BY TIM MORRIS
Staff Writer
SCOTT PILLING staff Brookdale’s Kristen Moledo, a Middletown South grad, fires a pitch to the plate during the Jersey Blues’ win over Orange County Community College on Saturday in Middletown. Slowly, but ever so surely, everything is falling into place for the Brookdale Community College women’s softball team.
The worst spring that head coach Bo Scannapieco can recall, combined with one of his youngest squads, produced some inconsistencies early in the season that have recently been ironed out. With the postseason rapidly approaching, the Jersey Blues are still the team to beat in Region 19. After a 4-7 start, the Blues are now 22-8 and ranked No. 5 in the country.
“We’re playing much better now,” said Scannapieco, newly inducted into the National Junior College Athletic Association Hall of Fame. “We still have some inconsistencies, but the good news is that we’re getting better.”
Throughout the season, Brookdale’s one constant has been its offense. The Blues are batting .345 as a team and scoring runs because of their versatility.
“We’re driving the ball,” said Scannapieco. “We’re more balanced than we were last year [when they were the national runner-up]. We have better speed, we make contact and move the runners up, and we have power.”
Allyson Mellia (Toms River North) “jump starts” the offense at the top of the lineup. The freshman leads the nation in runs scored and is batting .400. She has 36 hits and 21 RBIs.
Skye Rubel (Ocean Township) has picked up where she left off in high school, and is the team’s leading run producer. She has a team-high 34 RBIs and has hit the most home runs (four). The ex-Spartan star leads the team in hits (42) and is batting .412.
Danielle Smith (Neptune) has been a nice surprise for Scannapieco. She is batting .366 and has 22 RBIs and two home runs.
Jenna Criscuolo (Middletown North) has 30 RBIs, three home runs and is batting .382.
Other players enjoying big seasons are Amy Bankos (Monsignor Donovan), who is batting .385; Booy Erbig (Brick Township), batting .357; and Kristen Rivera (Union), batting .350 with 18 RBIs.
The defense struggled early as the players adjusted to playing new positions. It is jelling now and doing what it has to do: providing solid support for its pitchers. Shortstop Erbig and third baseman Kristen Moledo (Middletown South) are the cornerstones of the infield defense, and center fielder Melia covers a lot of ground and catches everything. Catchers Rubel and Carrie Sciancalepore (Union) are both good at handling pitchers and blocking pitches.
Brookdale’s rotation consists of starters who have all proved they can win. Kelly Hughes (Toms River North) is 8-3, and Stefanie Reitzel (Life Center Academy) is 6-2. Bankos has a 4-1 mark and Erbig is 4-2.
“All four have different styles, and that helps,” said Scannapieco.
The biggest advantage for Brookdale is that it allows Scannapieco some flexibility. He has used a “bullpen by committee” when needed this year, mixing and matching according to what style might work best against a team or a hitter.
Brookdale is currently undefeated in both Garden State Athletic Conference and Region XIX play. Today (a doubleheader with Monroe), the Blues will be playing for the top seed in Region XIX. The first round is April 28-29 with games at the home of the higher seed. The Blues are in a position to have a bye.
The tournament moves to Middlesex for the finals, May 11-13.
Brookdale is seeking its 12th straight region title.