2015 High School Girls Softball Previews

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THE SHORE CONFERENCE softball season got underway Wednesday with one notable change as B Division North champion St. John Vianney was switched to the A Central, where the Lady Lancers will be a solid favorite to win. SJV’s move leaves the B Division North race wide open with Red Bank Catholic and Red Bank Regional being contenders since both have experienced teams returning. The B Division Central shapes up a three-team race with St. Rose a slight favorite with Mater Dei and Henry Hudson ready for good seasons. – By Jim Hintelmann and Sean Simmons

Area A Central

HOLMDEL

HOLMDEL – Holmdel just missed a winning season a year ago as it finished 13-15, but the Hornets just might get it this year with six returning players from that team. “We graduated four seniors from last year,” said Holmdel coach Nora Bosman. “We have a lot of newcomers at the varsity level this year and are looking to build on last year.” Coming back are catcher April Licato, first baseman Jackie Wong, pitcher Ashley Wong (they are cousins), and outfielders Nicole Ponisi, Aishwarya Kalanaranaman and Matilda Milkowski. Leading newcomers are third baseman Mariah Flanaghan, second baseman Gianna Guerin and outfielder Jessica Shangle. “The hitting is looking better in our scrimages,” said Bosman. “Our defense is young, but it is improving.”

RUMSON-FAIR HAVEN

RUMSON – Rumson-Fair Haven Regional has had a strong girls sports program for years. Unfortunately, the softball program has been the exception. The Lady Bulldogs were only 1-18 last year. “Most of the girls are attracted to the other sports,” said Rumson coach Heather Immesberger. “That drains the talent pool.” Immesberger, though, is optimistic with most of the team back from last year. “We look for a better record,” she said. “We have nowhere to go but up. It’s been an educational experience for the team, but they are getting to know their positions.” The top players are utility Karly Abraham, first baseman Rachel Hohorst, outfielders Leigh Forsyth and Maureen O’Leary, pitcher Kiera McKay, second baseman Nicole Russo, infielder Kyra Sourlis, Gretchen Volk, shortstop Kylie McCabe, outfielder Elinor Gibney and catcher Isabel Licata.

SHORE REGIONAL

WEST LONG BRANCH – It was a struggle for Shore Regional last season with the Blue Devils finishing 8-14, but coach Rich Santangelo expects improvement this year despite having only three returning starters. “We’re young,” Santangelo admitted, “but we hope to be competitive. We seem to be doing okay in our scrimmages. Our defense lacks experience but is learning the positions.” The three returning players are first baseman Jess Layton, and outfielders Halah Davis and Morgan Bohnert. The best of the newcomers are pitcher Katelyn Herring, catcher Eva Mehrtens, third baseman Taylor Sniffen, shortstop Grace Matier, second baseman Cassie Morales, center fielder Emily Ronan, infielder Diana Stevenson and outfielder Julia Sgro. Shore opened its season Thursday against Manasquan.

ST. JOHN VIANNEY

HOLMDEL – St. John Vianney had a near-perfect softball season last year going 27-2 and winning the B North, Monmouth County and Shore Conference championships. The one big goal, however, eluded the Lady Lancers with SJV being upset by Immaculata of Somerville in the NJSIAA South Jersey Non-Public A finals. With most of last year’s team returning, SJV will again be the team to beat in the Shore, but winning the Non-Public A title will once again be the main goal for coach Kim Lombardi, whose team has seven returning starters. “Losing that state game to Immaculata was a big disappointment for us,” said Lombardi. “We had won it the year before, so we’ll be playing even harder this season. “We’ll be very competitive once again,” she said. “Our hitting, pitching and defense all look good thus far.” The main starter back is ace pitcher Ashley Ventura, who started every game last year and went 27-2. “She was outstanding,” said Lombardi. “She has great movement on all of her pitches.” The other returning starters are senior second baseman Erica Krumbine, who hit .500 a year ago, catcher Michelle King, outfielders Claire Stefanelli and Helena Coppola, third baseman Jessica Carlucci, infielder Gianna Mavica and first baseman Megan Masi. SJV has five promising freshmen that will see some action this year. They are outfielders Lindsey Baron and Sarah Furch, shortstop Shelli Rivard, pitcher-infielder Courtney Mahoney, and third baseman Alexa Steensen. Other newcomers are outfielder Victoria Mahoney, pitcher Demi Rivera and infielder Anne Manganiello. SJV, which has dropped down to A Central this year after playing in the B North the past few years, had a big opener Wednesday when it met rival Red Bank Catholic.

