BY TIM MORRIS
Staff Writer
CHRIS KELLY staff Elyse Papaianni is among the players that head coach Bo Scannapieco is looking to to help lead the Brookdale women’s softball team this season. There could be something special brewing on the Brookdale Community College (BCC) softball diamond this spring.
It even has coach Bo Scannapieco, who has turned the program into a national power (the Jersey Blues were the 2003 national champions) excited about his club’s prospects
“I’m interested to see how it all works out,” Scannapieco said. “My hopes are very high. We may struggle early because of the weather, having three players on the basketball team and injuries. But once we get rolling, we’ll be very good. We have seven potential All-Region players.”
This year’s snowy winter has wreaked havoc on softball teams. Prior to BCC’s trip to Myrtle Beach, S.C., to begin the 2005 season, the team was on the diamond for just one defensive practice.
As if that weren’t enough, the Blues were making the trip without Stephanie Brady, Nicole Carroll and Tammy Wood, members of BCC’s women’s basketball team that is in the national championship tournament in Corning, N.Y., this week.
Some of the Blues, like Jessica Williams, are bouncing back from injuries, and it takes time for them to get to full strength.
That’s why Scannapieco can see his team struggling at first.
“We’re really talented,” he said. “It’s a question of how long it will take to get to that level.”
The traditional powerhouse Blues, who are aiming for a 10th straight Region XIX championship this spring, would seem to have it all — pitching, defense, offense and depth.
“Offensively, we’ll be good,” Scannapieco said. “We’ll be better than we’ve been in a few years. Our talent is tilted toward power.”
Williams (Central Regional) and Leah Minnick (Middletown South) are the leading sources of power. Williams is coming back from shoulder surgery, which sidelined her all of last year. All she did as a freshman is earn All-American honors. In addition to her bat, she is an outstanding glove at third base.
Minnick, a sophomore, led the nation in RBIs last year. She’s an outfielder.
Freshman Kara Hertzke (Raritan) completes the team’s power troika. Scannapieco said that the freshman designated hitter/pitcher is a good hitter with power.
But Brookdale won’t be sitting back waiting for the big inning. The Blues have speed at the top of the lineup that can shake things up.
Center fielder Lynn Olender (Sayreville) is the team’s leadoff hitter and she brings speed to the table. She’s good at getting on base and setting the table. Defensively, she covers a lot of ground.
Allyson Weinkofsky (Ocean Township), a freshman like Olender, is the perfect No. 2 hitter in the lineup. She makes contact, hits for average and has power. She’s also quick enough to steal a base, or go from first to third on a base hit. Weinkofsky will start at first base.
As pleased as Scannapieco is with his offensive potential, the Blues’ defense could be the team’s strong point.
“We have a really good defense,” he said. “It’s the best we’ve had, even better than our national championship team.”
Brady is the glue to the infield at shortstop.
“We were inconsistent on defense last year, and that hurt us,” Scannapieco said. “Stephanie Brady solidifies our infield.”
Williams’ return to third base takes care of the hot corner, while Carroll (Keyport) is outstanding in her own right at second, where Sarah Flannery (Ocean Township) can spell her. Weinkofsky makes everyone better with her glove.
Behind the plate, the Blues have a very strong catcher in Brianne Regan (Old Bridge). Sara Matarese (Middletown South) and Flannery provide a lot of depth at this demanding position.
In the outfield, newcomer Erin Covell (Millstone, Notre Dame) will start in right with Minnick in left and Olender in center field.
Batters will find it difficult to get hits into the gap with the way the Blues cover ground.
Christina Morris (Shore Regional), Christina Cirello (Manalapan) and Wood (South River) are providing competition for spots in the outfield. Morris may have the most speed of anyone on the team and Cirello may be the team’s most improved player.
Brookdale’s depth reaches the pitching rotation that is led by two returning All-Region hurlers, Elyse Papaianni (Manasquan) and Cherise Maltais (Manalapan). They were quite a combination last year, sparking the team to a return to the national tournament. They are back, and the addition of Covell gives Scannapieco three top-flight starters. Amanda Roberts (Freehold Township) makes the rotation even deeper.
All of this depth gives this Brookdale team more balance than any previous edition, including the 2002 national champions. It remains to be seen if this year’s team can take it to that level, but it’s that potential that has Scannapieco looking forward to seeing how it all plays out this spring.