June 10, 2015

PHS Softball Goes Through Roller-Coaster Ride, Mixing Big Wins With Near Misses in 7-16 Season

SENIOR LEADER: Princeton High softball player Sarah Eisenach displays her pitching form. Senior Eisenach went 4-9 this spring with a 4.40 ERA and 80 strikeouts as PHS went 7-16. Eisenach, the team’s lone senior, also contributed at the plate, hitting .263 with a team-high 15 RBIs.(Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

SENIOR LEADER: Princeton High softball player Sarah Eisenach displays her pitching form. Senior Eisenach went 4-9 this spring with a 4.40 ERA and 80 strikeouts as PHS went 7-16. Eisenach, the team’s lone senior, also contributed at the plate, hitting .263 with a team-high 15 RBIs. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Playing at WW/P-N in the Mercer County Tournament, the Princeton High softball team showed its potential.

Despite having previously lost 18-5 and 13-2 to the Northern Knights in regular season play, 11th-seeded PHS defeated sixth-seeded WW/P-N 8-3.

In reflecting on the upset, Little Tiger head coach Dave Boehm credited his squad with producing a sharp effort in all phases of the game.

“We didn’t make mistakes, we made the plays,” said Boehm, who got two hits apiece from Nancy Gray, Kelli Swedish, and Kayla Volante in the win with pitcher Sarah Eisenach going the distance, striking out seven and giving up two hits.

“We didn’t let things snowball. Sarah [Eisenach] pitched a heck of a game and we got some clutch hits.”

Unfortunately, the team’s 10-3 loss to Notre Dame on May 16 in its season finale was a more accurate reflection of how things went this spring as PHS posted a record of 7-16.

“In the Notre Dame game we were tied 3-3 in the fifth inning,” recalled Boehm, whose team was defeated in the MCT quarterfinals by third-seeded Steinert.

“There are two outs and there is a close play at first, they get the call, the next girl hits a single and then the next girl hits a three-run homer and we are down 5-3. They added some more. I said to the girls that the game summed up our season. We played well but it would be one bad call or giving the other team an extra run and it looks like a blow out but it was actually a better game.”

In reflecting on the season, Boehm acknowledged that he had hoped to see his team post a better record.

“Going 7-16 is a little disappointing, it is the same record we had last year,” said Boehm.

“I thought we could add to our win total. We lost some close games, we had two one-run losses to WW/P-S, a 7-6 loss to Trenton, and a 4-3 loss to Nottingham.”

The Little Tigers, though, had some memorable games this season “Winning the Teaneck tourney and beating WW/P-N in the counties were highlights,” said Boehm. “I think our best game was a 3-1 loss to Steinert in the regular season.”

Senior pitcher-first baseman Eisenach gave PHS her best effort over the last four years.

“She was our only senior and she was the leader of the team,” said Boehm, who went 4-9 with 80 strikeouts and hit .263 with a team-high 15 RBIs.

“She got the girls to run and work out. She wasn’t on a team that did great the last four years but she always played well. We are going to miss her. She pitched and could play first, second, or even shortstop.”

In Boehm’s view, PHS has potential to be a very good team next year in light of its group of returning players.

“I am looking forward to next year, I think we can do well,” said Boehm.

“We could have an infield of Swedish (.344 batting average in 2015) at third, Gray (.270) at shortstop, (Stephanie) Wu (.283) at second, (Emily) DiLella (.276) at first, and (Christina) Cuomo (.186) at catcher. Volante (2-7 record with 4.82 ERA and 69 strikeouts) will be the main pitcher, Gray will see some time in the circle. She has been working with a pitching coach. We will have six seniors; we realize that we only have them for one more year but we are hoping they can have big final year. We have a good core of sophomores with Volante (.314 battling average), Gray, and Cuomo. (Bianca) Guidi (.263) was a good freshman player.”