CYANMAGENTAYELLOWBLACK

The Daily Journal www.thedailyjournal.com/sports SPORTS Thursday, March 31, 2011 – C3

PLAYERS TO WATCH
Alysa Romero
Vineland, Millville to battle for Vineland
April
2011 SOFTBALL SCHEDULES
8
11
Cumberland
at Williamstown
4pm
4pm

title; Buena, S.Heart also stacked

14 Deptford 4pm
1 at Egg Harbor Township 4pm 15 at Gloucester Co. Tech 4pm
Vineland 6 Ocean City 4pm 25 Salem 4pm
8 Mainland 4pm 26 Gloucester Catholic 4pm
YEAR: Senior 9 Gloucester May
POS: Shortstop By TOM McGURK (Elite Tour. at R.V.) 1:30pm 2 at Highland 4pm
THE SKINNY: Staff Writer 10 Elite Tournament 4 Kingsway 4pm
“Romo” packs at Rancocas Valley TBD 6 at Cumberland 4pm
tmcgurk@thedailyjournal.com 13 Atlantic City 4pm 9 Wildwood 4pm
plenty of pop in 15 Millville 4pm 11 Williamstown 4pm
the middle of Here’s a look at the soft- 18 Oakcrest 4pm 16 Woodstown 4pm
order; 4 round- 20 at Hammonton 4pm 17 Pitman 4pm
ball teams from the 27 at Lower Cape May 4 pm 20 Clearview 4pm
trippers in ’10.
greater Cumberland Coun- 30 Gloucester Cath. 23 at Glassboro 4pm
ty area: (Hammonton Inv.) 12:30 am
Brittany Scott May
3 Egg Harbor Township 4pm Cumberland Regional
Buena Regional VINELAND 4 at Ocean City 4pm April
6 at Mainland 4pm 1 Kingsway 4pm
YEAR: Junior Coach: Alex Gomez (3rd season, 9 Buena 4pm 4 at Williamstown 4pm
POS: Pitcher 28-17) 11 at Atlantic City 4pm 6 Highland 4pm
Conference: Cape-Atlantic 13 at Milllville 4pm 8 at Delsea 4pm
THE SKINNY: 16 at Oakcrest 4pm 11 at Clearview 4pm
Powerful two- League American I 18 Hammonton 4pm 13 Glassboro 4pm
way threat; 20- Group: IV South 20 Absegami 4pm 15 at Deptford 4pm
game winner Last year: 8-12, lost in opening 23 at Absegami 4pm 16 Colt Classic
round 24 Lower Cape May 4pm (vs. Bridgeton) 10am
with 0.70 ERA, 26 Sacred Heart 4pm 18 Pitman 4pm
slugged .717. Returning starters: 5. 19 Gloucester County Tech 4pm
Key players: Alysa Romero (Sr., 20 Sacred Heart 4pm
Rachel Gavigan SS), Amanda Gillespie (Sr., 2B), Staff photo/Craig Matthews Millville
April
27 at Kingsway 4pm
Sheba Parra (Jr., CF), Demi Mur- Millville’s Kristin Trout safely slides across home plate in front of Absega- 28 Wildwood 4pm
1 at Absegami 4pm 30 West Deptford
Sacred Heart ray (So., P), Brigitte Garvey (So., mi’s Melissa McCann last season. The Thunderbolts will open their Cape- 2 Hammonton (Ron Vinick Tour) (Hammonton Inv.) 12:30
3B), Anna DiPietro (Jr., C). Atlantic League American I title defense against Absegami tomorrow. 10am May
YEAR: Junior 4 at Hammonton 4pm 1 Hammonton Invitational TBD
Top newcomers: Kaitlyn Coc-
POS: Third base like Scott. The junior was a 20- Top newcomers: Lindsey Grimes 6 Lower Cape May 4pm 2 Williamstown 4pm
caro (Sr., OF), Kylie Finley (So., 13 at Oakcrest 4pm
THE SKINNY: game winner last year with a 0.70 (So., IF), Brittany Russo (Jr., OF), 4 at Highland 4pm
1B/C), Melissa Garcia (Jr., 1B/OF), 15 at Vineland 4pm 6 Delsea 4pm
This star entered ERA. She also hit .455 with a Erin Manski (Jr., 1B/IF).
