(Photo by Frank Wojciechowski) DIAMOND QUALITY: Hun School softball player Meghan Hayes gathers in the ball in action last spring. Senior Hayes will play a prominent role for the Raiders this spring as she will be the team’s pitching ace and a key hitter in the batting order. The Raiders start their 2011 season by playing at the Hill School on March 30.

Hun Softball Going With Youth Movement; Bringing Enthusiasm to the Challenges Ahead

Bill Alden

Featuring just two seniors on a roster of 17 players, the Hun School softball team is going to face a steep learning curve.

But longtime Hun head coach Kathy Quirk believes her squad can be a quick study.

“We are a young and inexperienced team,” said Quirk, who is in her 35th season and led her team to a 12-8 record last spring on the way to the state Prep A title game.

“The girls are willing to learn and listen. Nothing is going to come easy but the girls are ready for the challenge. We will see teams with a lot more experience than we have.”

Luckily for Quirk and the Raiders, her most experienced player is senior pitching ace Meghan Hayes.

“Hayes has come back strong; she lifted weights all last fall and winter,” said Quirk of Hayes, who threw a no-hitter last season as she shared pitching duties with Blair Sirockman.

“She has only gotten better; she is ready to be the ace. She is very serious, she knows we will be relying on her to pitch most of the time and she is ready for that.”

The multi-talented Hayes is also ready to help herself out as she brings punch to the Hun batting order.

“Danielle Beal, Carey Million, Kristen Manochio, and Hayes have bats that are very strong,” said Quirk, whose team opens the season by playing at the Hill School on March 30. “Their swings are consistent. MacKenzie Pyne also has a nice swing at the plate.”

Hun has some weapons at the top of the order to help jumpstart things. “I am looking at Joey Crivelli to lead off; Stephanie Fox is a nice little bunter,” added Quirk.

“We have some girls with speed so we may do some aggressive baserunning. We want to hit the ball on the ground; that way there is more chance the other team will make errors.”

Quirk is confident her defense will keep errors to a minimum. Sophomore catcher Million and sophomore shortstop Crivelli figure to be key players in the Raider defense.

“Million is a wonderful find; she is so competitive,” said Quirk. “I hated to move Crivelli from second because she is a little short. She is a gutsy player; she will dive and go after every ball she can. She is quick and should be fine at shortstop.

Around the horn, Hun has some good gloves in Pyne at first base, Emily Kuchar at second, and Beal at third. In the outfield, Quirk has Manochio in left field and Fox in center with Alexa Fares and Nicole Shockley battling for the right field spot.

If Hun is to have a big season, Quirk will need her veterans to show the younger players the way.

“Last year we had six seniors out of nine starters,” said Quirk. “We have just two seniors and they have to step it up. I see a lot of potential in the younger players. We need to stay focused and positive.

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