Over the last two seasons, Marisa Gonzalez has been an offensive catalyst for the Princeton High softball team from the leadoff spot in the batting order.
But this spring, Gonzalez has been moved to the third spot to take advantage of a hitting prowess that saw the outfielder hit an eye-popping .592 last spring.
Last Wednesday against visiting Hopewell Valley, the junior star paid dividends in her new role, pounding out three hits with a homer and three RBIs. Gonzalez’s heroics weren’t enough, though, as the Little Tigers fell 13-7 to the Bulldogs.
While disappointed by the loss, Gonzalez believes she can do damage from the middle of the order.
“I think it is good for the team,” said Gonzalez. “We know that Louise [Eisenach] and Hannah [Gutierrez] can get on base ahead of me. I can drive them in and that can put us up in the beginning of the game.”
In the loss to HoVal, PHS played well in the beginning as the teams were deadlocked at 1-1 through four innings. The Bulldogs broke the game open with three runs in the top of the fifth and seven more in the sixth.
Trailing 11-2 in the seventh, the Little Tigers showed some fight with a five-run uprising which saw Gonzalez contribute a 2-run single.
“I think it was good that our energy was up,” said Gonzalez, reflecting on the rally. “We have to come out like that in the beginning instead of when we get behind and try to chase back.”
In Gonzalez’s view, PHS has the ability to come out with a better result against a team like HoVal
“I think we should have won this game; I know we are a good team,” said Gonzalez. “Once a few errors start being made, it just has this snowball effect. If we make the plays and pick each other up, we’ll be fine.”
Growing into a team leader, Gonzalez is taking more responsibility this spring for picking up her teammates.
“I am a captain this year so I am taking more of a leadership role,” said Gonzalez, who showed leadership last Monday, getting two hits as PHS topped Hightstown 7-2 to improve to 2-2. “At practice, I have been helping out girls with stuff. The focus is not on me, it is more a focus on the team. “
PHS head coach Dave Boehm likes the way Gonzalez is helping the Little Tigers from the middle of the order.
“Marisa is our sparkplug,” said Boehm. “We have to bat her third so she can drive in runs. We have put some people in front of her who can get on base.”
Boehm was frustrated that PHS didn’t do a better job of getting people on base against HoVal.
“We have faced better pitchers and have hit better,” said Boehm. “I thought we just didn’t do it today. We just have to hit.”
In Boehm’s view, better days are ahead for the Little Tigers. “We have that one bad inning and unfortunately it plays on you,” said Boehm, whose club hosts Trenton High on April 11, plays at Robbinsville on April 13 and at Allentown on April 14, and then hosts Hamilton on April 16.
“I think they realize that they are a better team than they played today. We haven’t come around yet; hopefully it will happen soon.”
Gonzalez, for her part, is confident that PHS will come around as the spring unfolds.
“We all know we can do it,” asserted Gonzalez. “It is just the focus that really should improve. We need to tighten up our defense a little more and we have to get our bats going. I think we’ll be fine.”