Bo Scannapieco knows a little something about the National Junior CollegeAthleticAssociation Softball National Championship.
ERIC SUCAR staff Manalapan resident Samantha Wagner fields her position during a practice session on the Brookdale Community College softball field in Lincroft on May 8 in preparation for the National Junior College Athletic Association Softball National Championship, which starts today in Rochester, Minn. Scannapieco is bringing Brookdale Community College to the national tournament for the 13th time. With two national championships on his resume, he knows what his club is up against this week and believes they can handle it.
“I think we can compete,” he said after his team won the Region XIX title for the 12th time in the last 13 years. “We have a lot of talent up and down.
“I think we’ll be fine,” he added.
The Blues head to Rochester, Minn., for the three-day championship (Thursday through Saturday) on a roll. Although 33- 19 overall, they’re 22-5 over their last 27 games and they regained the Region title in dominant fashion going 3-0.
Pitcher Jen Bankos won all three games and was named the Most Valuable Player. The Monsignor Donovan grad did not allow a single run in 18 inning of work at the Region. She’s 16-5 for the season and has become the ace every championship contender needs. Her earned run average is down to 2.142.
JessicaAssip (Neptune) is 9-5with a 3.18 E.R.A., giving the teamtwo quality starters.
While the pitching has become dominant late in the season, the Blues have been red hot with the bat all season. Brookdale has a team batting average of .365 with 533 his on the season.
Outfielder Allyson Melia (Toms River) is batting .438 for the season with 61 runs scored and 31 RBI.
Infielders Booy Erbig (Brick Township) is batting .403 with 42 RBIs and 37 runs scored. She is one of six BCC hitters with double-figures in doubles leading the parade with 17.
Skye Rubel (Ocean Township) is batting at .367 with a team-high 46 RBIs.
Infielder Samantha Wagner (Manalapan) has 36 RBIs and is batting .331, Danielle Smith (Neptune) is at .363 with 30 RBIs and Stephanie Horn (Middletown South) has scored 30 ties and is batting .392.
Bankos has helped herself and the other pitchers out with her .377 average and 41 runs scored and 32 RBIs.
The Blues have had 10 different players hit home runs this year led by Rubel, who smacked six.Wagner and Erbig went deep four times.
Brookdale opens play in the national tournament tomorrow against Region 12 representative Lorain (Ohio) at 12 p.m. noon. The winner will go to play at 4 p.m. while the loser falls into the loser’s bracket.
Brookdale was ranked No. 5 in the country in the most recent national poll.