Softball Launches 2014 Campaign with Championship Aspirations

BROOKLYN, N.Y. – New faces and enthusiasm appear all across the diamond as the St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) softball team embarks upon their 2014 campaign. 

The Lady Bears will aim to secure yet another Hudson Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (HVIAC) championship and vie for a USCAA National Championship for the fifth time in the last six years. The team is coming off a 15-17-1 season in 2013, only the second sub-.500 season in head coach Frank P. Carbone's dozen years at the helm.

While not quite new to the Lady Bears, Carbone is extremely pleased to announce that both Alyson Chiaramonte (SJC '12) and Lisa Scheer (SJC '12) will be assuming new roles in 2014, as each were promotioned from their previous positions as volunteers to officially become assistant coaches this season. Chiaramonte and Scheer were integral components of the Lady Bears' powerhouse teams from 2009-2012, which won over 100 games, captured four consecutive Hudson Valley invitational championships and received four straight bids to the highly competitive USCAA National Championships.

Chiaramonte and Scheer received numerous HVWAC All-Conference and USCAA All-American and AD3I All-Independent awards throughout their stellar four-year careers.  "I am thrilled to have two all-time Lady Bear greats join the staff," exclaimed Carbone. "They represent the future leadership of the program and bring a great deal of softball knowledge and expertise to a very youth-laden squad."

The Lady Bears will kick off their 2014 season when they venture down to Florida for the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic in Fort Myers the week of March 17th. In this tournament, St. Joseph's will take on Alfred State College, the University of New England, University of Wisconsin-Superior and the College at Brockport who won 23 games last year.  The Lady Bears will also play 2013 USCAA National Championship participant Ave Maria in nearby Naples for a doubleheader on St. Joseph's Day (March 19th).

"I'm excited for the 2014 season. I have high expectations for this team," said Chiaramonte. "Although we are a young team that will be tested early on in Florida, the girls work really well together. The chemistry is certainly there and I think that is important in order to be successful on the field."

After their visit to the Sunshine State, the Lady Bears return to Brooklyn to open their home schedule with a doubleheader against Cedar Crest on March 24th.  In addition to facing three HVIAC rivals (including Yeshiva, who is in their inaugural season at the varsity level), the schedule includes visits to CUNY foes Brooklyn (23 wins in '13), John Jay and Lehman along with tough road matchups versus Old Westbury (19 wins in '13), Mount St. Vincent and Valley Forge Christian (PA).  The regular season will wrap up with the celebration of Senior Day on April 27th versus Sarah Lawrence, who the Lady Bears topped in 2013 to claim their fifth consecutive Hudson Valley Invitational title.

Speaking of the Seniors, the Lady Bears return veteran leadership in Christina Quintana (Brooklyn, N.Y./St. Edmund Prep) and Megan Moran (Syosset, N.Y./St. Dominic's). Quintana hit .375 on the year and had six RBI while also earning USCAA National All-Academic Team accolades, while Moran was also named to the USCAA National All-Academic Team and scored 15 runs in 2013. "They both have shown continued improvement over the course of their careers and provide the steady leadership that can take this team to the next level," stated Scheer.

The Lady Bears feature plenty of versatility throughout their roster, with Junior Jackie Perillo (Howard Beach, N.Y./Archbishop Molloy) who inherits the No. 1 pitching spot of the team after a strong sophomore campaign in the circle, but also serves as one of the top outfielders on this deep squad.  In her first season in the circle, Perillo notched seven wins in 2013, including four complete games. She was named to the AD3I All-Independent Second Team as well as USCAA National All-Academic Team and HVWAC All-Conference Team.

Cassandra Molinari (Brooklyn, N.Y./St. Edmund's Prep) will primarily be Perillo's backstop, but can also play multiple positions across the infield, seeing action at short, second and third in 2013. Molinari, an AD3I All-Independent First Team honoree and HVWAC All-Conference Team selection, batted .359 and finished with a team-high 28 RBI and 23 runs scored.

"Cassandra is going to play a couple of different positions for us this year with the majority of her time being spent behind the plate working with her battery-mate, Jackie," added Chiaramonte. "Jackie has worked hard in the off-season. She made a few changes and has really developed herself as a pitcher since last year. Both are threats at the plate and provide a lot of power in the lineup."

Sophomore Maria Randazzo (Brooklyn, N.Y./Fontbonne Hall) also hopes to build off her outstanding freshman season, when she led the team with a .434 batting average and was named to AD3I All-Independent Second Team.

St. Joseph's will have an influx of new blood on the team, bringing eight new players to the roster this season. "Our freshmen class is a very talented and dedicated group," stated Carbone. "We have a lot of players that can play multiple positions and that's really going to benefit us this year. Versatility and flexibility are extremely important at this level of the game."

Jamilynn McGowan (Staten Island, N.Y./Michael J. Petrides) is one of the newcomers that will provide help at many positions, especially in the pitching circle. "Jami is a workhorse," added Chiaramonte. "She is talented and hard working and she really understands the game. She brings a lot to the table for us this year."  Other key additions who are expected to make an immediate impact include high school standouts Samantha Rossi (Bayside, N.Y./Mary Louis), Kristin Ferrigno (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and Samantha Simon (Brooklyn, N.Y.), who were both teammates at Bishop Kearney in Brooklyn. 

The ultimate goal for the Lady Bears is securing a post-season berth, by either qualifying for their first NCAA Tournament or being selected for their seventh berth to participate in the USCAA National Championships and fifth appearance in the last six years.

"Our objective since day one has been to get mentally and physically stronger every day. We have really been focusing on maximizing our strengths and improving on our weaknesses," added Scheer. "The girls have been working really hard. They are putting in the work and I am excited to see it all play out on the field." 

Only time will tell if the 2014 Lady Bears can attain these lofty goals, but they certainly appear to have all of the pieces to make a run at the post-season.