Alyssa Ellis (So., OF), Samantha 16 Holy Cross 9 at Gloucester 4pm
40-40-40 club; team-high 33 RBIs. Buena will Outlook: With a beefed up sched- (Overbrook Tour.) 9am 11 Clearview 4pm
Turner (So., 2B/OF).
had 43 hits, 44 have to replace stars at two key ule, including a berth in the Ham- 18 Egg Harbor Township 4pm 13 at Gloucester Catholic 4pm
Outlook: Vineland will count on its 20 Mainland 4pm
runs and 40 positions — catcher and short- monton Invitational, Cumberland 17 Penns Grove 4 pm
strength up the middle starting 21 at Pennsville 4pm 18 at Salem 4pm
RBIs in ’10. stop. Surran is expected to catch, appears ready for primetime in
with the fireballing Murray in the 22 Overbrook Tournament TBD 23 at Woodstown 4pm
circle. The sophomore southpaw taking over for the graduated Gab- 2011. The team boasts a highly 25 Ocean City 4pm
Angela Jackson drew some big assignments in her by Colon. Giannascoli and Janessa charged battery with southpaw 27
29
at Atlantic City
Absegami
4pm
4pm Schalick
rookie season and didn’t wilt under Rios could share duties at short, Tomasetti and catcher Lesher — May April
Millville replacing Kaitlyn Cooper, who did- two of the area’s best at their respec-
the pressure. Now, the No. 1 job is 2 Hammonton 4pm 1 Salem 4pm
YEAR: Junior all hers and she has the skills, n’t come out for the team as she tive positions. Cumberland also 4 at Lower Cape May 4pm 4 Camden Academy 4pm
plans to concentrate on soccer. enjoys depth in the circle as Loud 11 Oakcrest 4pm 6 Gloucester 4pm
POS: 2B including a nasty heater, to be a 13 Vineland 4pm 13 at Wildwood 4pm
THE SKINNY: top-notch ace. Romero and Gille- The Mount St. Mary’s-bound San- would likely be a No. 1 starter on 16 at Egg Harbor Township 4pm 15 at Pitman 4pm
Accumulated spie lock down the middle of the tiago had a team-best .466 batting most other teams. Moore and Pollock 18 at Mainland 4pm 16 at Pennsville Tour. 11am
team-best 27 infield while Parra will patrol cen- average last season. Maldonaldo make up one of the area’s top dou- 20 at Ocean City 4pm 16 at Pennsville Tour. 1pm
has shined at the hot corner and ble-play combos while Larro and 24 Atlantic City 4pm 18 at Highland 4pm
hits and 15 terfield. Vineland possesses plenty 21 Paulsboro 4pm
walks atop the of power in the heart of the batting the plate while Goeller and Gruccio Whitesall are two of best at tracking 26 Wildwood 4pm
T-Bolt lineup. order, especially with RBI machine are two speedy outfielders who down fly balls in the outfield. 28 Woodstown 5:45pm
Romero, but the Fighting Clan must can cover a lot of ground. Prediction: The Colts have all the Buena
April
Regional 29 at Salem 4pm
Prediction: Softball games often ingredients to make for a very suc- May
Kasey Lesher find a way to get baserunners on in 1 Sacred Heart 4pm 2 Pennsville 4pm
front of the big boppers. hinge with the quality of player in cessful season. It won’t be easy 4 at Our Lady of Mercy 4pm 4 at Gloucester 4pm
Cumberland Reg. Prediction: While Vineland certain- the circle, and there might not be though. Life in the rough-and-tum- 6 Wildwood Catholic 4pm 6 at Deptford 4pm
one any better in the area than ble Royal Division is always diffi- 8 Bridgeton 4pm 9 Kingsway 4pm
ly isn’t the favorite in the CAL 9 Shawnee