Area B Central

HENRY HUDSON

HIGHLANDS – The Henry Hudson Admirals finished last season with a 13-6 record and hope to be in the mix for the B Central Division title this season. The top returning players for the Admirals this season are senior catcher Rebecca Vaughan (.346 batting average last season with one homerun and 13 RBI), senior centerfielder Linda Gallagher (.301 batting average last season with 14 RBI), senior outfielder Sarah Mulligan (.222 batting average last season), senior pitcher Kendall Keelen (13-6 record last season with a 2.98 ERA and 78 strikeouts), senior third baseman Julia DiGiorgio (.516 batting average last season with one homerun, six doubles, three triples, 20 RBI and 28 runs scored), senior utility player Christine Doelger, junior first baseman Ali Quast (.431 batting average last season with one homerun, eight doubles and 20 RBI) and sophomore shortstop Olivia Iannace. The top newcomers for the Admirals are senior second baseman Gabby Villali, sophomore outfielder Vincenza Villali, freshman catcher/outfielder Emma Curry, freshman outfielder/pitcher Kamry Hubeny and freshman outfielder/utility player Sophia Shea. “We want to compete for the B Central title,” Henry Hudson head coach John Corneliusen said.

MATER DEI PREP

MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP – The Mater Dei Prep Seraphs are coming off an impressive 15-6 season and ended up reaching the Non-Public B South final where they were beaten by St. Joe’s (Hammonton) in a nail-biter by the score of 2-1. The Seraphs were also co-champs in the B Central Division with St. Rose. “With the loss of seven girls to graduation, two to track and one deciding not to play, it will be a challenge repeating as B Central champs,” Mater Dei Prep head coach Jeanne Dickinson said. The key returning players for the Seraphs this season are senior centerfielder Brooke Trotta (.355 batting average last season), senior infielder Jamie Luminoso (.345 batting average last season), junior catcher Samantha Cavalli (.353 batting average last season), junior first baseman/outfielder Maggie Klatt (.486 batting average last season with nine doubles, two triples and 25 RBI), sophomore utility player Kaylee Anthony (.326 batting average last season), sophomore pitcher Paige Fernandez (15-6 record last season with a microscopic 1.629 ERA and an impressive 106 strikeouts and also a .417 batting average with four homeruns and 28 RBI) and sophomore shortstop Tyrah Graves (.400 batting average last season including 33 runs scored). The best of the newcomers for the Seraphs are sophomore infielder Sara Gallagher, sophomore outfielders Samantha Cerrato and Linda Pan, freshman infielder Valerie Zoda and freshmen outfielders Jocelyn Dacquel, Heather Dorney, Sheila Klemm and Kathryn Murray. “Only 16 girls came out for the team this season and four of them have never played softball before,” Dickinson said. “A lot of offense needs to be replaced from last season and our younger players are eager to learn.”

