Hubbard eyes big future

South softball backs pitcher

By: Justin Feil
   Katy Hubbard has big plans for after the high school softball season.
   The West Windsor-Plainsboro South senior is scheduled to graduate the day before she flies to England to participate in the 2005 London Cup. Hubbard was chosen by the McDonald’s/Mitsubishi Selection Committee to be on the team representing the United States. They’ll be taking on teams from around Europe, some of which have players that were in the 2004 Summer Olympics.
   "I can’t wait," said Hubbard, the Pirates’ pitcher and one of their top hitters.
   As excited as she is about making that team and going to play in an international tournament, she’s even more excited about the remainder of WW-P South’s season. The Pirates bounced back from a disappointing loss to Ewing in the Mercer County Tournament to beat both Lawrenceville Prep and Steinert High with comebacks last week. It puts them back on track to chase some high aspirations for a team that won four of their last six games last year but went 9-12.
   "It definitely boosts our confidence," said Hubbard, the winning pitcher both games. "After losing to Ewing, we didn’t know. We lost to Ewing twice, once in the regular season and once in the Mercer County Tournament. When we beat Steinert, we felt like there’s nothing that can stop us. We know if we can beat Steinert, we can beat anybody around."
   With the win over Steinert, WW-P South improved to 7-5 going into Monday’s rescheduled MCT consolation game against Hopewell Valley. The Pirates need to stay at least .500 through May 13, the cut-off for the state tournament. So far, the team has enjoyed this year, but returning to states is something that Hubbard and the veteran players are particularly focused on this season.
   "It’s been fun," Hubbard said. "Sophomore year was real fun. We made it farther than any (WW-PS) team had. I think we can do so much better than last year. I think we can go to states and go even farther. But right now, we just have to make sure we take it one game at a time."
   The Pirates can build on their recent three-game winning stretch. They followed the MCT loss to Ewing with a 15-0 win over Lawrence as Hubbard fired a one-hitter. In the win over Lawrenceville last Wednesday, the Pirates rallied from a 4-0 deficit to take a 5-4 win with two runs in the sixth inning. Thursday, they beat Steinert, 3-2, in nine innings on a bloop single by Natalie Kirkpatrick.
   "We have Notre Dame twice, we have Peddie and we have Hamilton," said Pirates head coach Kristen Zenerovitz of the upcoming schedule. "We have some of the top competition. It’s not going to be easy. We played well against Lawrenceville and Steinert. The girls have the confidence they can play and win against some of the top teams around here."
   What has been so different about this year’s team that returns all but two outfielders from last season’s squad is the unity. It’s helped them stay together in tough times and pull through in games like they did Lawrenceville and Steinert. For the seniors like Hubbard, this is a last shot at a state run.
   "My motivation is like sophomore year, to get to states and try to get farther than that," Hubbard said. "If we get that, great. If we get farther, even better."
   Hubbard feels better suited to help the Pirates reach a new zenith. She’s in her fourth season as a starting pitcher for South. That shows in the circle.
   "I have four years of experience," she said. "I can tell where the batters’ weaknesses are. I know what they hit and what they don’t. I just have to tell that to my catcher and she has to trust me. It really falls into knowing where their strong and weak points are.
   "The major hitters, I recognize them. Even the ones that aren’t, you can tell by the way they’re standing (what pitch they want). You have to recognize that as a pitcher."
   Hubbard is ideal for a strong defensive team. She’s not what Zenerovitz calls a strike-out pitcher, but nobody is putting the pressure on her to be anything more than her dependable self.
   "I’ve always been taught to trust in your defense," Hubbard said. "Because of your accuracy, it’s going to fall into place. It helps you look better if you get a strikeout. But if it’s hit, you know you have defense behind you."
   "Katy has definitely been a huge part of our winning," Zenerovitz said. "She does her part and just has to trust that the people behind her do their job. It’s nice to see all their hard work come together."
   Zenerovitz sees only subtle differences between last and this year. But little things can mean the difference between making and not making states.
   "I just think it’s been an adjustment period," said the second-year head coach. "The girls have worked together and this is their second year working under me. I think we’ve jelled because of that. They’re a lot more cohesive this year. There’s a lot more communication on and off the field, which I think has helped a lot.
   "Katy does seem more comfortable with herself this year. I don’t know if that’s this being her second year with me. Katy has always been pretty well rounded with her pitching. This year, she’s really stepped it up as a hitter. She’s one of the top defensive and offensive players around."
   Hubbard credits her improvements this year with a more rigorous workout regimen. She also played basketball for the Pirates over the winter, which helped her conditioning.
   "My pitching has gotten better," Hubbard said. "It’s faster and it’s also gotten more accurate. To a pitcher, it’s not if you strike out a person, it’s if you get an out. It doesn’t matter if it’s a ground ball or a high pop to outfield. You can’t do it yourself. The defense has gotten so much better the last couple weeks. It’s just come together. We’ve grown together and know what our moves are and what we can and can’t do."
   After two big wins last week, Hubbard and the WW-P South softball team are thinking they can make it to the state tournament and they can knock off anyone they face.