YEAR: Senior Scott. If Buena finds ways to cult, but going up against some of 11 Clayton 4pm
American, opposing teams better (Elite Tour. at R.V.) 10:30am 16 Pitman 4pm
POS: Catcher scratch out a few runs on a con- the division’s powerhouses in
not overlook the Fighting Clan. With 10 Elite Tournament 18 at Clearview 4pm
THE SKINNY: sistent basis, Scott will find a way recent years should make Cum- at Rancocas Valley TBD
a strong pitcher and several big 19 Penns Grove 4pm
Along with pol- to make the lead stand. The Chiefs berland even stronger for this 12 West Deptford 4pm 21 at Clayton 11am
bats, Vineland has the tools to 13 St. Joseph 4pm
ished defensive will flirt with the 24-win mark and campaign. Fifteen wins is a nice
skills, she hit
become a player in the race. A .500
could be in line for a sectional title goal, but the Colts could gallop
14 at Pleasantville 4pm Our Lady of Mercy
season should be a lock, but the 15 Middle Township 4pm April
.426 with 22 come June. closer to the 20-win mark bring 20 at Cape May Tech 4pm 1 at Wildwood Catholic 4pm
team could come closer to 11-to-
RBIs last spring. home a division title. 21 at Haddon Heights 3:45p.m. 4 Buena 4pm
13 wins with a little good fortune. 25 at Holy Spirit 11 a.m. 5 Sacred Heart 4pm
SACRED HEART 30 Kingsway 6 at St. Joseph 4pm
Kristen Knorr MILLVILLE Coach: Les Olson (8th season,
SCHALICK (Hammonton Inv.) 8:30 a.m. 8 Cape May Tech 4pm
May 11 Middle Township 4pm
Delsea Regional Coach: Brooke Ewan-Dixon (8th 144-59) Coach: Jami Musey-Lau (9th 2 Our Lady of Mercy 4pm 12 Wildwood Catholic 4pm
season, 100-70) Conference: Cape-Atlantic season, 104-99) 4 at Wildwood Catholic 4pm 13 at Holy Spirit 4pm
YEAR: Senior League National II Conference: Tri-County Confer- 5 at Bridgeton 4pm 15 at Bridgeton 4pm
POS: C/P Conference: Cape-Atlantic 9 at Vineland 4pm 18 Pleasantville 4pm
League American I Group: Non-Public B South ence Diamond Division 11 at St. Joseph 4pm 19 Camden Academy 4pm
THE SKINNY: Last year: 28-3, lost in sectional Group: I South
Group: IV South 13 at Middle Township 4pm May
A true hit final Last year: 6-16, lost in opening 14 at Sacred Heart 7pm 2 at Buena 4pm
machine, batted Last year: 10-11, lost in opening
Returning starters: 5. round 18 Cape May Tech 4pm 4 St. Joseph 4pm
.512 and .481 round 19 Holy Spirit 4pm 6 at Cape May Tech 4pm
Returning starters: 7. Key players: Clarissa Hayes (Sr., Returning starters: 5. 21 No. Burlington Tour. 10am 9 at Middle Township 4pm
over the last 1B/P), Vanessa Caulford (Sr., SS), Key players: Victoria Lawton (Sr.,
Key players: Kristin Trout (Jr., 23 at Egg Harbor Township 4pm 10 Bridgeton 4pm
two seasons. Rachel Gavigan (Jr., 3B), Jocelyn OF), Lindsey Van Etten (Jr., 1B), 24 Pleasantville 4pm 11 Holy Spirit 4pm
OF), Angela Jackson (Jr., IF), Ariel
Cintron (Jr., CF), Allison Reigel Giselle Ramos (Jr., 3B), Mary 16 at Pleasantville 4pm
Clarissa Hayes Jackson (Sr., IF), Corie Collins 20 at Sacred Heart 4pm
(So.., IF), Casey Derella (So., (Jr., 1B/OF), Lindsay Dwyer (So., Burzinski (Jr., Ut), Jessica Harrell Sacred Heart
Sacred Heart OF/IF), Katie Volov (So., C/Ut.) LF), Victoria Caterina (So., RF), (So., OF), Bridget O’Brien (So., SS). April
Rachel Rivera (So., C/Ut.), Emily Samantha Caterina (So., 2B), Top newcomers: Janna Gaburo 1
4
at Buena
at Pleasantville
4pm
4pm
Bridgeton
April
