(Photo by Bill Allen/NJ SportAction) caption: MIGHTY MORGAN: Hun School softball junior star Morgan Cawley belts the ball in a game last season. The power-hitting third baseman has hit two homers and piled up seven RBIs in the last four games as Hun has started 2007 with a 4-1 mark. Hun will look to keep on the winning track when it plays at Blair on April 25, hosts Pennington on April 26, and then plays at Mercersburg Academy on April 28.

With Cawley Providing a Power Surge, Hun Softball Gets on Winning Track

Bill Alden

After losing 3-1 to Lawrenceville 10 days earlier in its season opener, the Hun School softball team was looking to be aggressive last Friday in the rematch of the rivals."

It took just one swing of Morgan Cawley's bat in the bottom of the first inning to show visiting Lawrenceville that things were going to be different the second time around."

The Hun junior third baseman blasted an Ashley Perritt offering over the left field fence to give the Raiders a 2-0 lead. Hun never looked back as it cruised to an 8-1 win."

In reflecting on the win, Cawley said that Hun hit the field Friday looking to show that the season opener was an aberration. "It was our first game and I think we had some first game jitters," said Cawley. "Today we were pretty psyched. The last game I didn't really hit well off that girl, I wanted some payback."

Hun came into the clash with Lawrenceville on a high after a dramatic come-from-behind win over Princeton Day School a day earlier which saw Hun score five runs in the top of the seventh to overcome a 5-3 deficit and earn an 8-5 victory."

"That definitely gave us a lot of motivation," said Cawley, who scored a run last Saturday as Hun topped Hill 3-1 to improve to 4-1 on the season. "I think we've gained a lot of confidence with our hitting."

Hun's offensive surge has resulted from the team loosening up at the plate. "In the beginning we were thinking about it too much," explained Cawley, who blasted a homer over the right field fence in Hun's 11-1 win over Oak Knoll on April 14. "I think everyone seems more relaxed when they go up to the plate and they are just hitting the ball."

Cawley is certainly in a comfort zone at the plate. "My hitting has come a long way," said Cawley, who had two runs batted against, giving her seven RBIs in a three-game stretch. "I've had a problem with dropping my hands and hitting pop-ups. I've tried to eliminate that."

Hun head coach Kathy Quirk certainly believes that Cawley has come a long way at the plate. "Last year, Morgan came on at the end but nothing like she is doing this year," said Quirk. "She is keeping her body up tall and is snapping with her arms and hips."

Quirk said the Cawley's homer set the tone in the win over Lawrenceville. "We had such a big rally yesterday and we decided that we were going to capitalize on that and start from the beginning today," said Quirk."

While past Hun teams have struggled to put up big offensive numbers, Quirk senses a special commitment to hitting from this year's team.

"We work on batting every year," said Quirk. "This year they seem to be more positive about it. We've moved the pitching machine to halfway between the mound and home plate. That helps their hand-eye coordination."

A key positive force for Hun is senior shortstop Alyssa Fares. "Yesterday she had a beautiful RBI double," said Quirk. "She is playing solid defense and her bat is coming alive."

Hun is getting solid pitching from senior ace Nikki Caplinger, who gave up just one hit in Hun's win over Hill. "She is a self-driven girl," asserted Quirk of Caplinger, who also bats lead-off for Hun. "She jumps through hoops whenever I ask her. I'm very proud of her and the way she presents herself out there. She's a self-taught pitcher. She is a fielding pitcher and she's a leader for us."

The secret weapon for Hun could be its team spirit which is evidenced by the constant chatter coming from the dugout when the team is batting."

That chatter turned into a crescendo last Friday in the fourth inning when Raiders scored three runs as Lawrenceville appeared rattled by the din caused by the Raiders."

"I honestly think that we got into their heads when we scored two runs on the wild pitch and then added another," said Quirk, whose team plays at Blair on April 25, hosts Pennington on April 26, and then plays at Mercersburg Academy on April 28."

Cawley, for her part, thinks that camaraderie could help Hun produce a big spring. "We're very tight on and off the field, we're like a family," said Cawley. "I think that definitely affects our play. I think we can go far this year if we keep up the way we are playing."

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