FINAL CUT: Hun School softball team player Hanna Babuschak takes a cut in a game earlier this season. Senior catcher Babuschak’s play behind the plate and hitting helped Hun go 9-4 this season. The Raiders saw their 2021 season end last week when they fell 2-1 to the Blair Academy in the state Prep A semifinals on May 18. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Although the Hun School softball team had defeated the Blair Academy twice in regular season play this spring, Hanna Babuschak and her Raider teammates didn’t take the Buccaneers lightly when the rivals met in the state Prep A semis last week.

“We weren’t underestimating them even though we had beat them before,” said Hun senior catcher Babuschak. “They are always a good team to play.”

The third meeting turned into a tense pitching duel between Hun’s Lexi Kobryn and Blair’s Mallory Allen as the teams were knotted in a 0-0 stalemate in the May 18 contest heading into the fifth inning.

Babuschak, for her part, battled hard in her first two at-bats, fouling off a number of pitches before making outs in the second and the fourth inning.

“I wanted to help my team out and try to hit, that was my mindset going into the at-bats,” said Babuschak. “I was just trying to get on and do what  I could.”

Hun forged ahead 1-0 in the bottom of the fifth but Blair responded with two runs in the sixth to take a 2-1 lead.

Coming up in the bottom of the seventh with the Raiders still trailing 2-1, Babuschak blasted a screaming liner that appeared to be heading to the gap but was speared by the Blair shortstop in a leaping grab. Hun went on to lose 2-1, finishing the spring with a 9-4 record.

“That was tough to watch, it is part of the game,” said Babuschak reflecting on seeing her liner get snagged.

While it was tough to see the season end with the disappointing defeat, Babuschak was proud of what the Raiders accomplished this spring.

“It was definitely nice coming from last year and not having a season at all,” said Babuschak.

“I think we did well this year. It was our most winning season since I have been here.”

Hun head coach Kathy Quirk realized that it was going to be hard to post a third straight win over the Buccaneers.

“I knew from the beginning it was going to be a tough game,” said Quirk. “They always say it is tough to beat a team for a third time.”

Hun battled hard, getting base runners in scoring position in the second and fourth before scoring in the fifth in a fielder’s choice by senior Kayla Hampton.

“We did hit the ball but not like we have been hitting,” lamented Quirk, noting that 24 balls were hit out of play with some batters fouling off six or seven pitches. “We couldn’t capitalize.”

Quirk thought Babuschak surely had a hit when she smacked the liner in the seventh.

“She got robbed on that last play,” said Quirk. “The shortstop made a beautiful play; you can’t take anything away from her.”

Hun freshman pitcher Kobryn produced some beautiful work in a losing cause, striking out 10 with no walks as she scattered six hits.

“I thought she did a nice job on the mound, she did what we asked her to do,” said Quirk of Kobryn. “The hits that they got were nothing exceptional, they were all singles.”

Looking ahead, Quirk believes Hun could have an exceptional squad next year.

“We are a young team, there is a lot to look forward to,” said Quirk.

“We are losing two key players. When you think about the 10 girls that are returning, there is a lot of talent. There is going to be a lot of fighting next year for those starting positions. The kids are already talking about it, which is nice. The parents are saying, ‘hey you have a great group of kids coming back.’ I am looking forward to the returning players and having a great season next year.”

In reflecting on the 2021 season, Quirk was proud of how her squad caught fire in the middle of the season, reeling off a five-game winning streak.

“I was happiest about the way we were able to adjust with our bats,” said Quirk.

“We had that stretch where we scored one run in two games. We worked hard on our batting and they adjusted. I was pleased with the pitching that we had. Both pitchers [Kobryn and fellow freshman Jamie Staub] felt relieved that neither one of them carried the weight of the team on their shoulders. It was nice to be able to say that if this one is not performing, I have someone I can put in. They each complemented each other as a righty and a lefty, you don’t have that too often.”

Babuschak and Hampton made a nice contribution to Hun over their careers.

“Hanna was an exceptional catcher for us,” said Quirk. “I was very pleased to have her. She was a quiet leader. With Kayla in center field, she would have played last year so this is really her first year. I thought she did an excellent job. She moves well and can throw the ball well. It was nice to see her, even though she did fly out for the last out of the game, make contact with the ball. A lot of times we DH’d her. She has been working hard and I felt that she proved herself in practice. We gave the chance to hit and she did a nice job.”

Starting at catcher from day one as a freshman, Babuschak enjoyed having the chance to play for the program.

“I think the relationships I have made with the team and the coaches stand out,” said Babuschak. “We are definitely good friends.”