Memorial softball opens season on April 2
BY WAYNE WITKOWSKI Staff Writer
Vin Dallicardillo remembers the 2003 season as Brick Memorial softball coach when the team won the Ocean County Tournament championship over unbeaten and then-state power Manchester.

"This team is a little reminiscent," said Dallicardillo. "But I don't want to get ahead of myself."

It's hard to imagine a team coming off a five-victory season as a conference contender. But a lineup that has improved with extensive experience from a team that was competitive for virtually the entire season and ended its season with a surge to the Ocean County Tournament semifinals can be proof positive that this is a team on the rise.

It may evoke some tinges of nostalgia from that storied 2003 season that featured a young lineup with pitcher Kate Streilein, finishing her career at Brandeis University this spring; catcher Stacy Ryan, who is starting for nationally recognized Georgian Court andAllison Tauscher, who is playing field hockey atWilliam Paterson these days.

And two players - freshman outfielder Becky Melone and senior first baseman Lauren Pickowitz had older sisters on that 2003 team. Karma? Perhaps.

Beating Shore Conference powerhouse Toms River North last season, just as that 2003 team did, could be sending a message to the skeptics, although Dallicardillo treads carefully with one of his youngest teams in his 10 seasons that could start three freshmen with a sophomore veteran.

"Our offense is pretty promising, better than it was," said Dallicardillo. "And we have freshmen who look good at the plate. This is one of the more balanced teams. There are no gaping holes in our offensive lineup. I hope we don't give outs away."

Ah, there's the rub. Last year's team lost some low-scoring games because it didn't hit enough or turn plays in the field reliably enough when some games were on the line, as in a 2-1 loss in the county tournament semifinals to Lacey. Renee Panter is back on the mound and the junior has a better command of her array of pitches after encountering some control problems last year, said Dallicardillo. But her greatest improvement may be in her hitting. Left-handed junior Stephanie Romano could be the No. 2 pitcher as she throws hard but loses control at times. Freshman Carly Gleason also pitches.

Freshman Briane Gaspich has the challenge of replacing one of the two graduates of last year's team - Ashley Cerminaro, who figured significantly inmany ofBrickMemorial's bright moments. Outfielder Danielle Panullo is the other graduate.

"She's pretty promising but she has to work a little on her defense and her footwork," saidDallicardillo ofGaspich. She'll be put to the test from the outset when the Mustangs open April 2 at perennial Shore ConferenceASouth power Toms River East.

Arielle Cooke, who performed creditably at second base as a freshman last year, will hit somewhere in the heart of the order. "She still has some range issues but she is a little more mature with a year under her belt and has learned about cutting off and backing up plays."

Shortstop Daria Siwczak and outfielders Lauren Hatzelhoffer in center field and Sam Arillo, who played in left field last year, are the last of six returning starters. Arillo is just returning this week from a rib injury suffered early in preseason. Nicole Atrashewski, a senior, and Jackie Lyons, a junior, both came up from the junior varsity and are capable outfielders.

"She's looked really goodwith the bat and more comfortable," said Dallicardillo of Siwczak. He also regards Hatzelhoffer as having "a lot of speed and very solid defensively but looking to bring her bat around. She struggled at times at the plate last season, but she's really improving."

Another freshman- Kelly Frangione- hits well enough to be a serious contender for the start at third base against Hanna Fullaway, a senior who sat out late in the season with a broken thumb, and her replacement- Kristy Yurash, a junior.

Kate Conway shared time with Pickowitz at first base and also played at third base last season.

And the best news, said Dallicardillo, is only a couple of players graduate off this team.