A5-2 record in Myrtle Beach, S.C., was a good way for the Brookdale Community College softball team to start the 2010 season.
Brookdale Community College’s Tracey Stern applies the tag a bit too late to the Delaware Tech base runner at first. BCC is ranked No. 2 in the country among Division III junior colleges. PHOTOS BY JEFF GRANIT staff “We could have won every game,” Coach Bo Scannapieco said.
What was most impressive about the Jersey Blues’ three-day stay in South Carolina, where the team played seven games, was the opening triple-header. The team had just arrived at the ballpark 15 minutes before game time. With no warm-up, the Jersey Blues went out and beat Massoit, 15-3, and went on to take two of the three games.
“I would have signed on for that,” said Scannapieco.
Since returning north, Brookdale has won five of six games and was sporting a 10-3 record as the week began. The Jersey Blues have moved up from their preseason No. 5 ranking among Division III junior colleges to No. 2 in the country. Brookdale is undefeated against Division III teams.
Pitcher Kerliyn Svneson is one of the reasons that the Brookdale women’s softball team is ranked No. 2 in the country. “We are definitely more talented than the last few years,” said Scannapieco.
That assessment by the coach is not good news for teams in Region XIX that are looking to catch a team Scannapieco has turned into a national powerhouse.
In 2009, Scannapieco did one of his finest coaching jobs. His team was hovering around .500 for 30 games, but he still got the Jersey Blues to the Junior College Athletic Association National Championships, where they finished sixth. On the way he recorded career win No. 700 and the program’s 14th Region XIX title.
This spring, with veterans returning from 2009 and a very good freshman class, the Jersey Blues are off and running. Brookdale is scoring runs in bunches.
“We are very good on offense,” said Scannapieco. “We have speed and power. One through nine (in the lineup), we are a little stronger than last year. It’s a pretty potent lineup.”
That is what makes this team (8-0 against Division III teams) so difficult to shut down. The Jersey Blues have power to produce a big inning and they can hurt opponents with their speed on the base paths.
Freshman Tracey Stern (Shore Regional High School) has already blasted five home runs and driven in 20 runs while batting .461 She leads the team in runs scored with 18.
Samantha Dugan, a freshman from Middletown North High School, has scored 15 runs while batting .400.
Amanda Svenson, another freshman from Middletown North, is batting .457 with 10 runs scored. Kelly Mormino, a sophomore from Howell High School, is batting .300, and freshman Vanessa Flores (Wall Township High School) is at .381.
Brookdale has a team batting average of .382 and scored 100 runs in its first 11 games.
Sophomore Christina Masitti (Freehold Township High School) has been one of the team’s most important players — not just because she is batting .313 with 12 RBIs and 12 runs scored, but also because of her defense.
Before the season started the position of catcher was a concern for Scannapieco. That concern has been alleviated because of the way that Masitti has caught on to her new position. She throws well and has been excellent at blocking pitches in the dirt.
Her skills behind the plate have helped to shore up what is proving to be a very good defense.
No one appreciates good defense like a pitcher and the Jersey Blues have two outstanding hurlers in freshmen Lauren DeMauro (Manchester) and Kerilyn Svenson (Raritan). DeMauro is 5-1 with a 2.77 ERA in 35.1 innings. Svenson is 5-2 with a 1.25 ERA in 44.2 innings.
Svenson is more of a power pitcher, while De- Mauro relies on a drop curve, according to Scannapieco. The contrast in their styles is perfect for double-headers.
Alyssa Ceravolo, a freshman from Freehold Township, is being used as a spot starter.
The Jersey Blues will be at home on April 11 for a big doubleheader with their Region XIX rival Gloucester. The first game gets under way at noon.
On April 15 Brookdale will host Middlesex in a twin bill that starts at 3:30 p.m.
This year’s Region XIX Tournament (May 8-9) will be played at Ocean County College in Toms River.