PRINCETON: Softball previews

Montgomery
    Head Coach: Johnny Rooney, sixth year
   Last year: 15-12.
   Key returning players: Alyssa LoCoco (Sr.), Devin O’Connor (Sr.), Allie Whitelaw (Sr.), Carly Hering (Jr.), Casey Niper (Jr.), Julie Smith (Jr.), Taylor Zahn (Jr.), Abby Gray (So.).
   Top newcomers: Chealse Holinko (Sr.), Jordan Zielinski (Sr.), Jen Cranmer (Jr.), Kara Pizzolato (Jr.), Rachel Pizzolato (So.), Alexis Kitrinos (Fr.).
   Coach’s Thoughts: Montgomery’s theme is Back to Basics this year and we had the best month of March we have ever had.  Hard work, the most competitive pre-season schedule and most important the seniors have been doing a good job leading the team and the chemistry of the team is back to where it was two and three years ago. We are so proud of all 30 kids so far and we expect great things from our JV team and we hope  the varsity will compete at a high level. We again will play in the Rancocas Valley tournament, the Nottingham Classic, the Somerset County Tournament and, if we qualify, the Central Jersey Group 4 tournament.
Princeton preview may appear at a future time.
 WW-P North
    Head Coach: Jason Petrone, ninth year
   Last year: 15-8, CVC Valley Division champions
   Key returning players: Courtney Carnevale (Sr.), Briana Taft (Sr.), Sara DeSimini (Jr.), Lexie Forsell (Jr.), Alexandra Niciforo (Jr.), Alexandra Spiegel (Jr.), Kaitlyn Nelson (So.), Sydney Turchin (So.).
   Top newcomers: Brynne Jackson-Roberts (Sr.), Heather Nelson (Sr.), Kaitline Perrine (Fr.), Taylor Phelan (Fr.), Emily Weinberg (Fr.).
   Coach’s Thoughts: We’ve had a tough time getting ready in the spring with all the trips the girls have had. And we’ve had three rainouts, so we haven’t gotten the group together much. Our pitching looks pretty solid in the scrimmages. We’ve been around the plate and keeping them off the bases. The question mark will be the timely hitting and producing some runs. We’d like to defend our Valley Division title for the fourth year in a row and represent well in the county tournament and state tournament. With these freshmen, we have some healthy competition at some of our positions.
WW-P South
    Head Coach: Nicky Arias, third year
   Last year: 13-7
   Key returning players: Liz Chudzik (Sr.), Liz Huttner (Sr.), Alyssa Kelman (Sr.), Johanna Schutzer (Jr.), Caitlin McCann (So.), Jenna Modi (So.), Kat Philbin (So.), Anna Schnitter (So.).
   Top newcomers: Darian Lanzetta (Jr.), Allie Punjello (Jr.), Ella Alter (Fr.), Liz Mendez (Fr.).
   Coach’s Thoughts: My expectations are very high. They know the bar is set high. We can compete with the Steinerts and Notre Dames. Last year we gave them both good runs. We’re deep off the bench which is nice. We have three pitchers this year. If the hitting we had last year returns we’ll be in good shape. Defensively we’re solid. We have high hopes to make it farther in the Mercer County Tournament and in states.
Hun School
    Head Coach: Kathy Quirk, 33rd year
   Last year: 12-5, Prep A state finalist
   Key returning players: Megan Scanlon (Sr.), Alex Thier (Sr.), Julia Anthony (Jr.), Jackie Felker (Jr.), Ashley Hamilton (Jr.), Taylor Landis-Miller (Jr.), Hailey Culhane (So.), Meghan Hayes (So.), Mackenzie Pyne (So.).
   Top newcomers: Aly Klemmer (Jr.), Blair Sirockmon (Jr.), Stephanie Fox (Fr.), Emily Kuchar (Fr.), Taylor Reinhart (Fr.), Nicole Shockley (Fr.).
   Coach’s Thoughts: I think the strength right now is our pitching. We have three solid pitchers working hard. Scanlon behind the plate is doing an excellent job. Our defense, as always, seems to be pretty solid. We’re still moving people around but it seems to be coming together. In our scrimmage, we hit the ball so I’m hoping that our offense will carry over. I think we have a good group of kids. Once we gel and mesh together, I think we’ll be very strong. Aly Klemmer, who transferred from Nottingham, is at first base. It means we have a lot more flexibility. Our pitchers aren’t just pitching, so we have options. We have some unfinished business and hopefully we’ll come out on top this year after losing to Peddie last year in the final.
Princeton Day
    Head Coach: Kristen Wilson, first year
   Last year: 6-8
   Key returning players: Jen Auerbach (Jr.), Kayla Bostwick (Jr.), Marissa Davila (Jr.), Danielle Dawkins (Jr.), Raquel Phillips (Jr.), Leah Brown (So.).
   Top newcomers: Kerry Dillon (So.), Faith Kretch (So.), Kayleigh McLaughlin (So.), Ayana Dawkins (Fr.), Nicole Keim (Fr.), Gabi Phillips (Fr.).
   Coach’s Thoughts: Our strengths are our pitching. Jen is a strong pitcher. Having Kayla and Marissa too gives us our pitcher, catcher and shortstop back, which makes for a strong infield. We have a couple really good hitters, which I was surprised at with them being young. Marissa, Kayla, Jen and Danielle all have great bats. Our key is to keep the errors down. They’re a good team, but they tend to throw the ball around. We don’t want to make those silly mistakes. I think they should do well. Even though they’re young, I think they should still do well. They have a strong core of the team and a lot of good team leaders. I’m hoping they pick it up and pull together and do well.