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SOFTBALL |
2000 RECAP: The College of New Jersey claimed the NJAC's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament by winning the conference title, sweeping through the regionals, and finishing tied for 5th nationally. Nevertheless, the Lions were forced to clear some stiff hurdles within the White Division of the conference to get there. In the regular season, the Rowan Profs defeated the TCNJ twice during the regular season, and Montclair State--the 2000 ECAC champions--battled the Lions to a 6-6 tie before their contest was halted by darkness. William Paterson defeated Rowan twice in the regular season and once in the play-offs. Meanwhile, Blue Division challenger Richard Stockton rose to the challenge during the NJAC tournament, extending Rowan to 12 innings before dropping a 1-0 first round decision. Similar parity in the Blue Division put Stockton, Ramapo and New Jersey City in a three-way tie for first place at the end of the regular season.
2001 OUTLOOK:
The NJAC standings will sport a new look in 2001, as both the Blue and White Divisions merge into one league with round robin competition. Play-off slots will be determined by the top four finishers during the regular season, and the winner of the conference tournament will receive the NJAC's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III championship tournament. The College of New Jersey is a strong favorite among the conference coaches to successfully defend its title, but not without some stiff challenges from Rowan, William Paterson and Montclair State. All three are hungry for a return to the national tournament after being shut out from the bid process last season. These NJAC coaches have their eye on Richard Stockton as well, who will be aiming to crack the traditional top four.|
2001
NJAC |
|
1.) The
College of New Jersey (W1)* |
|
Dark Horses: |
KEAN UNIVERSITY
COUGARS
Head Coach: Margie Acker
2000 Record: 0-8 NJAC White,
12-21
Overall
Margie Acker is entering her second
season as the head coach of the Kean University softball program.
With nine letterwinners returning and the infusion of seven newcomers, the team
has a nice blend of
experience and youth for the 2001 season. The focus for this season’s team is
to score more runs and
be more fundamentally sound than the squad that went 12-20 in 2000.
|
KEY RETURNEES |
KEY NEWCOMERS |
| Deanna
Lynn - SS Arthur Johnson HS/Clark, NJ |
Casey
Chitwood - C Chandler HS/Chandler, AZ |
| Danielle
Kish - OF Carteret HS/Carteret, NJ |
Nicole
Patterson - P Steinert HS/Yardville, NJ |
| Kelly
Efchak - 3B So. Brunswick HS/So. Brunswick, NJ |
Deanna
Thomas - IF Salem HS/Salem, NJ |
After capturing the ECAC South Championship in 2000, the Red Hawks are
looking to take the next step this season. A top goal will be a
return to the NCAA tournament, the first time since 1991 that the Red Hawks did
not earn an invitation to the nationals. Despite the losses of
All-Americans Tara Wisz and Toni Milito, Montclair will have plenty of
talent. Leading that group is All-American and All-NJAC selection Alex
Lamont (.430, 18 2B) who led the team in RBI last season with 42. Also
back is first baseman/pitcher Kim Caruso (.407, 41 RBI), another All-NJAC White
Division selection in 2000 who posted a 6-2 mark and 2.76 ERA on the mound. The
bulk of the pitching duties will fall on the right arm of Tara Todaro.
Todaro boasted a 16-4 mark with a 1.74 ERA and 92 strikeouts, earning
All-Conference honors.
|
KEY RETURNEES |
KEY NEWCOMERS |
|
Alex Lamont DePaul HS/Hawthorne, NJ |
Crystal Sweeney - P |
|
Dana Sprague - C |
|
|
Kim
Caruso N. Brunswick HS/N. Brunswick, NJ |
|
|
Diana Auteri - IF |
|
|
Tara Todaro |
|
|
Stephanie Romanko - OF |
TCNJ is coming off a season that saw them capture the 2000 NJAC Championship as well as a tie for fifth place in Division III at the College World Series after a 36-9-1 campaign. The Lions return 12 letterwinners from last year’s NCAA tournament team, but will need to fill a void in the infield with the graduation of all-stars Devon Searfoss and Krissy Medino. Offensively, the Lions will look to Jen Kichula (.352, 16 RBI) and Kristen Coyne (.328, 38 RBI) to continue as prolific hitters. For the third straight season, TCNJ returns its pitching staff--Vickie Prevete, Mandy Schenck and Audrey Bowen--completely intact. TCNJ’s trio of pitchers combined to post a 1.58 ERA, having collected 26 complete games with 227 strikeouts. Schenck is coming off a career-best season that saw her named to the 2000 NFCA All-America Third Team.
