PART 4: Third basemen

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

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



THE CANDIDATES
(Players listed alphabetically by last name)



KELLY DOWNES, Sr., South Plainfield
Stats: .380 avg., 18 R, 11 2BH, 1 3BH, 3 HR, 24 RBI, 13 E
Upside: A nice average and extra-base hit numbers. Team went to county and sectional final.
Downside: 13 errors is a ton. While her numbers are solid, there are players with better or comparable totals against better competition at the position.


KELLY MARCHISIO, Jr., New Providence
Stats: .448 avg., 15 R, 5 2BH, 2 3BH, 2 HR, 27 RBI, 5 E
Upside: Great average, solid extra-base hit numbers. Drove in a nice amount of runs for MVC Valley Division champs.
Downside: New Providence won eight games by 10-run mercy rule, while racking up many of its other victories against less-than-stellar competition. Was not among top 1 or 2 players on her team, statistically.


CYNDIL MATTHEW, So., Westfield
Stats: .642 avg., 34 R, 11 2BH, 2 3BH, 8 HR, 34 RBI, 2 E
Upside: Her numbers are excellent across the board.
Downside: While Westfield played plenty of solid competition, the Blue Devils also fattened up against the punching bags of the Watchung Conference.


LACEY NEMERGUT, Fr., Rutgers Prep
Stats: .460 avg., 17 R, 1 2BH, 1 3BH, 0 HR, 11 RBI, 19 SB
Upside: Great batting average and 19 stolen bases made her a fixture on the bases for the Prep B champions and Somerset County Tournament quarterfinalists.
Downside: Poor power and RBI numbers. Poor schedule.


MICHELLE PAKENHAM, JR., DUNELLEN
Stats: .415 avg., 50 R, 2 HR, 34 RBI, 24 SB, 3E
Upside: Fifty runs scored is a mind-boggling statistic, even if one’s team scored 325 runs and averaged 12 runs pre game. Her 34 RBIs and 24 stolen bases were also impressive. Made just three errors.
Downside: Played a schedule stacked with tech schools, and won 12 games by the 10-run mercy rule. Destroyers were 10-runned by the only legitimate team on the schedule.


MOLLY WARD, Sr., North Hunterdon
Stats: .325 avg., 10 R, 5 2BH, 14 RBI, 9 E
Upside: Her batting average is respectable, considering the teams North played.
Downside: Nine errors is a lot, plus she doesn’t compare, statistically, with the other players at the position, even if you consider her schedule vs. the other players.


KATIE WATTS, Jr., Ridge
Stats: .352 avg., 15 R, 4 2BH, 3 3BH, 3 HR, 12 RBI
Upside: Solid average and good power numbers for a team that played in the Skyland Delaware.
Downside: Ridge didn’t make the state tournament. Had a couple of other players on her team whose numbers eclipsed her own.