Area A North

MIDDLETOWN NORTH

MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP—The Middletown North Lions finished last season with a 14-10 record and were co-champs with Howell for the A North title. With a strong group of players coming back this season, first-year head coach Marc Rosner has his expectations set high for the upcoming season. The top returning players for the Lions this season are senior shortstop Nikki Alfano, junior first baseman Christine Gebhardt, junior outfielder/second baseman Payleigh Behan, sophomore catcher/outfielder Kayla Gallo, sophomore infielder/outfielder Liz Dorsa and sophomore outfielder/pitcher Riley Kernan. The best of the newcomers for the Lions are junior outfielder Taylor Apel, junior outfielder/pitcher Mary Luchs, sophomore catcher/third baseman Ryan Rasmussen, sophomore outfielder Emily Kernan, sophomore infielder/outfielder Angela Delahanty, freshman catcher/third baseman Halina Purcell, freshman shortstop Alyssa Vetrano and freshman second baseman/third baseman Milena Wilton. “Our goals are to win 20 games, finish as a top five team in the Shore Conference, repeat as A North champs, make the semifinals of the SCT and play deep into June in the Group III state tournament,” Rosner said.

MIDDLETOWN SOUTH

MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP – The Middletown South softball team had a successful 18-10 season last year and ended up losing to a tough Ewing team by the score of 8-2 in the final round of the Central Jersey Group III tournament. With a strong nucleus of players coming back this season, you can expect the Eagles to compete with cross-town rival Middletown North for the A North Division title. The key returning players for the Eagles this season are senior catcher Phoenix Starick, senior centerfielder Julia Beck, senior pitcher Tiffani Lambert, senior second baseman Nicki Curran, senior shortstop Alex Corrigan, junior first baseman Ally Massa, junior pitcher Maddie McMahon and junior third baseman Julia Blarr. The key newcomers for the Eagles are junior catcher Hannah Wisialko, junior outfielders Jordyn DellaValle and Ciara Sullivan and sophomore utility player Sarah Corey. “We are returning eight starters from last year’s squad that went to the CJ Group III finals,” Middletown South head coach Tom Erbig said. “We should contend for the Division and Group titles. We have depth and quality on the mound with experienced returning players filling out the majority of the lineup.”

B North

RED BANK CATHOLIC

RED BANK – Red Bank Catholic, a perennial area softball power for years, has been on a slight down period the past couple of seasons, but the Caseys should be back among the better teams this year with an experienced team returning from last year’s 15-13 squad. “We’re young in pitching,” said RBC coach Tony Flego, “but we can hold down the fort as long as we do well on defense. Our hitting looks good and we should be better than last year.” Among the returnees are first baseman-designated player Mary Klecko, second baseman Allie Savino, outfielders Lauren Szulc and Anne Flego, catcher Teresa Griswold, shortstop Lindsay Baumann, first baseman Gabby Bram, designated player Maggie Rue and pitcher Colby Coppola. Other prospects are outfielders Brianna Hagan, Siobhan Cottell and Taylor Lane, utility player Gabby Ciancio, pitcher Hannah Nagy and shortstop Lindsay Benitez. RBC received a break when St. John Vianney was switched to the A Cental this year. Flego looks for Matawan and Wall to be the teams to beat in the B North.

Olivia Iannace (3) of Henry Hudson gets tagged out at home plate by RBR catcher Carly Keeler during Monday's scrimmage. Photo by Sean Simmons.
Olivia Iannace (3) of Henry Hudson gets tagged out at home plate by RBR catcher Carly Keeler during Monday’s scrimmage. Photo by Sean Simmons.

RED BANK REGIONAL

LITTLE SILVER – Red Bank Regional had one of its better teams a year ago when the Lady Bucs finished at 16-11, and coach Denise D’Esposito looks for an even better season with five starters coming back. “We should have a great season,” said D’Esposito. “We have a core group of seniors that have been with me all four years. The hitting has looked good in our scrimmages.” Returning are pitcher Katie Serkus, shortstop Srividya Tyler, third baseman Lauren Bevacqua, second baseman Jamie Mannino and outfielder Jessica Scotti. Leading newcomers are first baseman Darby Olex-Memoli, infielder Lauren Terpak, catcher Carly Keller and outfielder Nikki Lauro. “Our defense is looking good because most of the players have been playing together for a couple of years,” said D’Esposito. Red Bank opened its season Wednesday against Middletown North.