Bo Scannapieco and the Brookdale Community College women’s softball team head south this week to begin the 2002 season. They are taking part in the Snowbird Tournament in Myrtle Beach, S.C., that runs through tomorrow.
JERRY WOLKOWITZ Brookdale sophomore Dara DeVincenzo shows the form that has made her one of the top junior college hurlers in the nation and has the Jersey Blues expecting another run at the national championships.
As the six-time defending Region XIX champions and annual junior college national championship participant, the Jersey Blues carry the weight of high expectations.
With just five starters and six players overall returning from the 2001 team that went 42-15 and won the Garden State Athletic Conference title, as well as the Region crown, could the Blues be more vulnerable this spring?
"I think we’ll be fine," said Scannapieco, who reached a milestone last year with his 400th victory.
The five starters that BCC has back are outstanding, and the Blues have a strong freshman class to complement them.
Pitching has been the dominant theme for Brookdale, and they have one of the finest junior college hurlers in Jackson graduate Dara DeVincenzo. She was the Region XIX Most Valuable Player last year, pitching the Blues to the championship and a return to the national tournament. She was 21-6 overall with a stingy 1.93 earned-run average. She threw six shutouts and tossed a pair of no-hitters, including a perfect game.
The bad news for hitters, she’s gotten better.
"Dara is much improved," said Scannapieco. "She stronger and throwing the ball 3 to 5 miles an hour faster. Last year she threw her breaking stuff a lot. This year she’ll be more of a power pitcher."
As if DeVincenzo weren’t enough, Scannapieco went out and got last year’s all-state hurler from East Brunswick, Marissa Busch. She won 26 games last year and led the Bears to a Central Jersey Group IV title. She was nothing short of unhittable at times during her scholastic career.
"Dara and Marissa are our Big Two," Scannapieco pointed out. "We have more strike-out pitchers this year."Shortstop Amanda Smith heads the impressive list of returning field players. She was an All-American last year, batting .438 with a Region XIX high 76 runs scored, 84 hits and 29 stolen bases. The Central Regional grad has a great glove and a strong arm. She is the glue for what could be as strong an infield defense as BCC has had.
Sarah Otto, who batted .371 with 34 RBI trades corners this year. The former St. John Vianney star played first in 2001, but has moved to the hot corner at third base. She and Smith are like vacuum cleaners on the left side of the infield.
Allison Cenci of Old Bridge, who started at third last year, has moved to centerfield where her range and strong arm anchor the outfield defense. She batted .349 and had 35 RBIs in 2001.
Tiffany Kenney is the fifth returning starter. She’ll be in right field and is a starter in the pitching rotation. She batted .338 last year despite having a foot injury that slowed her down. Scannapieco expects a big year from the ex-Middletown North star.
Among the newcomers is former Red Bank Catholic star Allison Krilla, who will start at second base. In keeping with the trend of the 2002 Blues, she is very strong defensively.
Kim Roessner of Manasquan, will start at first and see some time at catcher. The freshman figures to add some pop to the line-up. Busch will play at first when she isn’t pitching.
Ilana Machado, an ex-Central Regional star, is the starting catcher. She is a terrific defensive catcher and has a strong arm. Roessner is her back-up, and like most of this year’s Blues, Machado can play more than one position. She’ll see action in right field.
"Our infield defense and catching are much stronger than last year," Scannapieco remarked.
Middletown North grad Stefanie Bird, who saw action last year for the Blues and batted .400, will start in left field.
Freshman Katie Pusz from Manalapan, is the perfect utility player capable of playing the outfield and infield. Outfielder Nicole Maltais, another Middletown North star, rounds out the ’02 Blues. Maltais is a freshman.
Offensively, the Blues will look to do what they have been doing the last couple of seasons, steal bases, hit-and-run, and look for ways to manufacture runs. They don’t have many power hitters who are a threat to go deep at any time. But that doesn’t mean they’ll only play small ball. Collectively, the Blues have several girls with power who could clear the fences, bringing back the threat of the big inning.
"I think our run production could be better this year," noted Scannapieco.
Cenci, Otto, Rosner, Smith and Kenny are where BCC will be looking to get most of its scoring from.
After their trip to South Carolina, the Blues are in New Castle, Del., this weekend for the Del Tech Stanton Tournament. Brookdale’s home opener is Tuesday against Mercer. It’s a double-header that begins at 2:30. The Blues also play a twin bill on March 27 in Lincroft against Orange that begins at 2:30 p.m.
Ex-Brookdale star Jen Rosant is again Scannapieco’s assistantPitching, defense expected to fuel BCC softball team
DeVincenzo, Smith among star returners to Region XIX champions
By tim morris
Staff Writer.