Hornets softball needs to start stinging the competition Holmdel has dropped three straight games BY WARREN RAPPLEYEA Staff Writer After opening the campaign with three straight losses, the Holmdel High School softball team faces four games this week as it looks to rebound. The Hornets opened the season with a 10-0 loss to Red Bank Regional, then dropped 3-1 decisions against both Jackson and Rumson-Fair Haven. Coach Jim Gelpke's team was slated to return to action on Monday on the road,with Shore Regional providing the opposition. Yesterday theHornetswere to visit Manasquan before returning home for games this afternoon with Red Bank Catholic and tomorrow vs. St. John Vianney. "I really think we've played better than our record shows," Gelpke said. "The girls have been working hard and I see the improvement. Our team is getting better and better." A year ago the youthful Hornets struggled out of the gate andwere 1-9 before going 5-5 over the final 10 games to end with a 6- 14 mark. Holmdel lost three players to graduation, and Gelpke's roster for this spring includes a pair of sophomores and four freshmen. "We're young overall and the girls just need to be a little quicker with their decisions in the field," the coach said. "That's coming, and it will get better with time. The experience these girls are getting right now will be very valuable down the road." Holmdel relies heavily on junior pitcher Kate Brody. In her third varsity season, Brody is the team's heart and soul and serves as its captain. A year ago she pitched every inning of every game, and may likely do that again this time around. Thus far, Brody has 20 strikeouts in 18 innings of work. She can also hit: her double against Jackson brought home theHornets'only run in the game. Gelpke has two seniors on the roster, and they have been the team's best hitters in the early going. Shortstop Danielle Esposito is at .571 with six stolen bases and an RBI, while versatile third baseman Maggie Baisley is batting .286with an RBI. Baisley, who owns one of the best throwing arms on the team, can also play right and left fields as well as shortstop. In addition to Brody, the Hornets have three other juniors: Kristina Bushey, Danielle Critelli and SamChristie. The versatile Bushey is out with a hamstring injury and is expected back soon; Critelli, bothered by a back injury, is Holmdel's DH and Christie is sure-handed at second base. Twins Alexa and Jamie Martinez play catcher and shortstop, respectively. Alexa Martinez is a solid defensive backstop with a strong arm. Jamie Martinez also excels with the glove, and her arm is equally as strong. Holmdel's freshman contingent includes first baseman Autumn McFeeley, infielder Candace Fok, left fielder Melissa Koven and right fielder Allison Tracy. All four have shown much promise, Gelpke said, and Koven has displayed some pop at the plate. "The thing that will help us in the long run is that for the most part, the girls have been putting the ball in play," the second year coach said. "Last year, as a team, we struck out too much, too often looking. "That's not happening this year. We've cut down on our strikeouts and we're making the opposition work for outs." Despite the slow start, Gelpke's goals are lofty ones. He believes his team can bounce back and qualify for the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group II playoffs. "We have a tough schedule early on, but I think that will help us in the long run," Gelpke said.