Hun head coach Kathy Quirk was expecting an entirely different type game in the final after both teams dominated in semifinal victories.

“Their pitcher struck out 14 of Lawrenceville’s kids and my pitcher struck out 14 of Peddie so we were going to come in and it was going to be a pitchers’ duel,” said Quirk.

The way her hitters came out swinging against Blair heartened Quirk. “We just jumped on her and we did what we have been doing all season long, we have been hitting the ball,” said Quirk, who got two hits and two RBIs from sophomore star Meghan Donohue in the win with senior star Julie Fassl chipping in a hit and a run, freshman Gigi Venizelos going 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI, and freshman Abby Zucatti contributing two RBIs.

“I was a little nervous because she is a very powerful pitcher but when we jumped out to a 3-0 lead. I just thought, ‘Oh wow, this not what I expected.’ I don’t breathe easy until the game is over.”

Having Pearson battling in the circle helped Hun breathe easily as a team.

“Alanna has just done a great job,” said Quirk. “If one of her teammates makes an error and there is a person on base she just comes back and fires it harder. They just pick each other up.”

Quirk was fired up to see her program break through with its first Prep A crown in 13 years.

“It is special,” said Quirk, who hugged her players one by one in the postgame celebration.

“We have lost in the semifinals, we have lost in the finals and we finally were able to capitalize.”

In Quirk’s view, the title run was sparked by a blend of work ethic and camaraderie.

“They just work hard, they work together, and they support each other,” said Quirk.

Pearson, for her part, was proud of how the Raiders got better and better as the spring went on.

“There were some blips and we didn’t come out strong hitting-wise,” said Pearson.

“With all of the practice we have had and with our coaches being on us, we just progressed together as a team.”