SIZZLING START: Hun School softball star Lexi Kobryn fires a pitch in a game last season. Sophomore Kobryn has gotten off to a sizzling start this spring, firing a perfect game with 19 strikeouts in a season-opening 6-0 win over the Mercersburg Academy (Pa.) on March 26 and followed that up with a no-hitter in a 6-0 victory over the Lawrenceville School on March 31. Last week, Kobryn recorded 17 strikeouts and yielded two hits in a 6-1 win over the Peddie School. The Raiders, who improved to 6-0 with a 10-0 win over Morristown-Beard last Monday, play at the Hill School (Pa.) on April 13 at Princeton Day School on April 14 and at the Pingry School on April 19. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Lexi Kobryn put in some extra work over the offseason to make herself a better pitcher for the Hun School softball team this spring.

“I have been in the gym all fall and winter and I have gotten a lot stronger,” said Hun sophomore Kobryn.

“I was also working with my pitching coach I have definitely gotten a lot faster, I am hitting 65.”

It didn’t take long for that work to yield dividends as Kobryn hurled a perfect game with 19 strikeouts in a season-opening 6-0 win over the Mercersburg Academy (Pa.) on March 26 and followed that up with a no-hitter in a 6-0 victory over the Lawrenceville School on March 31.

“That was really exciting, I tried not to think about it,” said Kobryn, reflecting on the perfect game.

“Anything could ruin it, we had a couple of grounders. Everything was on that day for me. We haven’t beaten Lawrenceville in four years, it was a great team effort. It was also exciting.”

Pitching against Peddie last week, Kobryn looked like she was on her way to another mound gem, striking out the first nine batters she faced.

“I was like mixing up the pitches and everything,” said Kobryn.

“I told Mr. Quirk (Hun assistant coach Bill Quirk) before the game that everything was working. He asked me what did I want to throw and I said throw everything and it worked.”

Kobryn did have to work her way out of some jams in the fourth and fifth inning and ended the game in style, striking out the side in the top of the seventh inning as Hun prevailed 6-1.

“I was throwing a couple of balls and then the bases were loaded and I said to myself come on,” said Kobryn, who yielded two hits and had 17 strikeouts in the win.

“I got out of it and I had confidence in my fielders. We had a talk in the dugout and everyone knew to settle down and just play our game.”

While Kobryn has raised her game this spring, she enjoys sharing the pitching duties with fellow sophomore Jamie Staub.

“We are best friends, we are always cheering each other on,” said Kobryn

“It is good not to always have it on you, it is nice to have someone to lean on.”

In addition to her superb pitching, Kobryn has also helped the Raiders with some good work with her bat.

“Today wasn’t my best hitting game but I have hit well all season,” said Kobryn. “I have hit a home run, I have been doing well.”

Hun head coach Kathy Quirk credits Kobryn with doing very well in the circle.

“Lexi is doing a nice job; she knows what she has to do and she is confident,” said Quirk.

“I think it is location and speed. She is faster. She worked all winter and she has gotten stronger.”

Hun got off to a fast start against Peddie, scoring two runs in the first inning and three runs in the third.

“We didn’t hit the ball as well as we have been but I am pleased,” said Quirk.

“On Saturday we had 16 hits (in a 14-3 win over Penn Charter (Pa.) on April 2) and we just played a phenomenal game. Today we knew it was going to be tough. We had played them in Florida and we had beaten them. I knew they were going to be gunning for us and we are riding a little high. I don’t care how we win, we won.”

Juniors Kat Xiong and Sammy Kandel have been tough hitters for Hun this season.

“Kat is doing a nice job, she is also a phenomenal outfielder, she can track anything down,” said Quirk. “Kandel is doing a nice job, she was 4-for-4 on Saturday. I am pleased with her.”

With the Raiders defeating Morristown-Beard 10-0 last Monday to improve to 6-0, Quirk is pleased with how things are going so far this season.

“I think the key is that we believe in ourselves,” said Quirk, whose team plays at the Hill School (Pa.) on April 13, at Princeton Day School on April 14 and at the Pingry School on April 19.

“I tell them that I believe in them and that you are out there because we believe in you. We feel you can do the job and that is the most important thing. You also have to have fun.”

In Kobryn’s view, a fun preseason trip to Florida helped set a positive tone for Hun.

“We did really well there and we got a lot of practice games,” said Kobryn, reflecting on the week in Vero Beach.

“We got really close there, it was a lot of team bonding. We couldn’t leave each other and it was actually for the better. It was really fun and I think that is what brought us together as a team. It has been a really exciting team. We have already beaten some of the toughest teams this season. If we just keep it up, we will be set.”