(Photo by Frank Wojciechowski) caption: TRAINED EYE: Longtime Hun School softball head coach Kathy Quirk eyes the action in a game last year. Quirk, who is in her 35th season guiding the program, has seen the Raiders produce a promising 2-1 start to the 2011 campaign. In upcoming action, Hun hosts Lawrenceville on April 15 and Hamilton on April 16 before playing at Blair on April 19.

Senior Pyne Blossoming Into Star, Leader As Hun Softball Produces Promising Start

Bill Alden

For MacKenzie Pyne, becoming a star on the Hun School softball team required patience and diligence.

The senior was a benchwarmer in her first two years on the squad. Last spring, she broke into the lineup as an outfielder and hit in the bottom third of the order.

This spring, Pyne is a team co-captain, moving up the field to first base and batting in the sixth spot.

Last Wednesday, Pyne displayed her progress, getting two hits and three RBIs and playing a flawless first base as Hun cruised to a 20-0 win over Academy of New Church (ANC).

The humble Pyne downplayed her hitting prowess. “I am just trying to get on base,” said Pyne. “I have been working a lot on my hitting. Trying to get better. Last year was my first year starting so this is a big year for me.”

Pyne and the Raiders got into a rhythm early against ANC as they pushed across five runs in the bottom of the first inning.

“That was awesome; everyone got up to hit in that first inning,” said Pyne, who stroked an RBI single in the first run rally. “That helps me; once I hit the first time, I am ready to go the whole game.”

As a co-captain of the Raiders along with classmate and star pitcher Meghan Hayes, Pyne is ready to be a team leader for the young Hun squad this spring.

“We are trying to win but we also have fun with the girls; we are a pretty young team so Meg and I are trying to be leaders and show them what we are all about,” said Pyne.

“Being serious about practice is a big thing; we know that if we are serious in practice that will push everybody for the game. I didn’t play for my first two years so I am trying to show them that it is OK to start learning now and that you are part of this team and you are still helping this team.”

Hun head coach Kathy Quirk appreciates the many ways that Pyne is helping her squad this spring.

“MacKenzie has been to a batting coach all winter and we have been working hard with her,” said Quirk.

“She is just a great asset. She is doing a nice job at first, she is a captain, she is rising to the occasion. She is doing a nice job at first base. She is nothing but positive.”

In Quirk’s view, it was positive for her young squad to open with two lopsided wins as the team topped Hill 20-3 before its victory over ANC.

“It is good for morale; the younger kids are all getting in there and getting swings,” said Quirk, whose roster includes seven sophomores and five freshmen.

Quirk likes the attitude she is seeing around her team veterans and newcomers alike.

“I think they are all working hard, I am very pleased,” said Quirk, whose team fell 4-1 to Peddie last Saturday to move to 2-1 and will look to get back on the winning track when it hosts Lawrenceville on April 15 and Hamilton on April 16 before playing at Blair on April 19.

Pyne, for her part, is pleased with the team’s prospects this spring and beyond.

“We definitely know we are going to play a lot of harder teams,” said Pyne.

“We definitely have potential to do good things not only this year but in the future.”

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