CATCHING ON: Princeton High softball catcher Clare Johnson makes a throw in recent action. Sophomore Johnson has emerged this spring as a star in the field and at the plate for the Tigers. PHS, which fell to 1-11 with a 15-0 loss to Allentown last Saturday, hosts Ewing on May 21. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

It is very rare to see a left-handed catcher in baseball or softball; there hasn’t been one in Major League Baseball since lefty Benny Distefano caught three games for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1989.

Among the reasons for the paucity of lefty catchers include difficulty throwing to second base around right-handed batters, having to pivot in order to make throws to third base, and having to turn the body to make tags on plays at home plate.

But those obstacles haven’t deterred lefty Clare Johnson from taking the catching role for the Princeton High softball team and she is proving herself to be a rare talent with the bat and the glove.

In a 20-0 win over Trenton Central on May 11, sophomore Johnson pounded out two hits for five RBIs. Two days later in a 16-0 loss to Robbinsville, Johnson smacked a line-drive single and made several key defensive plays behind the plate, including a superb over-the-shoulder catch on a pop foul.

Johnson enjoys breaking the mold. “It is very unusual, it is a bit of a surprise, nobody expects a left-handed catcher, said Johnson who also catches for her travel team, the Montgomery Mavericks.

“There are definitely some challenges when you are a left-handed catcher, like throwing down the third. There are a lot of advantages, especially catching outside pitches. I am able to frame them a lot better and able to get around it.”

After losing its first eight games playing a challenging schedule, PHS was thrilled to break into the win column with victory over Trenton.

“That was a very exciting win for us; the first one of the season is always great,” said Johnson.

“We played really well, we were making all of our outs. We had some really good hitting. It was a really good game. I had a couple of good hits which is always nice. All of the girls did well, we definitely needed that first win.”

Against powerhouse Robbinsville, the Tigers looked to raise their game.

“We definitely benefit from playing this level of competition,” said Johnson.

“It is always about learning from your mistakes. Even though we had some mistakes today, it just makes you better playing a team like this.”

Having seen the 2020 campaign canceled due to the pandemic, Johnson has worked hard to become a better hitter.

“I was just really trying to hit the gaps because this is a very good, tough fielding team,” said Johnson, reflecting on her first inning single against the Ravens.

“I worked a lot over the winter on my hitting. I am really excited coming into my first high school season. It is starting to translate and my hard work is starting to pay off.”

Getting to finally have a high school season has been special for Johnson.

“This is just a great group of girls,” said Johnson. “It is so exciting to be able to play and be out of the field. Coming in from our first game to now, there are huge advancements. We are fielding the ball better, we are hitting the ball better.”

PHS head coach Marissa Soprano saw the win over Trenton as a great boost for her club.

“We got 10 runs in the first inning, there were a lot of walks in that game,” said Soprano.

“The girls are in a learning process on the bases and they were able to get some runs and get a little confidence that first inning. They were excited.”

In the defeat to Robbinsville, the Tigers absorbed some tough lessons.

“We got a little rattled with how far they were hitting the ball,” said Soprano.

“We have been doing a lot of work with the outfielders. We told them there is nothing they can do with a shot far over their head but to just be fast to the ball. They calmed down in the second and third innings. We are just telling them to try to be aggressive and see what happens and try to make the other team to make the plays. It is just trying to get them experience and more comfortable in the field.”

Having Johnson on the field this spring has been a big plus for PHS.

“The canceled season last year didn’t give her a chance as a freshman,” said Soprano.

“We are so excited to see what she can do behind the plate. She has been playing really well. She is doing a really good job back there, she has saved so many runs with her blocking skills.”

The quartet of junior Molly Brown, freshman Maddie Castillo, junior Ellie van der Schaar, and junior Jadie Tome have also been doing well for the Tigers.

“We have moved Molly around, she is doing a great job anywhere we ask her to play,” said Soprano.

“Maddie is stepping up as a freshman. She and Ellie [van der Schaar] are both doing a good job. Jadie [Tome] is making big strides in the outfield, we moved her out there. She had to catch for us two seasons ago so she is doing a great job for us out there. She has really improved in tracking the ball down.”

Soprano is looking for her players to keep showing the improvement they have already displayed this spring.

“It is just cleaning it up on the field, just making sure that we are making the plays and having confidence in themselves,” said Soprano, whose team fell to 1-11 with a 15-0 loss to Allentown last Saturday and hosts Ewing on May 21.

“I was just talking to them about making sure that one error doesn’t compound into another one and making sure that they are translating what we are doing in practice into games. They have made really good progress from the first game to now.”

Johnson, for her part, believes that PHS is headed in the right direction.

“We just need to keep being aggressive at bat, we need a lot more base runners,” said Johnson.

“We have just got to keep being confident, making our throws and getting those outs. We can’t give a team extra outs.”