Princeton High Softball Seeks to Best School Record

The Princeton High softball team has nothing left but makeup games -- contests that may not even be rescheduled -- but these games could be critical.

Princeton took an 8-12 record into its home game against West Windsor North on Thursday and was scheduled team is scheduled to play Allentown on Friday. Princeton also has to reschedule a game against Ewing.

"Our goal coming into the season was nine wins," Coach Craig Haywood said. "Nine wins is the school record. That would mean something for this team to get that ninth win."

Princeton had two chances at the ninth win last week, but they both came against very tough opponents.

On May 24, Princeton was defeated by Holmdel, 12-2, in the opening game of the Central Jersey Group III playoffs.

"We should have played better against Holmdel," Haywood said. "We only had three hits and their pitcher wasn't overpowering. We had seven errors and walked eleven. You're not going to beat anyone doing that.

"We had four rainouts last week. Prior to the state game, we had only played once in nine days. I don't want to make any excuses, but the girls need repetition. There's no substitute for actually playing."

Princeton played much better in a regular season game against Steinert on Wednesday, losing 8-4. 

Marissa Gonzalez had two hits for Princeton. Maddie Cahill and  Angela Cao had a hit and RBI each. Hannah Gutierrez had a hit and run scored.

"We took a very talented Steinert team seven innings," Haywood said. "They had three unearned runs in the second. Without that, it's a 5-4 game. Maybe this game is something we can build on going into the final few contests.

"Maybe we can still pick up one more win. That ninth win would be special. We already put together back-to-back eight-win seasons. In the previous four years before that, we had eight wins total."