By tim morris
Staff Writer
VERONICA YANKOWSKI Brookdale’s Marissa Busch, of East Brunswick, is tagged out sliding into third base during Brookdale’s 9-2 win on Saturday, which clinched its eighth straight Region title. The Jersey Blues will defend their 2002 national championship this week in Joliet, Ill.
Bo Scannapieco learned a little something about his team’s character Saturday.
For the first time as a group, the 2003 Brookdale Community College women’s softball team was facing elimination.
Gloucester Community College had forced the elimination game on the defending Region XIX and national champion Jersey Blues by beating their top pitcher, Marissa Busch (19-2), 3-0. It was Busch’s first loss since early March and only her second in her last 38 decisions.
But when they took the field Saturday in Lincroft with the Region XIX title and a trip to the National Junior College Athletic Association championship at stake, the Jersey Blues proved they have all the qualities required of a champion when they beat Gloucester soundly, 9-2, behind the pitching of Ryan Lafferty (14-4) and the hitting of Jessica Murray. It was Brookdale’s eighth consecutive region crown.
The Blues (34-7) will have the chance to go for back-to-back national championships in Joliet, Ill., starting today.
"It was the first time we had to win and the girls came through it pretty well," said Scannapieco. "The Region was a chance for Ryan to say, ‘I’ve come all this way; I can do it.’ It was the first time she had to win a must game and she pitched well."
Lafferty was touched for two runs in the bottom of the first inning after the Blues had scored twice in the top half, but then shut the door on the Roadrunners.
Meanwhile a seven-run third inning took care of the Roadrunners’ bid to dethrone the champions. Murray, the Most Valuable Player of the tournament, contributed an RBI double and scored in that seven-run outburst.
Deidre Trujillo and Lafferty chipped in with RBI singles and Jensen and Busch worked out based-loaded RBI walks.
Murray, who plays center field, had a huge tournament. She was 9-for-20, including three home runs, and had 10 RBIs.
It may seem routine the way Brookdale wins the region title every year, but it’s no cakewalk.
"It’s not as easy as it looks, believe me," said Scannapieco.
Especially when you are the defending national champion. Everyone has taken their best shot at the Blues all year and the champions have proven to be up to the challenge.
"We came a long way as a team this year," said Scannapieco. "The girls have a lot to be proud of. They were under pressure from the start of the season."
Of his eight straight titles, Scannapieco said this one will always be a little special for him.
"This one was important to me," he said. "I wanted to get a chance at defending the championship. Getting back to the national tournament validates what we did last year."
Last year the Blues picked up the school’s first-ever NJCAA title when Busch (the tourney MVP) shut out Hudson Valley (Troy, N.Y.) 2-0 in the championship game.
This year’s tournament is in Joliet again and will run today through Saturday. Brookdale had put itself in a position where it had to be beaten twice by winning a pair of games on Friday. The Blues beat Ocean 8-2 and Gloucester 10-3.
Lafferty got the win against Ocean and helped her cause with a 3-for-4 day, including a home run. Lauren Jensen went deep and Jessica Murray had a double and three RBIs to highlight the offensive attack.
In the nightcap, Busch beat Gloucester 10-3 as the offense scored in all but two innings and pounded out 15 hits. Murray had a solo home run and two doubles as BCC drew first blood against the Roadrunners and advanced to the final undefeated.
In the final, the 12-hit attack led the way, while a rested Lafferty tossed a gem — a four-hitter.
Gloucester (26-7), ranked fifth in the nation, was a good test for the Blues in preparation for the defense of their title, according to Scannapieco.
"They are better than a couple of teams that we will be playing," he said. "They don’t strike out. They keep the ball in play."
Scannapieco likes the way his team, ranked second in the nation behind Anne Arundel (Md.) in the latest national poll, is playing heading into the NJCAA tournament.
"I like the position that we’re in," he said. "Jessica Murray is hot right now and she can carry a club. Ryan Lafferty has won a must game and that was good to find out. We know what Marissa Busch can do.
"All of our players are better than they were at the start of the season," he added. "There’s always a chance. Back-to-back would be nice."