With the Region 19 tournaments getting under way, players from Brookdale Community College’s softball and baseball teams are being recognized for their outstanding regular seasons.
Bo Scannapieco’s Jersey Blues softball team is 39-7 and ranked No. 7 in the country among Division III junior colleges. Brookdale, the defending champion, drew a bye and will start play Saturday at Ocean County College in Toms River. The Blues are the No. 2 seed behind Gloucester.
Five members of the Jersey Blues were named to All-Region XIX teams by the coaches.
Garnering First Team honors were pitcher Kerilyn Svenson (Raritan/University of New Haven), first baseman Tracey Stern (Shore Regional), catcher Christina Masitti (Freehold Township), and outfielder Amanda Svenson (Middletown North). Utility player Samantha Deixler (Southern Regional) was named to the Second Team for the second straight year.
Svenson, a transfer from the University of New Haven, has been the ace of the Blues’ staff. She is 23-3 and has only allowed 20 earned runs all season (153 innings of work). Her 0.915 earned-run average is sixth best in the country, and her 1.24 strikeouts per inning is fourth best in the country.
Svenson has helped herself out at the plate, batting .357 with 20 RBIs.
Stern has provided the long-ball to what is a powerful lineup. Stern, who is only a freshman, leads the nation in home runs with 12. She’s knocked in 56 runs and scored 45 runs while batting .396.
Sophomore Masitti has been one of the keys to Brookdale’s success. Defense behind the plate was a potential vulnerable area for the team, but the former Patriot star made a smooth transition from the outfield to catcher and has been a defensive plus. She’s contributed offensively as well, with four home runs and a .355 batting average.
Right-fielder Svenson has also been a defensive force with her strong arm. She has smacked seven home runs (eighth best in the nation). She is batting .417 and leads the team with 55 hits.
Deixler is batting .386, and among her hits are 14 doubles and three home runs. She has 42 RBIs. The sophomore made the All-TournamentTeamat last year’s National Junior College Athletic Association’s National Championship Tournament.
All five Jersey Blues were also named to the All-Garden State Athletic Conference Team in the same positions they had on the Region squad.
Johnny Johnson’s BCC baseball team was 27-11 in the regular season and is ranked No. 9 in the country. The Blues are the No. 2 seed in the Region.
Seven Brookdale players were named to All-Region XIX Teams.
The First Team selections were pitcher J.C. Menna (Red Bank Catholic), catcher Nick Gaeta (Montville), second baseman David Nunez (Western Oklahoma State), outfielder Andrew Archer (St. John Vianney) and designated hitter Leiby Gonzalez (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic).
Second Team picks were outfielder Eddie Martin (Raritan) and pitcher Brian Conrad (Souderton, Pa.).
Menna, who has attracted interest from pro scouts with his 90-plus-mph fastball, was 4-1 with a 1.317 earned-run average. He struck out 34 batters in 27.1 innings of work. He is a sophomore from Tinton Falls.
Gaeta, a solid defensive catcher who works well with the pitching staff, batted .406 during the regular season and is tied for the team lead in RBIs with 24.
One of BCC’s strengths this year was its ability to play small ball, which complemented the team’s power. Gonzalez was the catalyst of small ball with his speed and ability to get on base (a .390 batting average and an on-base percentage just shy of .500). He scored 19 times and shared the RBI lead with 24.
Nunez batted .410 and had 10 doubles and two triples.
Archer, a sophomore from Freehold, leads the team in hitting for the season at .426 and scored 22 times. He and Martin were the cornerstones of the outfield. They combined for 20 doubles and 44 runs scored. Martin batted .378.
Conrad, a transfer from LaSalle, gave the pitching staff a lift with his 3-1 record and 1.565 ERA.
All five First Team picks were also First Team All-GSAC. Martin was a Second Team choice.
The Brookdale baseball team began the defense of its Region XIX title over the weekend against Union. Gloucester is hosting the Region XIX finals Friday through Sunday.