GOING DEEP: Hun School softball player Alexis Goeke slugs a homer against Lawrenceville last week in the state Prep A semifinals. Junior Goeke’s heroics weren’t enough as Hun fell 5-3 to the Big Red in the May 12 contest. The defeat left the Raiders with a final record of 9-9. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Alexis Goeke led off for the Hun School softball team in the top of the fifth inning at Lawrenceville in the state Prep A semis last week with the foes locked in a 2-2 tie.

After falling behind 1-2 in the count, junior star Goeke wasn’t trying to be a hero in the May 12 contest.

“I know with two strikes, I have to be more aggressive protecting the plate,” said Goeke. “I knew we needed to score runs; it was really important. I was just looking for contact and looking for a single.”

Uncoiling on the next delivery, Goeke made solid contact, lining the ball over the left field fence for a go-ahead homer.

“I saw my pitch, it was inside,” recalled Goeke. “I always bat better with two strikes. I had no clue it was a home run, I was just running hard, thinking it was a double and then I was like wow.”

The Raiders, though, couldn’t hold the lead giving up a run in the bottom of the fifth and two more in the sixth on the way to a 5-3 defeat.

“We played hard as a team and we all stayed positive throughout the whole game, no matter who had the lead,” said Goeke, reflecting on the loss which left Hun with a final record of 9-9.

“I think it is important to play as a team and we just fell short at the end. It just didn’t turn out in our favor, they are a good team also.”

Noting that Hun had been drubbed 16-4 at Lawrenceville on April 23, Goeke  liked the way the Raiders tightened things up in the playoff rematch.

“We played much better than the last time and we were proud of that, even though we didn’t end up winning,” added Goeke.

Goeke is proud of how the Raiders bounced back from a 2-6 start, going 7-3 over its last 10 games.

“Throughout the whole season, I think we have grown as a team from when we went down to Florida during preseason,” said Goeke.

“We had a couple of rough games and a couple of rough spots but I think we learned from them, developed, and helped each other. I think that made us better throughout the season. We ended up even, which isn’t really that bad.”

In Goeke’s view, the turning point for Hun came after a 12-0 loss to Steinert in mid-April.

“After the Steinert game, we knew that we had to work really hard in practice,” said Goeke. “We had to make a change, we had to do something different in order to turn our season around.”

Doing good things in the field and at the bat, Goeke helped spark the team’s late surge.

“I love playing in the infield, I love playing at first,” said Goeke. “I have worked really hard on my hitting during the offseason. I think having my approach in mind when I go up to the plate every time — knowing what I am looking for — has helped me a lot.”

Hun head coach Kathy Quirk thought that Goeke’s big fifth inning hit was going to help turn the tide in favor of Hun in the game against Lawrenceville.

“Definitely you hope so,” said Quirk reflecting on Goeke’s homer. “We always know that they never give up until the end. I thought we were going to keep going too but we just fell short. The last time they beat us 16-4. It was a lot different today, they have nothing to be embarrassed about.”

In Quirk’s view, Goeke has made a difference for the Raiders this spring

“She is tough, no matter where I put her she gives me 100 percent,” said Quirk. “I tried leading her off to take some of the pressure off of her from being in the middle of the order. I think it has paid off. She has walked a lot and hit well. I am pleased with her defense also.”

Quirk was pleased with how her team came together down the homestretch.

“After the Lawrenceville game here, the kids themselves sat and talked,” said Quirk.

“I think they decided that they wanted to play ball. Kacey Abitz and Julia Revock both did a great job on the mound. The outfielders improved. Our infield was solid.

The Hun infield was anchored by the team’s lone seniors, Julia Blake and Vicki Leach.

“They are going to be missed, their leadership is unbelievable,” said Quirk, noting that they both got on base in the final inning against Lawrenceville before a Hun rally sputtered. “They are just good kids. They have been even more special because they both played field hockey for me.”

With the rest of her players returning, Quirk believes Hun can do some special things next spring.

“We are young, we have got a lot of potential,” asserted Quirk. “I am going to talk to each girl and tell them what they need to work on for next year. We are getting four players in so I think that is going help balance us out and help us move forward.”

Goeke, for her part, feels that Hun’s good work over the last month of the season bodes well for the future.

“We have a lot of players who developed this year and I think we have a really good core of girls returning,” said Goeke. “We just have to build on where we left off.”