February 16, 2005

RUTGERS-CAMDEN SELECTED AS SOFTBALL FAVORITE
IN POLL OF LEAGUE'S HEAD COACHES

DEFENDING CHAMPION SCARLET RAPTORS SEEK SECOND NJAC CROWN

After capturing the 2004 NJAC Championship and advancing to the NCAA Division III Tournament Regional Championship Game,  Rutgers-Camden has been selected as the preseason softball favorite in the New Jersey Athletic Conference. The Scarlet Raptors, who finished their 2004 campaign with an overall record of 36-11, are seeking their second league title since the inception of the NJAC softball championship back in 1983.

Rutgers-Camden was selected to finish first on five-of-the-nine ballots cast by the league’s head coaches. Under the direction of 10th-year head coach Carl Taylor, the Scarlet Raptors have posted an overall record of 137-102-1. Rutgers-Camden recorded a 12-6 conference record in 2004 and entered the NJAC Tournament as the fourth seed. The Raptors proceeded to post three victories in the tournament, culminating in a 1-0 championship game win over top-seed and host Ramapo. Camden returns five all-conference players including a pair of standout pitchers in junior Michelle Schlichtig and senior Becky Johnson. In 2004, Schlichtig was named NJAC Player of the Year after hitting .349 and leading the conference with 284 strikeouts - a total that exceeded her nearest conference competitor by 140. In addition, the Raptors return three all-conference players in senior shortstop Celeste Chinappi, sophomore outfielder Autumn Millett and sophomore catcher Mo Baney.  

William Paterson University was selected to finish second in the poll and received three first place votes among the nine ballots cast. Under the direction of 11th-year head coach Hallie Cohen, the Pioneers have posted a record of 253-139-1, including a 2004 mark of 26-8. The 2003 NJAC Champions return three all-conference players including sophomore second baseman April Sardinas-Wyssling, sophomore shortstop Alicia Albert, and junior pitcher Jenn Scott. 

Rowan University, which finished the 2004 season with a 28-10 overall record, placed third in the poll and received one first place vote. The Profs posted a 13-5 conference record in 2004 good for a second place regular season finish. Ninth-year head coach Kim Wilson has led the Profs to a 253-89 record during her tenure. Rowan returns three all-conference players including the 2004 NJAC Pitcher of the Year in senior Sara Dickey. The Profs also return all-conference players in senior outfielder Nicole Panikiewsky and junior pitcher Colleen Oswald.

Montclair State University, under the direction of 15th-year head coach Anita Kubicka, was selected to finish fourth. Under Kubicka, the Red Hawks have posted an overall record of 445-171-1 including a mark of 34-10 in 2004. Montclair returns three all-conference players in senior third baseman Kari McDonnell, sophomore pitcher Athanasia Totaro and sophomore catcher Megan Tantum. 

The College of New Jersey, which finished 22-13-1 in 2004, was selected to finish fifth. The Lions return four all-conference players in senior outfielder Kristen Zimmerman, senior pitcher Jessica Donohue, senior pitcher Jessica Kohut and senior second baseman Cristina Venetucci. Under the guidance of 10th-year head coach Sally Miller, TCNJ has posted an overall record of 265-97-2.

The coaches' dark horse selection, Richard Stockton College, was picked to finish sixth. Val Julien enters her 19th season at the helm of the Osprey program - the longest tenure of any active NJAC softball coach. Stockton returns two all-conference players from a squad that finished the 2004 campaign at 18-15-1, including junior first baseman Tara Barker and senior pitcher Constance DeSalvo.

Two-time defending regular season first place finisher and NCAA Tournament participant Ramapo College was selected to finish seventh. The Roadrunners, under the direction of seventh-year head coach Ben Allen, have accumulated a record of 160-74 during his tenure, including a mark of 68-15 over the past two seasons. Ramapo returns three all-conference players in junior catcher Lisa Rizzo, junior outfielder Erica Moore, and sophomore outfielder Michele Rossi. 

Kean University was tapped for eighth place by the coaches. The Cougars are led by sixth-year head coach Margie Acker.  

Under the direction of third-year head coach Al Fecso, Rutgers-Newark was selected to place ninth. 

The top four regular season finishers will advance to the 2005 NJAC Championship Tournament which will be hosted by first place regular season finisher. The double-elimination tournament gets underway on Thursday, May 5 and concludes with the 2005 NJAC Championship Game on Saturday, May 7. The winner of the NJAC Tournament receives the conference’s automatic qualification to the NCAA Division III National Championship Tournament.