New season brings new challenges for Lady Blues

New season brings new
challenges for Lady Blues
Jersey Blues have
one starter back from
2003 Region champions

MIDDLETOWN — Bo Scannapieco is hoping that time is on his side this spring.

Due to graduation and injuries, there has been a complete overhaul of his Brookdale Community College women’s softball team. The Jersey Blues, Region XIX champions for the eighth straight year in 2003 and fourth-place finisher at the junior college national championships, have just one returning player, centerfielder Deidre Trujillo.

"This is the first year I have to say it is really open in the region," Scannapieco said. "This will be a challenge for us. We took some hits."

Gloucester, which has been BCC’s big rival in recent years, has the edge of paper (five starters back) and the home-field advantage in May when the Roadrunners host the Region finals May 7-8.

Camden, Morris and Ocean are also teams with a chance for the top prize.

But don’t count Brookdale out. The cupboard isn’t bare and the fact that 18 of the first 21 games played by the Jersey Blues are out of conference (Garden State Athletic Conference) and region gives them plenty of time to come together before serious play begins.

The Blues are very young with just two sophomores, Trujillo and Jessica Cueman, but teams would be well-served to not count the Blues out.

"Out of our scrimmages I feel our pitching is very good and our defense will be very good," Scannapieco said. "Our offensive production, especially in the power department, will be down. We’ll have to be a more aggressive team."

Manalapan graduate Cherise Maltais and Manasquan’s Elyse Papaianni are the two pitchers at the top of the rotation. They have big shoes to fill with Marissa Busch, the MVP when the Blues won the national title in 2002 and the school’s all-time winningest pitcher, having graduated.

However, Scannapieco believes the team’s pitching is in good hands with Maltais and Papaianni, who were both accomplished scholastic pitchers on winning programs (Maltais pitched Manalapan to a Shore Conference Tournament championship during her career with the Braves).

"They both have big game experience," Scannapieco said. "We’ll need them both. These girls will surprise people. They are capable of winning."

Amanda Meatto, a freshman from Old Bridge, will be the third pitcher in the rotation. Meatto is one of the reasons that Scannapieco likes his defense. The Greater Middlesex Conference Player of the Year is a gem with the glove. Scannapieco said people will be surprised at just how good she is on the field.

Next to her at shortstop is another golden glover with range, Middletown South’s Leah Minnick. Nicole Carroll from Keyport will start at second with first base a combination of transfer Christine Lewis (Old Bridge), Maltais and Cueman (Wall). Freshman Brianne Regan, another Old Bridge grad, is a superb backstop.

"She is strong on defense, has a nice arm and good skills," Scannapieco said.

Trujillo (Southern Regional), the cornerstone of the defense, is center where her speed helps her run down fly balls in the gap. Heather Meyers (Central Regional) is still recovering from off-season knee surgery, but by the end of the month will be able to play full time, and will start in left, while Cueman and Robin Bennett (Sayreville) will platoon in right field.

Offensively, Trujillo will again be the team’s catalyst. She scored more runs than anyone in the region last year (59) and will again be the lead-off hitter. She may be more aggressive than ever on the bases.

Meatto and Minnick have the potential to add badly needed power to the line up.

While Scannapieco waits to see just what kind of offense his club will have, he has the luxury of knowing his pitching and defense will give his team a chance to win ball games.

The Jersey Blues are starting the 2004 season this week in Myrtle Beach, S.C., at the Snowbird Softball Tournament. The four-day tourney (March 15-18) will give Scannapieco a good look at what he has.

Brookdale opens its home schedule on Saturday at noon with a double-header against Lehigh Carbon, Pa. The Blues are back for another twinbill Sunday at noon against the College of South Maryland-Charles.

All of these game are non-conference and nonregion.

"We will have plenty of time before region play begins," Scannapieco said. "It will be a struggle early."