Waters hopes to repeat

Softball

By: Mike Molaro
   Dean Waters knows his Pennington School softball squad will be the target of most opponents this season.
   He wants to make sure the Red Raiders are ready for the challenge.
   "We need to work on our mindset," said Waters, who is in his ninth season as Red Raiders coach. "We need to stay hungry. The girls might think that things are going to be easy for them this year.
   "You can’t go on last year’s stats. The hits that fell in may be outs this year, and the near-misses opponents had last year might get through this year. Whatever happened last year is over."
   The Red Raiders were 17-3 last season and captured their fourth consecutive Prep B state title with a thrilling 6-5, eight-inning triumph over Rutgers Prep. They also won the Patriot Division with a perfect 7-0 mark. Their losses were to Prep A foes Blair, Hun and Lawrenceville.
   Losing only Christina McKitish and Janine Salina to graduation, the Red Raiders return the core of that championship team and are probably the favorites to bring home that fifth straight Prep B crown.
   Waters would like to see the girls put a little swagger in their step.
   "I’m not sure if we have that hungriness yet," he added. "It might be a quiet confidence. The girls aren’t cocky at all, and that’s good. I haven’t seen that chip on our shoulders. I’d like for the girls to use the championship as a rallying point."
   Pennington this year will be led offensively by seniors Robyn Jones (first base/catcher) and Catrina Wojciehowski (shortstop) and junior Victoria Hanks (catcher/first base), all of whom hit over .400 last year.
   The Red Raiders have one of the area’s most formidable pitching staffs in senior Lisa Pachence, who will also play third base and juniors Stephanie Schroeder and Allison Schieve, who should also see action at third base. All three hurlers had ERAs below 1.00 last season.
   Also returning are juniors Hope Nemeth (outfield), Allesandra Cathel (first base/outfield), Jackie Strober (second base) and Colby Lynch (outfield) and sophomores Kristin Reiter (outfield), Nicole Henderson (infield/outfield) and Kylee Rossi (infield/outfield).
   "Our strength this year is definitely our experience," said Waters. "Twelve of the 13 players were on the team last year. Our pitching is good, our defense is good, and our hitting is solid.
   "We know that teams will be out to get us. We’ve been a target for many years. We have to be ready to play. We really do have to take it one game at a time."
   Tuesday’s opener against Lawrenceville was postponed until Monday, April 14 due to wet grounds. The Red Raiders now head into a stretch of five games in seven days without live action.
   "I would’ve liked to have gotten Tuesday’s game in," added Waters. "That would’ve given us a day off to work on things before Thursday’s game at Hopewell Valley."
   With a talented and veteran roster, the Red Raiders are hunting for their fifth consecutive state championship. If they find that hunger Waters is looking for, things might not be pretty for Prep B opponents.
   "We’ve toughened up the schedule," Waters said. "We have the tools to have a very good season. We can’t get complacent. We need to stay focused."
   NOTE: Pennington takes on New Hope on Friday.