Falcon softball team faces new challenge

By: Carolyn M. Hartko
   Just when the Monroe Township High School varsity had gotten comfortable beating up on the other softball teams in the Blue Division, the Lady Falcons find themselves moving up into the White after this year’s realignment of the Greater Middlesex Conference.
   The 2002 squad finished up 16-10, and the Falcons were 18-6 in 2001. Fans can expect those numbers to change, at least until Monroe gets used to the increased level of competition in the new division.
   "Almost everybody in the division is going to be a top team," Falcon head coach Keith Hudak said. "It’s very hard to distinguish between them. Bishop Ahr is going to be good, South Plainfield is going to be good, and Carteret is going to be good. Those three really stand out. And then you have Sayreville, Colonia, JFK and North Brunswick. They’re all good softball schools."
   In addition to new opponents, the Lady Falcons also have a new head coach. Hudak, who has been an assistant in the Monroe program for six years, takes over for Jean Elias who retired after last season. In his 15 years at MTHS, Hudak has been head coach of football, boys’ basketball, and most recently, girls’ basketball. He has also been an assistant in field hockey and baseball.
   Monroe only lost two seniors from last year’s squad, but they were both key people. Kim Mackiewicz was the starting pitcher, and Vicki Blevins led the team’s offense for four years.
   As hard as these girls are to replace, it means that there will be only two new faces when Monroe takes to the field this week, although the jobs will be slightly different. Junior Danielle Cocuzza moves from second base to first, replacing Blevins. Junior co-captain Jackie Varacallo returns at third base. The newcomers are both in the infield: freshman Lisa Varacallo (Jackie’s sister) will play shortstop, and sophomore Jillian Chen makes her debut at second.
   The outfield is staffed by veterans. Senior co-captain Kim Gobac is back in right field, and junior Laura Gibbons will cover center field for the second year. Senior co-captain Danielle Payne, a shortstop last year, has switched to left field.
   Sophomore Brittany Salvatore moves into the starting pitcher spot. Salvatore got some varsity starts last year (5-2), so she should be comfortable on the mound. She’ll be throwing to junior Alexa Cosentino who played outfield last year. Freshman Lisa Cosentino (Alexa’s sister) will pitch for the JV squad and back up Salvatore on the varsity field.
   Hudak won’t be shy about going to his bench. Junior Laura Wieler is a first baseman and classmate Samantha Beyer may see time in the outfield. The other reserve outfielders are all sophomores: Cassandra Carr, Emma Bossard, Danielle Lotrario and Megan McCloskey.
   "I think we’ll be okay in the field," Hudak said. "We’ll play some pretty good defense, and I think we’ll pitch well. And that’s going to keep us in some games. But we have to be able to manufacture some runs. We don’t have the big hitter offensively, so we’ve got to create things on the bases. If we can get a couple of people on base, bunt some people along and get a timely hit, we’ll be able to score some runs. And then our defense, hopefully, will keep us in the game."
   Gibbons and Payne will figure prominently in that strategy. Gibbons, last year’s lead off batter (.305), has the speed to cash in on bunts and slaps. The three- season athlete had the most stolen bases last year. Payne led the squad in RBI and runs scored, and she was the only one besides Blevins to blast a home run in ’02. J. Varacallo (.355) will be looked to as a person who can move runners around the bases.
   The Falcons will test their strategy this week in a belated season opener. Tuesday’s opener at Carteret was postponed due to weather, and Monroe will host JFK at 2 p.m. Saturday.
   Hudak is enthusiastic about his coaching staff. Sue Johnson returns as a varsity assistant, and Danielle Kennedy will coach the JV team. Joe Salvatore, Brittany’s dad, will be working with the team as a volunteer pitching coach. The coaches have set some pretty basic goals for the varsity team this season.
   "We’re not looking to be on ESPN or anything," Hudak said. "We just want to get out there. We’re going to bunt people along on the base paths, and we’re going to do a little bit of running, and do a little bit of creative stuff there, and stay in the games, so we can be competitive and pull out some wins."