|
KEY RETURNEES |
KEY NEWCOMERS |
| Kristen
Coyne - IF Edison HS/Edison, NJ |
Carolyn
Kaschak - IF Conestoga HS/Berwyn, PA |
| Katie
Fritz - IF No. Valley Regional HS/Harrington Park, NJ |
|
|
Jen Kichula - C Hightstown HS/Hightstown, NJ |
|
|
Mandy Schenck - P Edison HS/Edison, NJ |
Katye
Altieri - IF Hernando HS/Spring Hill, FL |
NEW JERSEY CITY UNIVERSITY
GOTHIC KNIGHTS
Head Coach: David Salvatore
2000 Record: 6-2 NJAC Blue, 20-17 Overall
After three very successful seasons as head coach of the Gothic Knight softball team, head coach David Salvatore will step down as mentor of the NJCU program at the conclusion of the season. He plans to go back to school to get his Masters degree in Administration, so he can fulfill his goal of becoming a high school athletic director. The end of the Salvatore era will also be the end of the Karen Masters and Jen Barletta era. Masters, a senior right-hander, will leave NJCU as the most successful pitcher in school history, earning NJAC Blue Division Pitcher of the Year honors in 1998 and 1999. Masters made history on March 22, 2000 when she hurled the first perfect game in NJCU history, in a 9-0 doubleheader opener at The College of Staten Island. For the season, Masters tallied a 1.87 ERA, with 138 strikeouts and just 40 walks. Her opponents hit only .219 against her. Meanwhile, Barletta, also a senior, plays her fourth and final season this year knowing she owns almost every NJCU offensive record. Her powerful bat was responsible for a .483 batting average with 56 hits, 15 doubles, seven homeruns, 48 RBI, and 96 total bases in just 116 at bats. Barletta will be protected in the lineup by senior designated hitter Patty Bradley. Bradley, who along with Masters and Barletta have been designated tri-captains of the 2001 team, batted .268 with 11 RBI and 28 total bases a year ago.
Freshman basketball standout Anabel Rodriguez, who was a First-Team All-State selection at shortstop for Belleville last season, will step in immediately at shortstop for NJCU. The Gothic Knights may have found their pitcher of the future in freshman Tara DeFilippo. The Hudson County Player of the Year as a senior last year, DeFilippo will start about half of NJCU’s contests behind Masters. She had a strong fall season and did not give up an earned run in her final three outings. Another freshman will join Rodriguez in the middle infield, as Bianca Quimpo gets the nod at second base.
|
KEY RETURNEES |
KEY NEWCOMERS |
| Jen
Barletta - 1B Bishop Ahr HS/Edison, NJ |
Anabel
Rodriguez - SS Belleville HS/Belleville, NJ |
| Karen
Masters - P Carteret HS/Carteret, NJ |
Tara
DeFilippo - P Holy Family Academy/Bayonne, NJ |
| Patty
Bradley - DH Marist HS/Jersey City, NJ |
Bianca
Quimpo - 2B Carteret HS/Carteret, NJ |
RAMAPO COLLEGE
ROADRUNNERS
Head Coach: Ben Allen
2000 Record: 6-2 NJAC Blue, 21-16 Overall
After finishing in a tie for first place in the former NJAC Blue Division, the Roadrunners look forward to competing at a high level in the combined standings. Ramapo returns nine players and add eight newcomers to their roster. Captains Kelly Kernan and Kelly Ann DiGiulio, along with sophomore Laura Germano, are expected to lead the way in 2001.
|
KEY RETURNEES |
KEY NEWCOMERS |
| Kelly
Kernan - 1B Rancho Bernardo HS/San Diego, CA |
Tara
Sloan - RHP North Bergen HS/North Bergen, NJ |
| Kelly
Ann DiGiulio - OF Mahwah HS/Mahwah, NJ |
Jamie
Anzaldi - P/IF Clifton HS/Clifton, NJ |
| Laura
Germano - IF Park Ridge HS/Park Ridge, NJ |
Michelle
Micklos - P/IF Tuxedo HS/Tuxedo, NY |
RICHARD STOCKTON COLLEGE
OSPREYS
Head Coach: Valerie Julien
2000 Record: 6-2 NJAC Blue, 19-14 Overall
After finishing the Spring 2000 season
in a three-way tie for first place in the now defunct Blue Division, the Stockton softball team returns three
all-conference selections in pitcher Patty Kern, third baseman Lorena DeMeo and first baseman
Michelle Cina. Kern combines with Alison Barbito to form a top-notch
pitching duo for the Ospreys. In addition to DeMeo and Cina, head coach Val Julien
will be looking for increased production from outfielder Gina Abbatemarco and Tara
Muratore to help offset the loss of all-conference shortstop Michelle Garrison to graduation.
|
KEY RETURNEES |
KEY NEWCOMERS |
| Patty
Kern - P Immaculate Heart HS/Denvine, NJ |
Lauren
Genovese - P East Brunswick HS/East Brunswick, NJ |
| Lorena
DiMeo - 3B Bishop Ahr HS/Edison, NJ |
Laurie
Henry - C Absegami HS/Absecon, NJ |
| Alison
Barbito - P Southern Regional HS/Manahawkin, NJ |
Clair
Ruffler - IF St. John Vianney HS/Holmdel, NJ |
ROWAN
UNIVERSITY
PROFS
Head Coach: Kim Wilson
2000 Record: 5-3 NJAC White, 32-13 Overall
The Rowan University softball team is looking to return to the NCAA Division III championship tournament in 2001. After finishing as the runner-up in the NJAC tournament last season, the Profs finished 32-13 and missed getting a bid to the regional for the first time in eight years. This year the infield is anchored by All-American pitcher Jamie Elias, who had an ERA of 1.68 and posted an 18-4 won/loss record with 113 strikeouts in 154 innings. Rowan will be without the services of four-year All-American Stephanie Allocco at shortstop. Competing for her spot will be Kelly Rose (who led the team in stolen bases with 7) and rookie Lauren Leoni. The outfield includes veterans Rose, Tracy Bart (11 RBI) and tri-captain Nicole Hewitt (.266, 17 RBI).
