BY TIM MORRIS
Staff Writer
Jessica Williams, the heart and soul of Brookdale Community College’s national championship softball team, has been recognized for her outstanding season, being selected a First Team All-American.
It’s the second time the Central Regional grad has been named to the Junior College Division III All-American Team.
Joining Williams as an All-American is teammate Leah Minnick. The Middletown South grad was named to the second team.
Jersey Blues head coach Bo Scannapieco was honored with Region XIX and National Coach of the Year honors. He led the Blues to an overall 49-8 record. BCC was the No. 1-ranked team in the nation throughout the season, a first for the Jersey Blues, and they backed the ranking up by winning the National Junior College Athletic Association Division III National Championship Tournament in Alfred, NY. It was the second national title for Scannapieco and the Blues, who first won the NJCAA in 2002.
Williams led the nation in RBIs (73) and was co-leader in home runs (10) as she provided the power in a lineup that produced 433 runs. She batted .428 with 80 hits in 187 at-bats. She had 24 doubles and four triples and scored 44 runs.
The sophomore third baseman, who missed the 2004 season recovering from shoulder surgery, was the Most Valuable Player of the Region XIX Tournament, which Brookdale won for the 10th straight year.
Minnick, also a sophomore, hit an even .400 with 68 hits in 170 at-bats. The shortstop/outfielder had 55 RBIs and 44 runs scored. She had 18 doubles, three triples and four home runs. She was the National Tournament MVP.
First baseman Allyson Weinkofsky (Ocean Township), outfielder Erin Covell (Notre Dame High School, Lawrenceville) and pitcher Elyse Papaianni (Manasquan) joined Minnick on the All-Tournament Team
Williams and Covell (.316, 42 RBIs, 40 runs scored, eight home runs and 11 doubles) were Brookdale’s All-Garden State Athletic Conference First Team picks.
Williams, Minnick, Olender and Papaianni made the All-Region XIX First Team, and Cherise Maltais made the Second Team
Olender (Sayreville), batted .385 and led the team in runs scored (77) and stolen bases. The freshman outfielder was Brookdale’s offensive spark at the top of the lineup.
Sophomore pitcher Papaianni was 18-4 with a 1.54 earned run average.
Maltais (Manalapan) was 18-2 with a 1.57 ERA for the Blues. She is a sophomore.
Baseball All-Americans named
Brookdale’s baseball team enjoyed a memorable season in 2005, and its reward was putting four players on the NJCAA All-American Team.
Jon Marzella (Morristown) was named to the First Team. The third baseman, who was the MVP of the Region XIX Tournament, batted .446 during the regular season with 55 RBIs and 75 runs scored. He had 18 doubles, six triples and eight home runs.
Catcher/designated hitter John Romano (Staten Island, N.Y.) and pitcher Billy Lawson (Panhandle, Fla.) were Second Team picks. Romano hit .464, slamming 20 doubles and 11 home runs. He had 64 RBIs and scored 77 runs.
Lawson was 9-1 with a .073 ERA.
Pitcher Matt Coulson (Freehold Borough) was named to the Third Team. The left-hander was 9-0 with a 2.32 ERA.
Brookdale went 44-6 and won the GSAC, Region XIX and East District championships and advanced to the NJCAA World Series.
Head coach Johnny Johnson was the Northeast Coach of the Year.