Part 3: Shortstops

This is the third installment of a seven-part blog-series highlighting the candidates for the 2007 All-Area softball teams.

BLOG SCHEDULE
LAST SATURDAY – First basemen
YESTERDAY – Second baseman
TODAY – Shortstops
TOMORROW – Third basemen
THURSDAY – Outfieldesr/Designated hitters
FRIDAY – Catchers
SATURDAY – Pitchers
SUNDAY 6/24 – The 2007 Courier News All-Area team hits the street.


Shortstop is probably the deepest position, overall, so a lot of players who had good numbers and would have normally been considered serious candidates for a first-third team spots were only considered for honorable mention, and were thus not listed here. Don’t be surprised to see a couple of these players show up as a DH or a utility player on one of the teams.


THE CANDIDATES
(Players listed alphabetically by last name)


ALYSSA D’ADDIO, Sr., Mount St. Mary
Stats: .598 avg., 31 R, 49 H, 9 2BH, 9 3BH, 2 HR, 24 RBI, 4 E
Upside: Mount St. Mary’s all-time hits leader batted .545. And though, I’m sure, it was inflated against the likes of North Warren, South Hunterdon and Manville, even if you knock 20 percent off her numbers, they’re still very impressive. Had a ton of extra-base hits and slugged 1.000. Made just four errors.
Downside: Her numbers have to be deflated somewhat because of some of the less-than-impressive competition on the Mount Lions’ schedule.


ARIELLE GRAPSTEIN, Sr., Pingry
Stats: .529 avg., 13 2BH, 1 3BH, 2 HR, 21 RBI, 8 E
Upside: Drove in 25 percent of Pingry’s runs, hit an astonishing .529, 13 doubles led the area. The unquestioned MVP of the Big Blue.
Downside: Her number also have to be deflated somewhat because of her team’s less-than-impressive schedule, plus the Big Blue did not have a great year, though they did make the state tournament.


CHRISSY GRAZIANO, Sr., Delaware Valley
Stats: .393 avg., 26 R, 6 2BH, 2 3BH, 2 HR, 20 RBIs, 4 E
Upside: Very nice average, solid extra-base hit numbers, good number of RBIs and just four errors for the Central Jersey Group II finalists.
Downside: Schedule wasn’t great. Team didn’t do much against the better pitchers it faced.


JENNY HARABEDIAN, So., Hunterdon Central
Stats: .400 avg., 21 R, 40 H, 5 2BH, 7 3BH, 6 HR, 28 RBI, 9 E
Upside: Fantastic offensive numbers across the board against top-notch competition. Team won the bi-county tournament and its conference crown.
Downside: Made nine errors. Numbers were great, but there are several shortstops whose numbers were even better.


LIZ MILLER, So., Dunellen
Stats: .479 avg., 9 2BH, 4 3BH, 1 HR, 42 RBIs, 2K, 8 E
Upside: Great offensive numbers. Struck out just twice all season. Team won co-championship of GMC Gold Division.
Downside: Team plays in the GMC Gold Division. Made eight errors. Was third-best player on her team.


SHAUNA MULKERIN, Fr., Immaculata
Stats: .411 avg., 2 2BH, 0 3BH, 1 HR, 12 RBIs, 4 E
Upside: Had a nice little season, especially for a freshman, and hit .411 against a Skyland Delaware schedule. Made just four errors after moving to shortstop because of injury to Caitlin Bay. Team won Somerset County Tournament.
Downside: Other than her average, the rest of her numbers aren’t very impressive, especially compared to some of the other players at the position.


SAM PELLECHIO, Sr., North Hunterdon
Stats: .545 avg., 33 R, 10 2BH, 1 3BH, 7 HR, 31 RBI, 4 E
Upside: Last year’s Player of the Year had another phenomenal season for the North Jersey, Section 2, Group IV champions. Her numbers are stellar across the board. She tied her own school record for hits in a season with 48.
Downside: Slumped in the state tournament and went hitless in North’s two final games.


KATHERINE STOLTENBERG, Sr., Montgomery
Stats: .449 avg., 25 R, 9 2BH, 4 3BH, 0 HR, 16 RBIs, 9 SB, 13 SAC, 7 E
Upside: The all-time hits leader for the Skyland Delaware East champions finished with 100 for her career. Hit an impressive .449 against a tough schedule, including nine doubles and four triples. Drove in 16 runs hitting second. Stole nine bases and notched 13 sacrifices.
Downside: Seven errors are a bit high. Her numbers would make her a prime first-team candidate at another position, but with the depth at shortstop, she will probably have trouble cracking first team.


BRITTANY WARGO, Sr., New Providence
Stats: .456 avg., 21 R, 7 2BH, 3 3BH, 1 HR, 20 RBIs, 3 E
Upside: Good numbers across the board. Made just three errors. New Providence went 19-3 and won its conference.
Downside: Even at face value, her numbers don’t compare to some of the big guns at the position. Plus, when you consider the Pioneers play a Group II and Valley Division schedule, the numbers look even less impressive.