PART 6: CATCHERS

This is the sixth 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
LAST TUESDAY – Shortstops
LAST WEDNESDAY – Third basemen
YESTERDAY – Outfielders/Designated hitters
TODAY – Catchers
TOMORROW – Pitchers
SUNDAY 6/24 – The 2007 Courier News All-Area team hits the street.


Like shortstop, there is also a ton of top-notch talent at the catching position. While there are plenty of quality players whose numbers would have made them legitimate candidates for a spot on one of the top three teams had they played another position, I left a lot of them off this list simply because their numbers don’t compare to the other catchers I have listed. But that doesn’t mean they won’t make All-Area as an honorable mention. Once again, don’t be surprised to see some of these players make a team as in a DH or utility spot.



THE CANDIDATES
(Players listed alphabetically by last name)



HEATHER BERGMAN, Sr., Governor Livingston
Stats: .435 avg., 7 2BH, 1 3BH, 3 HR, 18 RBI
Upside: Not only did she call the pitches for the state’s all-time strikeout leader -- Capri Catalano – but she was also the spark atop the batting order for the Group II state champs. Great average and pretty good power numbers, especially for a leadoff hitter. Also, not only did she strikeout just three times all season, but she failed to get at least one hit in just three of the Highlanders’ games.
Downside: You could make a case her numbers should have been better against a Group II schedule.


LAURA DUBELL, Sr., Piscataway
Stats: .408 avg., 9 2BH, 0 3BH, 1 HR, 11 RBI
Upside: Nice batting average and a good amount of doubles against a Group IV schedule.
Downside: Overall, her numbers do not compare favorably to some of the other talent at the position. Piscataway struggled, overall, winning just three games.


ERICA GAETA, Jr., Hunterdon Central
Stats: .421 avg., 1 2BH, 3 3BH, 4 HR, 15 RBI
Upside: Very nice average, especially against the competition Central played. Four homers is impressive.
Downside: Overall extra-base hit numbers are kind of low. Several players have better numbers against the same conference schedule.


MEGAN KREYLING, Jr., Dunellen
Stats: .521 avg., 56 R, 12 2BH, 5 3BH, 4 HR, 49 RBI
Upside: Led Middlesex County in runs scored and RBIs, while the rest of her numbers are just as excellent.
Downside: Once again, you’ve got to take some of these stats with a grain of salt, considering Dunellen played in the GMC Gold.


JEN LAPICKI, Sr., Immaculata
Stats: .493 avg., 10 2BH, 2 3BH, 3 HR, 16 RBI
Upside: Great average, nice power totals. Had several big hits for the Spartans during their run to the Somerset County title, including a big home run in the semifinals to get Immaculata going. Scored the winning run in the championship game.
Downside: RBI totals are kind of low, even if Immaculata managed just 4.2 runs per game.


HEATHER MENDEZ, Sr., Ridge
Stats: .410 avg., 11 2BH, 3 3BH, 9 HR, 31 RBIs
Upside: Great numbers across the board, especially against a Skyland Delaware schedule.
Downside: Ridge failed to make the state tournament.


LYNSEY ROSS, Sr., New Providence
Stats: .417 avg., 3 2BH, 1 3BH, 0 HR, 12 RBIs
Upside: Nice batting average, knocked in 12 runs hitting first and second for the MVC Valley Division champs.
Downside: Power numbers are unimpressive. New Providence played in the Valley Division.


ALEX RUSSOMAGNO, Jr., Mount St. Mary
Stats: .470 avg., 7 2BH, 1 3BH, 0 HR, 11 RBIs
Upside: Excellent batting average for the Raritan Division champs. Came within a foot of a game-tying home run in the seventh inning of the Somerset County Tournament quarterfinals.
Downside: Power numbers and RBI total is lacking, especially for someone hitting down in the order on a team that scored a ton of runs against an unimpressive schedule.


ANGELA SESSA, Jr., Union Catholic
Stats: .458 avg., 6 2BH, 0 3BH, 0 HR, 18 RBIs
Upside: Great average, nice RBI total.
Downside: Outside of a lofty average, the rest of her numbers aren’t anything to write home about. Team didn’t do much in the county or state tournaments.