SHORT STORY: Hun School softball player Julia Blake makes a play last Wednesday in Hun’s 7-3 loss to visiting Blair Academy. Freshman shortstop Blake contributed an RBI single in the loss, which left Hun at 1-2. The Raiders will look to get on the winning track when they host Princeton Day School on April 11 and then play at Lawrenceville on April 13 and Episcopal on April 16. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

The pitchers dominated in the early stages last Thursday as the Hun School softball team hosted Mid-Atlantic Prep League (MAPL) rival Blair Academy.

The squads were locked in a scoreless duel through two innings with Hun’s Kristen Manochio producing the only hit in the contest.

In the top of the third, however, the tone of the game changed as Blair broke the ice by scoring three runs. The Raiders answered back with two runs in the bottom of the frame as Joey Crivelli and Julia Blake stroked RBI singles.

The Buccaneers, though, regained the momentum, scoring four runs in the top of the fourth. Hun added a run in the bottom of the fifth but neither team scored after that as Blair hung on for a 7-3 victory.

As Hun head coach Kathy Quirk reflected on the loss, she said the game turned on Blair’s aggressiveness at the plate.

“They did one thing that we didn’t — they hit the ball,” lamented Quirk, whose team dropped to 1-2 with the loss.

“We just didn’t hit the ball. We practice everyday, saying do this and do that. If you can’t transfer it into a game, you are not going to win games.”

Quirk was heartened by how her team battled back with its rally in the bottom of the third.

“I thought we ran well; we capitalized on their errors,” said Quirk. “We played the small game and then we got too far behind to play the small game. It is one step forward and one step back.”

The trio of junior star catcher Carey Million, junior third baseman Crivelli, and freshman shortstop Blake played well in the loss to Blair.

“It is good to have Million back behind the plate,” said Quirk, noting that her talented catcher has been dealing with a hand injury.

“Crivelli gave us a little spark. She bunted the ball and got on base; that is what she does. I was very pleased with Julia Blake defensively. I am expecting more from her offensively; she has been hitting the ball.”

While Hun is likely to hit some bumps in the road this spring, Quirk is expecting the Raiders to develop into a formidable club.

“We will keep working on the offense and hitting and finding the right combination,” said Quirk, whose team hosts Princeton Day School on April 11 before playing at Lawrenceville on April 13 and Episcopal on April 16.

“We’ll get better each game. We have only one senior and the rest are young. We are going to take lumps.”