|
KEY RETURNEES |
KEY NEWCOMERS |
| Susan
Campbell - C Colonia HS/Colonia, NJ |
Crystal
Barbour - IF/OF Highland Reg. HS/Erial, NJ |
| Jamie
Elias - P Cherry Hill West HS/Cherry Hill, NJ |
Lauren
Leoni - SS Highland Reg. HS/Clementon, NJ |
| Nicole
Hewitt - OF Cherokee HS/Marlton, NJ |
Angela
Lopresti - 1B Toms River East HS/Toms River, NJ |
RUTGERS UNIVERSITY - CAMDEN
SCARLET RAPTORS
Head Coach: Carl Taylor
2000 Record: 2-6 NJAC Blue, 13-10 Overall
If coach Carl Taylor can find enough offense, his team could improve on last season (10-13, Blue Division 4th place) when it set the school record for wins. Offense could be a question, however, with the loss of All-NJAC Blue Team members Stephanie Ortona (graduation) and Laure Burman (did not return). The Raptors do have several key veterans in addition to freshman pitcher Sarah O'Malley, an all-state performer who was named South Jersey Player of the Year by two newspapers and who set the all-time South Jersey strike-out record (787). She'll team with senior Wendy Pizzi (8-4, 2.33 ERA) for a strong pitching duo.
|
KEY RETURNEES |
KEY NEWCOMERS |
| Wendy
Pizzi - P Maple Shade HS/Maple Shade, NJ |
Sarah
O'Malley - P Camden Catholic HS/Westmont, NJ |
|
Shannon Ireland - 3B Absegami HS/Absecon, NJ |
|
|
Jamie Hullings - 2B Holy Cross HS/Delran, NJ |
|
|
Kristen Stewart - 1B/OF Maple Shade HS/Maple Shade, NJ |
Jocelyn Page - OF/SS West Deptford HS/Thorofare, NJ |
RUTGERS UNIVERSITY - NEWARK
SCARLET KNIGHTS
Head Coach: Celia Mosier
2000 Record: 0-8 NJAC Blue, 10-17 Overall
Sophomore pitcher/infielder Amanda Bremer and speedy outfielder Nydia Cubero will be cornerstones for the 2001 Scarlet Raiders
’ softball squad. Six starters return from last season’s 10-17 squad that finished 0-8 in the Blue Division. Bremer is one of four returnees who started in every game last season. As a freshman, she led the team in batting average (.437), hits (31), runs batted in (21), doubles (8), triples (5), and runs (29). The right-handed pitcher also posted a 5-8 record in 14 appearances. Cubero, who as a Rutgers-Newark basketball player led the NJAC in steals this season, swiped 21 bases in as many attempts last spring. She batted .386 and drove in 18 runs. Back from a season-ending knee injury is second baseman Sue Panyiotou, who was hitting a torrid .400 through the first 11 games. Senior Lourdes Tavares and sophomore Marietta Murillo are outfielders who each hit .323 and started every game last season. Tavares drove in 19 runs while stroking two doubles, four triples and a home run.|
KEY RETURNEES |
KEY NEWCOMERS |
| Amanda
Bremer - P/IF HS/, NJ |
Not available at this time |
| Nydia
Cubero - OF Perth Amboy HS/Perth Amboy, NJ |
|
| Lourdes
Tavares - OF HS/ , NJ |
|
| Sue
Panyiotou HS/ , NJ |
WILLIAM PATERSON UNIVERSITY
PIONEERS
Head Coach: Hallie Cohen
2000 Record: 5-3 NJAC White, 26-10 Overall
The Pioneer women hope to build on their success from the 2000 season. With a 26-10 record overall the softball squad finished 2nd in the NJAC last season. But with a fundamentally sound club, and another year of experience, William Paterson softball is setting high goals this season as they look to improve on their 5-3 conference record. Key returnees include Senior All-American pitcher/utility player Diane Naugle and junior All-American outfielder Lauren Hertzberg, both of whom were also named to the East Region first team, and NJAC White Division all-conference team last season. The Pioneers also return junior first baseman Jen Menges.
|
KEY RETURNEES |
KEY NEWCOMERS |
|
Diane Naugle - P Montville HS/Montville, NJ |
Kim
Hall - IF PhillipsburgHS/Phillipsburg, NJ |
|
Lauren Hertzberg - OF Kinnelon HS/Kinnelon, NJ |
|
| Heidi
Koenig - IF Brielle HS/Manasquan, NJ |
|
|
Jen Menges - 1B Union Beach HS/Keyport, NJ |