ALL-AROUND EFFORT: Hun School softball player Payton Poandl fires a pitch in a game earlier this season. Last week, sophomore Poandl went the distance in a 9-8 win over Hopewell Valley to earn the first complete game of her Hun career. Poandl also starred with her bat, going 3-for-4 with a triple, one run and three RBIs as Hun overcame an 8-2 deficit to pull out the victory in the March 31 contest. The Raiders moved to 2-2 with a 17-10 loss to Pingry last Thursday despite an amazing game from senior star Sam Jolly, who went 3 for 7 with three homers and seven RBIs. In upcoming action, Hun plays at the Hill School (Pa.) on April 8 before hosting the Blair Academy on April 11 and Peddie on April 13. (Photo by Frank Jacobs III)
By Bill Alden
Starring with her arm and bat, Payton Poandl helped the Hun School softball team rally to a stunning 9-8 win over Hopewell Valley last week.
Sophomore Poandl, pitching at the varsity level this spring for the first time in her Hun career, shook off a shaky second inning that saw her yield five runs to go the distance in the circle.
At the plate, cleanup hitter Poandl went 3 for 4 with a triple, one run, and three RBIs, playing a key role as Hun overcame an 8-2 deficit with a seven-run rally in the sixth inning to pull out the win.
For Poandl, adjusting to her new role in the circle has been a process.
“I think it is just getting used to it, getting in the rhythm,” said Poandl. “I am not really a pitcher outside of high school. I am just working on getting into the rhythm. My team is helping me out as we go.”
In the win over HoVal, Poandl worked on diversifying her pitching repertoire.
“I was throwing some curveballs and fastballs,” said Poandl. “I am working on my other pitches too but it’s mainly curveball, fastball.”
Persevering to get her first complete game was a breakthrough for Poandl.
“I have never thrown a full game in my life,” said Poandl. “It was really fun, it was a really good feeling. I think it is just going to keep getting better. I think I am making improvements as we go.”
At the plate, Poandl had a good feeling, pounding out an RBI single in the bottom of the first inning and then plating another run with a triple in the third.
“This pitcher is a little bit slower than I am used to so it was to jump on the first pitch that I can see and know I can drive out there,” said Poandl. “I jumped on the first two pitches in my first two at-bats.”
In the dramatic sixth inning rally, Poandl grounded a single to get another RBI as Hun drew to within 8-6.
“The bases were loaded at that time, I just wanted to find something in the gap there,” said Poandl. “I was on a 0-2 count. I was really just trying to find something. I was really early the whole time so I just happened to pop one out there making it to first.”
Three batters later, Poandl raced home with the winning run on a passed ball.
“That was fun, I think I was just getting on those passed balls,” said Poandl. “We have a short backstop there so being able to steal is nice.”
In Poandl’s view, the rally should give the squad a boost going forward.
“We are a pretty young team, we just need to work on chipping away early,” said Poandl. “We all know that we have to lock in and get ready. It was 100 percent a confidence builder. We did the same thing in our Lawrenceville game (a 7-6 win on March 26).”
With a season of high school ball under her belt, Poandl is more locked in this spring.
“Last year we had a lot of seniors and it was a big difference,” said Poandl. “This year I have had to step up a little bit more. I think my approach this year is bat on ball. Last year I was a little bit more nervous, it was my first season. I feel a bit more confident this year. I want to make an impact for my team.”
Hun head coach Kathy Quirk credited Poandl with making a major impact in the win over HoVal with her pitching and hitting.
“I kept telling her, I have to push you, I have to push you,” said Quirk. “She went in and walked a few and she was able to battle back. Her bat was strong also. I was very proud of her.”
Quirk was very proud of the resilience that her squad displayed in the comeback win.
“I am just happy with the way we bounced back, and it wasn’t a freak,” said Quirk. “We did what we had to do, we made them make mistakes. We tell them if you can put it in play, they have to throw it, they have to catch it. We capitalized in that inning. It was crazy. We could have folded.”
The play of freshman Grace Kennedy and sophomore Quinn Schweer has impressed Quirk.
“Grace is doing a nice job, I put her behind the plate yesterday and I think she is going to stay there,” said Quirk. “I am happy with Quinn. She is starting to feel comfortable at third base and she has been hitting.”
With Hun playing at the Hill School (Pa.) on April 8 before hosting the Blair Academy on April 11 and Peddie on April 13, Quirk is looking for her players to focus on the fundamentals.
“It is a work in progress,” said Quirk, whose team moved to 2-2 with a 17-10 loss to Pingry last Thursday despite an amazing game from senior star Sam Jolly, who went 3 for 7 with three homers and seven RBIs. “Tomorrow it is going to be a lot of drilling which we do every day.”
Poandl, for her part, believes that drilling will pay off. “I think we just need to work on our fielding and on the things that we are struggling with like chipping away early,” said Poandl. “We kind of plateaued for five innings today. I think it is keeping our heads up and being confident.”