YEAR: Senior Tyler Aulffo (So., Ut), Genevieve (Fr., P/Ut), Kylie Barton (Fr., C),
POS: 1B/P Corson (Jr., OF), Amanda Dods 5 at Our Lady of Mercy 4pm 6 Holy Spirit 4pm
(So., Ut). Giovinazzi (So., OF). Victoria Kaspzak (Fr., P/Ut). 6 at Cape May Tech 4pm 8 Mainland 4pm
THE SKINNY: A Top newcomers: Maria Procopio Outlook: The Cougars possess a 8 at Holy Spirit 4pm 13 at Pleasantville 4pm
bonafide run Top newcomers: Cassidy Gorgo
(Sr., OF), Rosalie LaGrotta (Fr., P), solid nucleus with Ramos and Van 9 at Egg Harbor Township11am 16 at Cumberland 10am
producer; drove (Fr., P/Ut.), Gabby Banks 11 St. Joseph 4pm 18 Wildwood Catholic 4pm
(Fr.,P/Ut.), Laura Lokey (Jr., 1B), Danielle Lugo (Fr., C), Gabrielle Etten at the corner spots in the 14 at Wildwood Catholic 4pm 20 at Middle Township 4pm
in 34 runs and Castellini (Fr., DP/OF), Lauren infield and Harrell patrolling the out-
scored 23 last Christy Feltes (So., 1B), Breann 16 Overbrook Tournament 9am May
Swan (So., 1B). Tobolski (Fr., OF). field. Ramos and Van Etten com- 18 Middle Township 4pm 3 St. Joseph 4pm
spring. Outlook: With most teams that bined for 46 hits and 22 RBIs last 19 at St. Joseph 4pm 4 at Holy Spirit 4pm
Outlook: The Thunderbolts 20 at Cumberland 4pm 6 at Mainland 4pm
endured some lumps last season, lost three of its program’s all-time season. 21 at Highland 4pm 11 Pleasantville 4pm
KEY MATCHES experiencing some growing pains best players in career hit leader Prediction: Look for Schalick to 23 Overbrook Tournament TBD 13 Schalick 4pm
and tough losses with younger Arielle Bruno, win leader Kylie challenge the .500 mark especially 27 Bridgeton 4pm 16 at Wildwood Catholic 4pm
May 18 Middle Township 4pm
■ Sacred Heart at Buena, Friday, players. However, those bruises Kristovich and one of its best cap- if the young talent develops quickly.
2 Pleasantville 4pm 25 at St. Joseph 4pm
4 p.m. Opening Day starts off with quickly turned into muscle as the tains in Janelle Rodriquez, there The Cougars should win 6-to-8 4 Cape May Tech 4pm
a bang. When these two teams team earned the American I cham- would be major concern. There is games this season and set the foun- 6 Holy Spirit 4pm Cumberland
April
Christian
last met, Sacred Heart pulled out a pionship — the program’s first no distress being heard from Cun- dation for a big season in 2012. 13 Wildwood Catholic 4pm
14 Buena 7pm 1 Pilgrim 4pm
1-0 win under the lights at Cun- under Ewan-Dixon. Now, the team ningham Park, home of the Lions. 5 at Kings 4pm
16 at Middle Township 4pm
nigham Park in May in what was returns a solid and versatile core Sacred Heart boasts a potent mid- DELSEA REGIONAL 17 at Absegami 4pm 7 at Christian Academy 4pm
dubbed the Game of the Year. of starters. The Thunderbolts will dle of the order with Hayes (80 hits 20 Our Lady of Mercy 4pm 9 Calvary (DH) noon
Coach: Scott Gutelius (4th sea- 12 at Victory 4pm
■ Cumberland at Delsea, April 8, look to take advantage of their and 75 RBIs for her career), Gavi- 23 Camden Catholic 4pm
gan (76 hits, 69 RBIs) and Dwyer son, 47-21) 24 at Bridgeton 4pm 19 Gloucester 4pm
4 p.m. These two teams split the speed, especially at the top of the May
(23 hits, 24 RBIs). Caulford is the Conference: Tri-County Confer- 25 at Bishop Eustace 4pm
season series last year, both could order where Angela Jackson 26 at Vineland 4pm 3 Kings 4pm
