(Photo by Bill Allen/NJ SportAction) caption: CATCHING ON: Hun School sophomore catcher Meg Scanlon adjusts her mask during a recent workout. Scanlon’s solid play behind the plate and timely hitting has given Hun a big lift this spring. Hun, now 10-4, plays at Hill on May 9 before hosting Blair on May 13 in the state Prep A semifinals. Hun is seeded No. 2 in the Prep A tournament behind three-time defending champion Peddie.

Hun Softball Gaining Confidence, Ready for Prep A Tournament Run

Bill Alden

For the first six innings last Friday against Rutgers Prep, the Hun School softball team didn’t look like the state Prep A title contender it believes itself to be.

Hun trailed the Argonauts 3-0 heading into the bottom of the sixth and seemed to be ending its four-game winning streak with a whimper.

Raider head coach Kathy Quirk decided it was time to light a fire under her charges.

“Before the bottom of the sixth, I told them to dig deep and bring their pride back in the game,” said Quirk.

“We started with a single and a single, we started doing what we are supposed to do.”

The Raiders did exactly what they were supposed to do as they scored four runs in the game to take the lead going into the last inning. After surviving a bases-loaded situation in the seventh, Hun held on for the 4-3 win.

With second-seeded Hun playing No. 3 Blair on May 13 in the Prep A semifinals, Quirk thinks the win will be a confidence builder going into the postseason.

“They are very positive,” said Quirk, whose team topped Blair 9-5 last Monday in a regular season game to move to 10-4 on the season.

“We talked about playing in the county tournament but the dates conflicted with the Prep A. We are very positive about the Prep A. We know Peddie (three-time defending champion) is out there. We know what we have done against them (a 1-0 win and a 9-0 loss). We are just ready for the challenge.”

Quirk believes her two-headed pitching rotation of freshman Meghan Hayes (8-1) and sophomore Ashley Hamilton gives Hun the stuff to handle most challenges.

"I think the pitchers did a nice job against Rutgers Prep,” said Quirk. “Ashley started the game and then Meghan came on to close it; they have different styles. Hayes is getting better and better.”

The Hun batting attack has been solid with senior star Morgan Cawley leading the way in the middle of the order.

“We are starting to hit the ball more consistently,” asserted Quirk. “Morgan has been doing a nice job, if she doesn’t get a hit, she is making contact to move up the runners. She has really stepped it up.”

Sophomore catcher Meg Scanlon has also stepped things up offensively and defensively.

“Meg Scanlon hit that double against Rutgers Prep to bring in two, it was a shot like she had never hit before,” said Quirk.

“She’s been playing well behind the plate. She’s not only catching well; she’s picking people off at first and throwing them out at second.”

Quirk admits that her young team, which has seven freshmen or sophomores, has progressed quicker than she expected.

“I’m very pleased that we are 10-4, I would not have thought we would have that record with such a young team, I hope it continues,” said Quirk.

“The pitching has to stay strong and we have to play solid defense. The bats can’t wait to start in the sixth inning, we have to be hitting from the start.”

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