G-WHIZ: Hun School softball player Gigi Venizelos takes a swing in recent action. Sophomore shortstop Venizelos has helped Hun post five straight wins after a 1-4 start. Hun plays at the Hill School (Pa.) on May 2, hosts WW/P-North on may 3, plays at Hopewell Valley on May 5 and hosts Pingry on May 8. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

After putting together a 14-2 record on the way to the state Prep A title in 2017, the Hun School softball team struggled in the early going this spring.

Hun went 1-4 in its first five games, including losses to Lawrenceville, WW/P-South and Blair Academy, as it failed to display the sharp play that was a constant last spring.

Coming into a rematch with Lawrenceville on April 19, Gigi Venizelos and her teammates were primed to get on the right track.

“We were looking over them the first time; we were looking ahead to Blair and then we came out and got our butts kicked,” said Venizelos. “We had to refocus ourselves and take a step back and take this game by game. We were very motivated.”

Trailing the Big Red on a rainy day, Hun stormed back to earn an 8-4 win and get on the right track.

“We were not looking over them,” said Venizelos. “We have gotten past that, which is really, really good.”

Last week, Hun looked really good as it rolled to a 16-0 win over Princeton Day School on April 24.

“I think our team did a really good job today coming out from the start of warmups,” said Venizelos, who scored three runs in the win with a hit and an RBI.

“I thought it was the best warmup we had all year; that was something we have been talking about as a team. We want to come out hard from the second we step on that field and we did that today.”

Having moved into the leadoff hitter spot for Hun after the graduation of star Julie Fassl, Venizelos is looking jump-start the Raiders offensively.

“Last year I was a three hitter so leadoff is a new thing for me,” said Venizelos

“I love hitting leadoff; I get to see as any pitches as I can, I get more at bats. I have the chance to do what I can for the team to help us succeed.”

In the field, Venizelos has seized the chance to make an impact at shortstop. “Last year I was a little nervous, especially as a freshman coming up,” said Venizelos. “I didn’t play shortstop, that was a new position for me. I had played third base for travel. It is one of those things. It took a little bit of time and now I am comfortable with it. I trust myself more.”

Hun head coach Kathy Quirk believes that her players started to trust themselves in the wake of the victory over Lawrenceville.

“That was a huge win for us and I think it gave us confidence that we are able to hit the ball,” said Quirk. “We struggled down on their field, but every time we bring them here, it is always a good game. The girls rose to the occasion.”

Quirk credits Venizelos with rising to the occasion on a daily basis.

“Gigi is just a great kid,” said Quirk. “She is coachable, she is fun to watch, she plays hard, and she plays to win.”

With Hun edging Blair 3-2 last Saturday to improve to 6-4, Quirk sees a lot of wins on the horizon for her squad.

“As much as they jell and they are great kids, we just struggled coming together,” said Quirk. “I think we have finally gotten it and they are finally believing in themselves. They are a great bunch of kids and they make coaching enjoyable.”

Venizelos, for her part, is confident that the Raiders will keep things together the rest of the spring.

“It was just a mental game at first. I think we are mentally in it now,” said Venizelos.

“That win against Lawrenceville put us up to that next level. Now we are ready to play every team that we face.”