speedy sparkplug at the top of the ence Royal Division 5 Atlantic Christian 3:45pm
be in the mix for a Tri-Co Royal resides. One area of change is
lineup who will also be moving Group: III South 9 at Pilgrim 3:30pm
title this spring; Rematch at Cum- inside the pitching circle where a
berland on May 6. pair of freshmen, Gorgo and over from second base to short- Last year: 18-6, Group III South Delsea
April
Regional 10
16
Baptist
Christian Academy 3:45pm
4pm
champions
■ Millville at Vineland, April 15, Banks, will replace three-year stop. The battery will be new with 1 at Clearview 3:45 19 at Baptist 3:45pm
a pair of talented freshmen in Returning starters: 6. 4 Highland 4pm 23 at Gloucester Christian 4pm
4 p.m. — Both teams should be in starter Katie Cox.
LaGrotta and Lugo. LaGrotta has a Key players: Kristen Knorr (Sr., 6 at Kingsway 4pm
the thick of the American I title Prediction: If the team can find a
plus-fastball and great compo- C/P/IF), Shilah Snead (Jr., SS),
race, an early win could give one way to get consistency at the plate team could be a big-time spoiler in Bridgeton pulls off a number in the
sure, two things needed to pitch in Alyson Bosco (Sr. OF/C); Tiffany
team the inside track; The rematch and the young pitching can devel- the Royal Division title race. six-to-eight range and that would be
the CAL National. Lugo is a multi- Schemeley (Sr., 1B), Rachel
is scheduled for May 13 at Millville. op quickly, the Thunderbolts can a major step in the right direction.
Crescitelli (Sr., 2B/OF), Chelsi
■ Sacred Heart at Cumberland, make some serious noise this talented backstop, who is regard-
BRIDGETON
ed as one of the top freshmen in Biener (Sr., OF/P).
April 20, 4 p.m. — It will be tough spring. Look for 10-to-12 wins Top newcomers: Gabrielle O’Den-
CUMBERLAND CHRISTIAN
to top last year’s 1-0, nine-inning with the opportunity for more if the Cape-Atlantic League. Coach: Andrew Bagley (3rd sea-
Prediction: There’s no rebuilding nis (Sr., 3B/OF), Trista Mokienko son, 5-36) Coach: Ike Jones (1st season)
thriller won by the Lions; Could things fall into place.
project here. Despite some key (So., 3B/OF), Jayme Zeilman (Fr., Conference: Cape-Atlantic Conference: Tri-State Christian
this be a showdown for the area’s
losses to graduation, don’t expect P/OF), Kayla Rohm (Fr., OF). League National I Last season: 8-8.
No. 1 ranking? BUENA REGIONAL Outlook: There will be plenty of Returning starters: 6.
■ Buena at Vineland, May 9, 4 a severe dropoff in production with Group: II South
Coach: Pam Pickett (24th sea- this group. Sacred Heart boasts a new faces in new places at Delsea, Last year: 3-18, missed playoffs Key players: Emily Mayhew (Sr.,
p.m. — The Chiefs played Millville
son, 457-141-1) nice blend of veterans and youth but the team still has a solid core Returning starters: 7. SS), Rebecca Gardella (Sr., RF),
in one of its interconference
Conference: Cape-Atlantic that should keep the strong tradi- group of players with plenty of big- Key players: Nicole Chillari (Jr. Holly Sharper (Sr., 2B), Shea
games last year. Now, they get a
League National I tion of winning softball alive. game experience. Knorr is the cor- SS), Jackie Watford (Jr., C), Niche Horner (Jr., 3B), Rose Marie
look at the Fighting Clan.
