DIAMOND VISION: Hun School softball player Vicki Leach shows her focus on defense in a game last spring. Senior second baseman Leach gives Hun strength up the middle on the infield and is an offensive catalyst. Hun, which started the season with a 4-0 win over Delaware Valley last Monday, plays at Blair on April 1 before hosting Peddie on April 7. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Kathy Quirk is hoping that the way her Hun School softball team played on its recent preseason trip to Florida is a harbinger of things to come when the action starts up north.

“The trip went well, we won six of seven games,” said Hun head coach Quirk, who guided the Raiders to a 9-8 record last spring.

“We played well, there were a lot of bright spots. If we can put the pieces together, we could have a good season.”

Hun has two pieces in its pitching puzzle with freshman Julia Revock and junior transfer Kacey Abitz.

“They will share time, we will be using them both within games,” said Quirk, whose team started the season with a 4-0 win over Delaware Valley on Monday and plays at Blair on April 1 before hosting Peddie on April 7.

“They are both about the same, both have the same pitches. They are great kids, they work together well. Neither had a problem with starting or coming in for the other. They will both be in the field when they are not pitching.”

Hun boasts strength up the middle defensively to back up its pitching. “We have a very solid infield with Alexis Goeke at first, Vicki Leach at second, Julia Blake at shortstop, and Abitz at third when Revock is pitching,” said Quirk.

“When Abitz is pitching, Goeke will be at third and Revock at first. Julie Fassl is at catcher. She was All-MAPL (Mid-Atlantic Prep League) and All-Prep last season as a freshman. She has a strong arm and good knowledge of the game. Her name is out there, the local coaches know about her. She caught every inning in Florida but two and never complained.”

Quirk believes her squad will be strong offensively, spearheaded by its core of veterans, senior Blake, senior Leach, sophomore Fassl, and junior Goeke, with newcomers Revock and Abitz adding punch.

“Blake will be lead off, she had a really good year last season,” said Quirk.

“She is doing well. Vicki will bat second. Leach is Leach, she is a solid player and a great girl to coach. At No. 3 will be Fassl; she is one of the most consistent batters I have had. She didn’t strike out once last season. She is a really, really great kid, she works so hard. Goeke will be at No. 4. When she connects, she really connects. She just needs to be more consistent. Revock and Abitz will be next. Revock hit a homer in Florida so she has some power.”

In Quirk’s view, her players need to stay in the present in order to produce a solid campaign.

“They all have to stay focused and know what the goal is for Hun,” said Quirk. “They can’t be thinking about their travel team or where they are going to be playing in college.”