The NJCAA Region XIX Tournament Champions

Gloucester County College captured its second consecutive Region XIX championship, downing Brookdale Community College, 2-1, in the championship game on Sunday at Northampton Community College.

The Roadrunners got on the board in the bottom of the 1st when Briana Villari scored on a RBI single by Region XIX Player of the Year Briana Molino. Gloucester added another run in the 4th inning when Molino reached base on a fielders choice and scored on a Brookdale error to make it 2-0.

Brookdale's Holly Klodin hit a solo homerun in the top of the 6th to make it 2-1, but that is all the Jersey Blues would get as Tournament MVP Kristina Morgan shut them down for the 2-1 GCC victory. Morgan finished with a 6-hitter, allowing 1 run while striking out 4 and walking none.

Gloucester, the 2011 NJCAA National Champions, advances to the 2012 college world series in Rochester, Minnesota.

Brookdale, the 2010 National Champs, finishes the season with a 49-7 record.

Day 1 Recap

Gloucester County College advanced to the Region XIX championship game with two victories on day one of the Division III Tournament at Northampton Community College. The Roadrunners defeated Middlesex County College, 4-1, in the opening game of the day and then came from behind to defeat Brookale Community College, 4-3, in the winners bracket championship game at 4pm.

Trailing 3-0, Justine Mattia of Gloucester doubled to open the bottom of the 6th inning, followed by a double from Region XIX Player of the Year Briana Molino to make the score 3-1.  Michelle Pansatti reached on an error and then Courtney Grimm stroked a double to tie the game at 3-3.  Tatiana Maldonado then hit a single, scoring Grimm to give GCC a 4-3 lead.

Brookdale advanced to the winners bracket final after dominating Northampton, 13-0, in the 12pm game.  Carly Gleason limited the Spartans to only 2 hits and Emma Erbig hit a 2-run homerun in the first inning to lead the Jersey Blues.

Middlesex then eliminated Northampton with a 6-3 victory in the 2pm game.  Racheal Wernoch went 2 for 3 with 2 RBI to pace the Colts, who upset 4th seeded Ocean last weekend to advance to the final four.

Middlesex will face Brookdale at 11am on Sunday May 6th, with the winner advancing to face Gloucester in the title game at 1pm.

TOURNAMENT PREVIEW:

Gloucester County College begins its defense of the NJCAA Division III National Championship in softball with the Region XIX Championships at Northampton Community College this weekend, May 5 and 6. The Roadrunners are the top seed in the tournament and wil play the #5 seed Middlesex County College on Saturday, May 5.  The Roadrunners (39-9 overall/19-1 Region), defeated Middlesex (20-14 overall/11-9 Region), two times during the regular season by scores of 12-3 and 12-2.  Middlesex eliminated the #4 seed Ocean County College in two straight games last weekend.  Brookdale Community College (45-5 overall/18-2 Region), will take on on Northampton Community College (24-11 overall/16-4 Region), in the other game.  The winners of both games advance to the semi-finals of the winners bracket in this double elimination tournament.  The losers play each other with the winner advancing and the loser being eliminated.  Sunday, May 6 play will feature a loser bracket final, where one team will advance to the Region XIX championship games against the winner of semifinal game.  A possible second championship game could be played on Sunday if the winner of the losers bracket in victorious in the fisrt championship game.  The winner of the Region XIX tournament advances to the NJCAA Divison III National Championships at Rochester, Minnesota, May 17-19.

Below is the tournament schedule and a capsule summary of each team

Gloucester County College        defending Region XIX champion and defending NJCAA National Champion

39-9 overall       19-1 Region XIX

The Roadrunners are led by Tina Morgan, Brianna Molino, Justine Mattia, Sarah Buchhoffer, Nicle Guinto, Brittany Fitzmaurice, Brianna Villari, and Erin Huesser

Pitching         Tina Morgan 12-3 1.18 ERA, Nicole Guinto 13-3 3.23 ERA, Erin Huesser 14-3  2.12 ERA

Hitting           Brianna Molino .550, Nicole Panaciti .397 Brianna Villare .374, Justine Mattia .341

Home Runs   Brianna Molino 7

RBI               Brianna Molino 54

Middlesex County College

20-14 overall     11-9 Region XIX

The Colts are led by Rebecca Hililard, Morgan Widener, Amanda Sitren, and Kristen Mickley

Pitching        Rebecca Hilliard 10-8 3.43 ERA, Amanda McCormick 5-3 5.28 ERA

Hitting          Morgan Widener .455, Amanda Sitren .450, Kristen Mickley .474

Home Runs   Morgan Widener 5 

RBI              Morgan Widener 46

Brookdale Community College

45-5 overall       18-2 Region XIX

The Jersey Blues won the NJCAA National Champioship in 2010.  They are led by Deanna Daluise, Carly Gleason, Allie Muratore, Chelsea Alston, Holly Klodin, Kathleen Sharp, and Emma Erbig

Pitching         Deanna Daluise 20-2 1.63 ERA, Carly Gleason 19-2 1.90 ERA

Hitting           Emma Erbig .494, Allie Muratore .440, Chelsea Alston .432, Holly Klodin .422

Home Runs    Emma Erbig 5

RBI               Kathleen Sharp 58

Northampton Community College

24-11 overall      16-4 Region XIX

The host Spartans are led by Melanie Morekin, Julia Weber, Morgan Neel, Jaclyn Gates, , and Emily Peruso

Pitching        Melanie Morekin  10-8 4.07 ERA, Julia Weber 9-3 3.31 ERA, Emily Peruso 5-0 4.57 ERA

Hitting          Morgan Neel .450, Jaclyn Gates .402, Meghan Granite . 352

Home Runs   Meghan Granite 3

RBI              Morgan Neel 53