FINAL SWING: Princeton High softball player Emily DiLella takes a big swing in recent action. Senior first baseman and team co-captain DiLella’s production and leadership has helped PHS go 9-9 this spring with a run to the Mercer County Tournament quarterfinals. The Little Tigers play at Robbinsville on May 19, at Allentown on May 20, and at Hightstown on May 21. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

After splitting its two regular season games with WW/P-S, the Princeton High softball team took care of business in style in the rubber match as the foes met in the opening round of the Mercer County Tournament.

Eighth-seeded PHS rolled to a 6-0 win over the No. 9 Pirates as junior Kayla Volante starred with her arm and bat, pitching a six-hit shutout and going 1-for-3 at the plate with a run and an RBI.

“They are a good hitting team and we knew that coming in and it was up to Kayla to be on,” said PHS head coach Dave Boehm, who got a big game from junior shortstop Nancy Gray in the win as she went 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI.

“She had a really good game and our defense played pretty well too. I was very happy with that. It probably was one of the best games that we have played.

A day later in the MCT quarterfinals, PHS produced one of its best efforts of the season as it nearly toppled top-seeded Ewing, falling 4-3 in 10 innings.

“We played a good game,” said Boehm. “They were the No. 1 seed and we were the 8th seed. Coming in,
everyone is looking for them to pounce all over us. It was one of those things where we gambled in the first inning, trying to score a girl on a base hit against a girl with probably one of the best arms in the league … Sarah Bystrycki. She came up, double-pumped and we got the run so we got a 1-0 lead. It was one of those things where we figured we will try some gambles and we did.”

Once again, Volante sparkled in the circle, going the distance, giving up just three hits and coming up with four strikeouts.

“Kayla has been a workhorse,” said Boehm. “She has done a great job this year. She hits her spots, she has good movement, she works inside, outside, up, and down. It is not an easy thing for girls to get acclimated to. She does a good job. I am really proud of her this year.”

The team’s seniors, Kelli Swedish, Stephanie Wu, Natalie Campisi, and Emily DiLella, are doing a very good job as they head down the homestretch of their time with the program.

“Swedish hit a home run in the win over Trenton (13-2 on May 12) and Natalie has hit the ball really well,” added Boehm.

“Emily DiLella has come through as a captain. She has been the most vocal and upbeat on the bench, trying to get them into it. Kelli has done that too.”

With PHS taking part in the state tournament later this month, it will get a chance to sharpen up over the next week as it faces a formidable slate of games.

“We have Notre Dame, Steinert (on May 17), Robbinsville (May 19), Allentown (May 20), and Hightstown (May 21), every team has 10 or more wins, every team has about the same pitching,” said Boehm, whose team fell 6-2 to Notre Dame last Monday to move to 9-9.

“If we are ever going to get ready for a state playoff game, this could be the week to tell us how we are going to do. They know they have tough games all week. I think we will be ready for it; we haven’t been blown out of games this year.”