IN CONTACT: Princeton High softball player Christina Cuomo bunts the ball in recent action. PHS is depending on senior catcher Cuomo to provide leadership in the field and at the plate. The Little Tigers, who dropped to 0-3 with a 9-0 loss to WW/P-South last Friday, will look to get on the winning track as they play at Notre Dame on April 12, host Trenton on April 13, play at Trenton on April 17, and then host Hamilton on April 18. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

After the Princeton High softball team fell 11-0 to WW/P-South last Wednesday, the players gathered in left field to get a post-game message from new head coach Marissa Soprano.

Kneeling in front of the team, Soprano didn’t sugarcoat things.

“I had hoped that we would play a little bit better defensively today,” said Soprano, who is succeeding Dave Boehm after serving two years as an assistant coach with the program.

“South had some really good hits but I was just telling the girls that they have to have a little more confidence and believe that they can get that third out.”

Soprano is looking for her players to put more pressure on their foes offensively.

“I definitely want to be more aggressive on the base paths when they do have runners on,” said Soprano.

“I want us playing small ball and bunting and getting our girls to steal. Gillian Nadler had two stolen bases today so they are continuing to work on that. That is my mindset going in; we don’t have the power hitters like we had last year.”

In order to get its bats going, PHS has to apply what it has been focusing on in training.

“We need to be building on a few things in practice and then coming out and performing those in the game,” added Soprano.

The squad’s core of veterans will play a key role in that process.

“We have a good group of seniors, it is a big class,” said Soprano.

“I am trying to get them to be leaders and teach some of the younger girls. We have quite a few new players on varsity so it is just capitalizing on their leadership through season.”

The battery of senior pitcher Kayla Volante and senior catcher Christina Cuomo has been setting a positive tone for PHS.

“Kayla hangs in there, she will definitely be one of our bigger hitters; we will also rely on her for her bat,” said Soprano, noting that a third key senior, Nancy Gray, is currently sidelined by illness and should be back on the field by mid-April.

“Her leadership is great along with Christina behind the plate. Christina’s relationship with Kayla has been really good; they work together well. She can keep her focused when things aren’t going our way.”

Soprano is confident that things will start going better for the Little Tigers.

“I definitely thought we could come out a little stronger but there is an adjustment period and hopefully they do that as the season progresses,” said Soprano, whose team fell 9-0 to WW/P-South last Friday to move to 0-3 and will look to get on the winning track as it plays at Notre Dame on April 12, hosts Trenton on April 13, plays at Trenton on April 17, and then hosts Hamilton on April 18.

“I want to see more confidence, getting that third out in the field, and getting our bats going. The girls can definitely do that. So the more innings we have, hopefully they will pick it up and get a little stronger.”