Brookdale’s national champs reunited at ring ceremony
BY TIM MORRIS
Staff Writer

Cherise Maltais hadn’t seen her Brookdale Community College women’s softball teammates for seven months, but it seemed like yesterday.

Saturday, Brookdale Community College honored its 2005 national champions by handing out championship rings to the players and coaches at the Robert Collins Arena between games of the women’s and men’s basketball double-header. It was the first time the team had been together since the days following their 3-0 win over Broome College (N.Y.) in the junior college Division III national championship final played in Horseheads, N.Y., in May.

“It’s so exciting to see everyone again,” she said. “I was never this close to a team before. We share a bond.”

That bond led to an experience that few athletes get to share — a national championship.

“It’s an indescribable feeling,” Maltais said of receiving her ring.

Maltais remarked that the highlight of the season and her BCC career was celebrating on the field with her teammates after the win over Broome.

With two national titles in the last four years, Brookdale’s softball program is no longer one of the best programs in the country, but the best.

Bo Scannapieco is the reason. He’s approaching 600 career wins at Brookdale and has been there for the 10 straight Region XIX crowns the team has won.

“Bo is a great coach and a great guy.” said Maltais. “He kept us focused.”

Maltais said that Scannapieco has made putting on a Brookdale uniform special.

“It’s a feeling of pride when you wear the uniform,” she said.

Scannapieco had high praise for his 2005 softball team. The Jersey Blues started the season ranked No. 1 in the country and stayed there every step of the way. Being No. 1 made the task more difficult, but more rewarding in the end.

“This is my 30th year coaching, and to have this happen this late is special,” Scannapieco said. “We had an outstanding group of young leaders. We achieved all of our goals.

“What I’m proudest of is the way they won it, they way they conducted themselves throughout the season,” he added. “They played with pride and passion for the program. They did it easy and with grace.”

The 2005 Jersey Blues were: Stephanie Brady (Ocean Township), Nicole Carroll (Keyport), Christina Cirello (Manalapan), Erin Covell (Notre Dame), Sarah Flannery (Ocean Township), Kara Hertzke (Raritan), Cherise Maltais (Manalapan), Sara Matarese (Middletown South), Leah Minnick (Middletown South), Christina Morris (Shore Regional), Lynn Olender (Sayreville), Elyse Papaianni (Manas-quan), Brianne Regan (Old Bridge), Amanda Roberts (Freehold Township), Allyson Weinkofsky (Ocean Township), Lynn Williams (Central Regional) and Tammy Wood (South River).

Jen Rosant and Sherri Cate, both ex-BCC softball players, are the assistant coaches.

There were postseason honors galore for the Blues. Williams, who led the nation in RBIs (73) and was the co-leader in home runs (10), was named a First Team All-American. It was the second straight All-American honors for the third baseman who batted .428 and was the MVP of the Region Tournament.

Minnick joined Williams as an All-American, making the Second Team after batted .400 and delivering 55 RBIs. She was the MVP at the National Tournament and was joined on the All-Tournament Team by Papaianni, Weinkofsky and Covell.

Williams and Covell were BCC’s All-Garden State Athletic Conference picks; while Williams, Minnick, Olender and Papaianni made the All-Region First Team; and Maltais the Second Team.

Last but not least, Scannapieco was the National Coach of the Year after leading BCC to a 49-8 season that included a perfect 9-0 record in the postseason and the national title.