MURPHY’S LAW: Hun School softball pitcher Anna Murphy fires a pitch in recent action. Last Thursday, senior Murphy produced a stellar effort in the circle as Hun defeated the Blair Academy 6-1, striking out eight and giving up five hits with no walks. Hun went on to sweep Mercersburg Academy (Pa.) in a doubleheader last Saturday, prevailing 7-2 and 10-6. The Raiders, who improved to 8-0 with the wins, host Lawrence High on April 26 and the Peddie School on April 29. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Anna Murphy patiently waited for her chance to be the ace of the pitching staff for the Hun School softball team and she is determined to make the most of that opportunity.

“I have definitely been looking forward to it since freshman year with Lexi here and everything, it is big shoes to fill,” said senior right-hander Murphy, referring to former Hun record-breaking standout Lexi Kobryn, who is now pitching for the Villanova University softball team.

“It feels pretty good to have the team behind my back. I knew I had to work hard on the offseason. I think we all worked hard here in the weight room together and got it done.”

Last Thursday against rival Blair Academy, Murphy got it done in the circle, striking out eight and giving up five hits with no walks as the Raiders prevailed 6-1.

In the early going, though, Murphy had to work out of jams in both the first and second innings, yielding a run in the latter.

“I just have to dig deep and hopefully have a good field behind me and trust that I can get it done and that I have the perseverance to get it done,” said Murphy. “It was a lot of curve balls, just keeping everything low in the zone and then switching it up with some off-speed stuff and something higher up in the zone every so often.”

Murphy got in a zone in the last two innings, pitching a 1-2-3 inning in the sixth and then striking out the side in the seventh.

“As we started to hold them, they were getting a little bit rowdy but that just pumped me and my team up,” said Murphy. “I just felt really calm, cool, and collected. I was really relaxed out here.”

Developing her breaking stuff has helped Murphy keep cool in the circle.

“I throw a curve ball with a lot of drops,” said Murphy. “I like to throw screwball and get them inside.”

Murphy’s batting helped the Raiders get the win against Blair as she stroked a two-run single in the first inning.

“I was just trying to be aggressive and stay compact at the plate,” said Murphy. “It was just putting the ball into play and hitting the ball hard.”

Hun is playing well collectively, having improved to 8-0 after sweeping Mercersburg Academy (Pa.) in a doubleheader last Saturday, prevailing 7-2 and 10-6.

“I think we kind of just clicked from the beginning as soon as we started in Florida,” said Murphy. “We all just got along really well. I don’t know if it was because were working out together. It is just a really good group of hardworking girls.”

The team’s senior group which includes Emma Eisenberg, Brianna Riviello, Kailey Jacobs, and Sophia Troiano in addition to Murphy are working hard to make their final campaign one to remember.

“We definitely want to make the most of it and go out and have a winning season,” said Murphy. “We are really close, we are just trying to soak it in while we can.”

This fall, Murphy will be going on to Haverford College where she will be competing for its Division III softball program.

“I chose Haverford because I am from the Philly area,” said Murphy.

“It is a good academic school and it is in a great area. It is close to home too. I really like the coach there (Kate Gatti), she pitched at Villanova. Her and I get along really well.”

Hun head coach Kathy Quirk liked the way her players performed against Blair.

“They just supported each other and showed enthusiasm, it is just a great day,” said a smiling Quirk. “We made contact with the ball. Sometimes it went to them and we made them have to make a play.”

Quirk is enthusiastic about the stellar pitching she has been getting from Murphy.

“I have to say I didn’t know how she was going to be this year,” said Quirk. “She had some arm problems and is working through it. She is giving me 100 percent on the mound. Today I thought she was phenomenal. The last inning, striking out three people, that was big. I think she is gaining her own confidence. She knows that she has a good defensive team behind her. I have always said that we have been defense-oriented. They are supporting her and doing everything that we need.”

The top of the batting order also supported Murphy in the win over Blair. Leadoff hitter Sam Jolly went 1 for 2 with one run and one RBI while No. 3 hitter Eisenberg went 1 for 2 with two runs and two RBIs and cleanup hitter Jacobs was 2 for 3 with one run and one RBI.

“They are just doing a nice job,” said Quirk. “They have all been making contact and they have been working hard. Yesterday we put the pitching machine out.”

Reflecting on her squad’s undefeated start, Quirk believes it is the product of an all-hands-on-deck approach.

“I think it is just playing as a team,” said Quirk, whose team hosts Lawrence High on April 26 and the Peddie School on April 29. “Last year it was Lexi, Lexi and don’t get me wrong, she was great, but this year, it is a team game. They have to make the plays, Lexi was striking out 10, 11 girls a game. They are just working hard. I am just very pleased and I hope it continues.”

Murphy, for her part, believes that focusing on a positive culture has helped spark Hun’s great start.

“It just keep working hard,” said Murphy. “It is picking each other up when we make a mistake and doing a lot of team bonding stuff outside.”