By: Sean Richards
When South Brunswick High School softball coach Danielle Matlack welcomed her team to the first day of practice, she must have briefly thought to herself: "Where the heck has everyone gone?"
Coming off an outstanding 20-3 season in which it advanced to the semifinal round of the rugged Central Jersey Group IV State Tournament, the Vikings didn’t just get hit hard by graduation. They got decimated as only two, count ’em, two players have returned to the varsity squad.
"That’s all right," said Matlack with a chuckle when asked about the loss of nearly her entire team. "Obviously, we knew we were going to have a very young team this year.
"But the good thing is we’re only going to get better."
The two players who are back are in important positions with senior Courtney Stephens patrolling second and junior Samantha Peletier at third.
"Courtney is a steady player for us," said Matlack, who is beginning her eighth year as the head coach. "Samantha is a clutch hitter."
Although the rest of the team doesn’t have any varsity experience, keep in mind some of the new players would have been on the squad last year if that team hadn’t been so strong.
Taking over in the circle will be juniors Brittany Beris and Emily Littlejohn. As of now, there is no No. 1.
"We’re going to alternate them," said Matlack. "If one comes out on top of the other, then we’ll just take it from there."
Other juniors who have joined the varsity are outfielders Rebecca Boley and Courtney Miller, catcher/first baseman Samantha Heller and shortstop/outfielder Jen Sisco.
Designated player Kristina Mischke and utility player Jess Pietrefesa are the sophomores on the team.
South Brunswick will carry four promising freshmen in outfielder Ali Grischuk, first baseman/catcher Katie Jansson and the Smilgis twins, Amanda and Jen. Amanda Smilgis is an outfielder and shortstop, while Jen Smilgis will play in the outfield.
Like so much of this year’s team, the batting order has not yet been settled. On the plus side is the fact there’s some young talent here that will be anxious to make its mark and move to the front.
Last year South Brunswick shared the Greater Middlesex Conference’s Red Division championship with Sayreville. Sayreville is now down to the White Division and Matlack pointed to J.P. Stevens as possibly the team to beat.
Don’t count out South Brunswick, however. While most of the names have changed, its winning ways might not.