Group: II South nerstone of the club, bringing a Barnes (Jr., P/C), Meredith Jones
■ Sacred Heart at Vineland, May Twenty to 22 wins would be a nice Watford (Jr., OF), Kelsey Hill (Jr.,
Last year: 22-8, lost in sectional ceiling for this group. powerful bat, steady glove and OF), Kelsea Holton (Sr., IF), Paige (So., P/C) Julie Leonard (Sr., OF),
26, 4 p.m. — The City Series has
final. leadership. A three-year starter at Buirch (Sr., P), Leanne Boswell Moriah Bradham (Sr., OF).
produced plenty of classic games in
Returning starters: 5. CUMBERLAND REG. catcher, Knorr’s role might be (Sr., P), Lavi Willingham (Jr., OF), Top newcomers: Alyssa Storz
recent years; Sacred Heart has won
Key players: Brittany Goeller (Sr., expanded to include pitcher. Zeil- Jessica Carrasco (Sr., OF). (Sr., CF), Precious Bryant (So.,
two out of the last three meetings. Coach: Judy McCullough
OF), Karlie Gruccio (Sr., OF), man will also get a chance to throw Top newcomers: Jeannie 1B), Courtney Hoffman (So.,
Tatiana Maldonaldo (Sr., 3B), Conference: Tri-County Confer- and could develop into the team’s Ut/DH), Rachel Nash (Jr., OF),
Thomas (Sr., IF), Karsima Pantale-
PLAYOFF INFO Gina Rios (Sr., OF), Maria Santia- ence Royal Division No. 1. Snead is emerging as one of one (So., IF), Natash Rivera (Fr. IF). Lindsay Jackson (Fr., OF), Erica
go (Sr., 2B), Brittany Scott (Jr., P), Group: III South the area’s top shortstops and com- Nguyen (Fr., OF).
The cutoff date for the postseason Outlook: The Bulldogs return an
Natalie Giannascoli (So., 1B/SS), Last year: 11-11, lost in opening bines with Crescitelli to make a for- Outlook: The Crusaders boast a
is May 13. Teams with a .500 experienced group of nine letter-
Janessa Rios (So., 3B/SS). round midable double-play combination. nice group of experience and talent
record or better qualify for the winners, including seven starters.
Top newcomers: Carly Linus Returning starters: 8. Prediction: The Crusaders are especially in the infield where
tournament. Group brackets will Burich and Boswell will share the
(So., OF), Ashley Surran (So., C). Key players: Laura Tomasetti coming off back-to-back sectional Horner, Mayhew and Sharper roam.
be filled out with sub-.500 teams pitching duties and they will have
Outlook: The Chiefs were one of (Sr., P), Shayla Loud (So., P), titles. Could they go for the trifec- Prediction: The Crusaders should
if necessary, with those teams plenty of support behind them
the hottest teams in the second Kasey Lesher (Sr., C), Megan ta? With inexperience as some key make some noise in the Tri-State
being ranked on winning percent- especially in the infield, which is
half of last season, compiling a 12- Moore (Sr., 2B), Kodi Pollock (So., spots, especially pitcher, that Christian Conference and break the
age. The state tournament will anchored by Chillari.
2 mark in their final 14 games. SS), Kaitlyn Whitesall (Sr., OF), might be a difficult task to com- 10-win mark.
begin on May 18th with sectional Prediction: Coach Bagley believes
Can Buena keep the momentum Caitlyn McCormick (So., IF/OF), plete. However, don’t count the
finals slated for June 3 (public) this team has the opportunity to win *No information was made
going this spring? Absolutely, Nicki Larro (Jr., OF), Emily Pettit Crusaders out. A legitimate goal
and June 7 (non-public). State 10 games. While that number might available to The Daily Journal
especially with a two-way talent (So., OF/IF) might be 11-to-13 wins, but the
finals will be June 11. be a tad high, don’t be surprised if from the OLMA softball team.