BY WAYNE WITKOWSKI
Staff Writer
Brick Township softball coach Mike Fletcher usually speaks a little more sentimentally and fondly about his seniors as the softball season draws to a close, and this one was no different.
“Let’s talk about the seniors,” said Fletcher when asked to reflect on the season.
That meant a lot of talking and a lot of sad farewells for Fletcher during the recent awards ceremony, as most of the key players who were part of the groundwork of success in recent years graduate from this team.
Although the Green Dragons fell short of returning to the NJSIAA and Shore Conference tournaments in which they played last year while finishing 5-13, they drew a lot of praise from their coach.
“Ciara Iasillo gave us four great years,” said Fletcher of his catcher, who is going on to play junior college softball in Hawaii. Iasillo received the coach’s award for providing good team leadership.
Her batterymate, ace pitcher Elizabeth Erbig, is playing much closer to home at junior college national finalist Brookdale Community College.
“She pitched in real tough luck,” said Fletcher. “With her out there, we were not out of any game.”
Erbig finished 4-7 but will remember most when she held Toms River East to two hits while pitching Brick Township to its first victory over its Ocean County rivals in seven years. She also batted .420 which sealed for her the team’s Most Valuable Player award and a spot on the Ocean County team in its All-Star doubleheader against Monmouth. Erbig played second base, which is where she played in the field when she wasn’t pitching for Brick Township, and had two hits as Ocean split the two games, losing 5-4 and then coming back to win, 6-1.
Aside from Erbig, Joey Afflito was the only other creditable hitter.
Only a sophomore, Afflito batted .400 and earned the praise of Fletcher that she “played like a seasoned veteran” at shortstop. Afflito received the offensive player of the year award.
“We did not hit the way we like to, which hurt because this was one of the best defensive teams I’ve had,” said Fletcher.
That includes center fielder Jamie Parks, who is headed to Rowan University, and third baseman Jess Wilenta, who is going to Ocean County College.
“Parks had a big year in center field. She didn’t quite have the year we wanted with the bat but she made up for it with her defense, where she was a spark,” said Fletcher. “And Wilenta was one of our best fielders, a real spark for us at third base.”
There also was Katie McElroy, who shared the pitching with Erbig and who is headed to Washington College. McElroy got the team’s “Big A” award for doing an outstanding job on and off the field.
Also graduating are left fielder Sam Sturzi and part-time right fielder Ashley Anderson.
With many alumnae coming back from their college careers toward the end of the season, Fletcher expects many more to come back next spring, which has made him consider scheduling an alumnae game for the first time.
“We have a lot of kids all over the place and they come back because it’s more like a family here,” said Fletcher.
Outfielder Starri Stark missed most of the season with a high ankle sprain, but other players stepped in who will be coming back next spring, said Fletcher, who also has some good talent up from the junior varsity team that struggled and the freshman team that had a solid season.
Sandy Lutz, the regular first baseman as a sophomore, is ready to become more of a force with the bat next season. Freshman Kelly Garrido has looked sharp when she has played at second base. Sophomore Brittany Morgan got the Most Improved Player award and is ready to move from right field back to her customary spot at catcher.
Brianna Woska, who batted around .325 playing second base when Erbig was on the mound, is ready for a larger role next spring. And so are many other players, which has heightened Fletcher’s enthusiasm amid the sadness of losing so many determined contributors.