MAD GOOD: Princeton High softball player Maddie Castillo takes a swing in a game earlier this season. Last Friday, senior Castillo went 3-for-4 with a run in a losing cause as PHS got edged 8-7 by Hopewell Valley. The Tigers, who lost 11-1 to Allentown last Monday to move to 2-5, play at Florence on April 25 before hosting Lawrence High on April 30. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Maddie Castillo may seem to be a little old to be playing with dolls but she was all smiles as she clutched a Barbie after the Princeton High softball team hosted Hopewell Valley last Friday.

PHS senior third baseman Castillo received the doll after going 3-for-4 with a run in a losing cause as PHS got edged 8-7 by HoVal in a back-and-forth contest.

“Teams give out a game ball for the MVP, this is like our game ball, it is Barbie,” said Castillo.

“Natalie [Hester] got it last game and now next game I will get to give it to the next person.”

Although the Tigers came up short against the Bulldogs, they showed plenty of fight. They fell behind 2-0 in the top of the first inning and then scored two runs in the bottom of the frame to knot the game at 2-2. PHS fell behind 4-2 in the top of third and then forged ahead 6-5 in the bottom of the fourth. After yielding a run in the top of the fifth, PHS went up 7-6 in the bottom of the inning. Neither team scored in the sixth but HoVal pushed across two runs in the top of the seventh to pull out the win.

Castillo was not surprised to see the Tigers battling to the final out.

“Our energy is the biggest part of our team,” said Castillo.

“No matter whether we are up or down, we are screaming. It definitely helps. Even when we make errors in the field, we pick each other up and say we are going to get out of the inning. In between innings, coach (Marissa Soprano) gives us a good talk. She tells us get our head into game and it fuels us to get more runs and just be positive.”

Hitting in the eighth spot in the PHS batting order, Castillo has helped fuel the PHS hitting attack.

“I moved down in the lineup and I think it has made me have a more positive mindset in the batter’s box and just be smarter on the bases and just have more overall good at-bats,” said Castillo.
“We all build off of each other. If I see other people hitting, it encourages me to want to hit and that encourages others to hit.”

Castillo is encouraged by the improvement the PHS program has shown during her career.

“The progress in these four years has been insane,” said Castillo.

“The incoming freshmen have a lot of energy and skill that we needed to just build off of. We are all just a close knit team. We are building off of every year and learning from all of our mistakes from the game so it is good.”

Serving as a team co-captain along with classmate Ellie van der Schaar, Castillo has worked to build that closeness.

“Freshman year, me and Ellie were there only two freshmen, it is nice to be here all four years,” said Castillo.

“As a captain, I think it is nice to get the team together. We plan a lot of events together which definitely keeps us as a solid team.”

Over the years, Castillo has become a more solid all-around player.

“I think I definitely improved any hitting, just being smarter,” said Castillo.

“My mentality about the game has definitely improved and skill-wise. I just keep working on myself.”

In reflecting on the loss to HoVal, Castillo noted that the team’s fielding is a work in progress.

“We can definitely learn to talk better in the infield, just to know where to throw the ball to help each other out,” said Castillo.

“If one person makes a mistake, we just need to know what to do with the ball after that.”

PHS head coach Marissa Soprano likes what her players have been doing with the bat this season.

“We emphasize that they are doing a great job and it has to be a one though nine effort,” said Soprano, whose team lost 11-1 to Allentown last Monday to move to 2-5 and is still averaging 8.6 runs a game.

“Everyone gets up there and, especially when teammates are on base, they are coming up big and trying to get them across the plate. They are hitting a lot better, they have been doing a great job at the plate.”

Soprano acknowledged that the Tigers need to do a better job in the field.

“It is just about cleaning the defense up, we are still figuring out to field as a team in the infield,” said Soprano.

“If we get the lead, it is having a shut down inning and being able to stop them from scoring.”

In the view of Soprano, Castillo and van der Schaar have been giving the team some great leadership.

“They are the only two have got all four years with us,” said Soprano.

“They both really love the sport, their passion really helps the underclassmen. They have been great, they have been great leaders, not only in enthusiasm but also in skill and how to play the game
Castillo’s skill with the bat in the eight hole had been a plus for PHS.

“Maddie is funny because she doesn’t like to be at the top of the lineup so we slid her down,” said Soprano.

“She is more comfortable there. I think there is less pressure on her. It allows her to go up there and get a few hits. She also has a pretty good eye on the strike zone so it is a good spot to have her in and then wraparound to the top of the lineup.”

Sophomore Natalie Hester has been providing a lot of punch in the top of the lineup and some great play at shortstop.

“Natalie is always good offensively and her defense in the hole is great,” said Soprano.

“The other day she had a play basically at second base and got the girl at first base. She is very talented and keeps the girls competitive. She is a great piece for us in terms of athleticism and also competitiveness.”

Sophomore pitcher Erin Pilicer has been competing hard in the circle.

“Erin is so steady and even-tempered on the mound and we really appreciate that,” said Soprano, who has also given freshman Genevieve Ritchie some innings in the circle. “She is doing a great job.”

Looking ahead, Soprano believes PHS can do some great things.

“We are really excited with our talent and our enthusiasm,” said Soprano, whose team plays at Florence on April 25 before hosting Lawrence High on April 30.

Castillo, for her part, is enthusiastic about the squad’s prospects as she wraps up her PHS career along with van der Schaar and fellow seniors Delaney Keegan and Yeahna Lee.

“I am thinking it could be a very positive year and it is only the beginning so I am hopeful,” said Castillo. “It is the beginning of the end for us, it is exciting.”