Seniors Ready to Lead Johnson Crusaders Varsity Softball in 2018 Season

CLARK, NJ- As the Arthur L. Johnson High School varsity softball team took to the field at Brewer School to kick off the season with practices, they were without two familiar and productive players, including pitcher Gianna Randazza (Boston College) and shortstop Shannon Brogan (Moravian College), who have taken their game to the next level.

Despite the two having graduated, the team returns players who have had about two to three years of experience throughout their high school career, including some players who can play multiple positions.

Second-year head coach Chris Di Nucci remains optimistic that the experience factor assists his players as the season rolls along.

“It is promising that we have a lot of girls that are returning players,” Di Nucci said. “There is no replacing a Gianna and Shannon in terms of their ability and how good softball players are, but we all have to get a little better as a team. I think we have the ability and the talent on this team to do some great things this season.”

Johnson went 19-10 in the 2017 season, including a trip to the 2017 Union County Tournament Finals and the program’s third trip in the past four seasons to the NJSIAA Central Jersey, Group 2 Semifinals. A new-look of senior leadership hope to build off that success.

Seniors leading the way include Nicole Cassano (P/OF), Lauren Donah (P/OF), Mackenzie Purcell (2B), Jennifer Tinger (3B) and Sydney Tropeano (OF). All players were on the team who won the 2016 NJSIAA Central Jersey, Group 2 sectional championship.

“We have a group of senior girls this year who have contributed to the program for many years now, so they have experience that you can’t teach at the varsity level,” Di Nucci said. “Each of them brings a little something to the dynamic of the team. How our leaders emerge out of the senior class this year, is something we’re going to try and figure out.”

“It’s definitely an experienced group. As a whole, they get along well,” Di Nucci said. “We’re looking forward to a great 2018 season and for these seniors to go out the right way and try and continue the winning tradition here at Johnson.”

Cassano went 4-3 on the mound in 2017, including wins over teams who have reached their respective sectional finals, featuring Brearley on Thursday, May 4 (NJSIAA North Jersey, Section 2, Group 1 runner-up), Metuchen on Monday, May 8  (NJSIAA Central Jersey, Group 1 Sectional Champions), South Plainfield (NJSIAA Group 3 State Champions) and conference rival Cranford.

She will be one to see more time on the mound to lead the team, with a heavier workload.

“Last year, I was fortunate enough to pitch a couple of games, even some big games such as Governor Livingston, where we went to extra innings,” Cassano said. “This experience allowed myself to mentally prepare myself for the upcoming season.”

She pitched a complete game on May 2 against Governor Livingston HS. Despite losing 2-1 in nine innings, she held a strong lineup in check and even tied the game with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Cassano also hit the game-winning three-run home run in a 7-4 win on May 10 over South Plainfield, a nine-inning contest.

“With this involvement, I was able to understand the pressure that goes along with pitching and only with time will it become more subtle,” she added. “I’m excited for this upcoming season and working towards big things.”

Donah was the team’s right-fielder and saw one appearance on the mound, a 6-4 win over Scotch Plains-Fanwood on Tuesday, April 18, 2017. Her 2017 statistics include a .310 batting average, 27 hits (six doubles, one triple), 20 RBIs, 18 walks and four stolen bases.

After one major year of varsity experience, Donah is optimistic of the season that is to come.

Donah is ready to go wherever she has to go on the field.

“I believe we will hold our own while we play to our best ability,” Donah said. “I hope to see more time on the mound, but like I said, wherever they need me, I will be there.”

Purcell secured the job as the team’s starting second baseman in her sophomore year and also saw some varsity experience during her freshman year and excelled in her career at the position.

Her statistics in 2017 included a .352 batting average, 19 hits (nine doubles, two triples), 19 RBIs, nine walks and three stolen bases, hoping to stand out to her underclassmen teammates in her final season.

“It is very important to me to make an impact because it is my last year on the team and playing with these girls,” Purcell said, looking ahead to the upcoming season. “I want to make it memorable and a great year for them and the rest of the seniors as well. You only get one senior year and I want it to be something we all remember forever.”

Tinger became the team’s starting third baseman her sophomore year. She batted .280 last season and collected 23 hits (three doubles) and 14 RBIs. She spoke of the road that lays ahead for her and the team.

“[The experience factor] pays off a lot,” Tinger said. “I know what to expect as some of the other seniors probably do too. You know what to help other players do to have a winning team.”

Tropeano became the team’s starting centerfielder her sophomore year and did good work on the defensive side of the game.

“All of the preparation up to this point has really helped myself and the other seniors feel ready to lead this team,” Tropeano said. “Our past experiences playing together have allowed us to really gel and we are beyond excited to take on our final season.”

“We have experienced all types of situations, unlike most teams and those ups-and-downs are propelling us into our final season,” she added. “The lessons we have learned and the years we have been playing on varsity will certainly help us play our best this year and bring success to the team.”

Juniors from last year’s team include Victoria Zatko, Bailey Rosenmeier, Jenna Addie and Nicole Pecoraro, with sophomores Megan Tinger and Lia D’Angelo.

Rosenmeier missed the entire 2017 season due to a major knee injury she sustained during her sophomore year of basketball.

The Crusaders are in the Union County Conference Watchung Division and have a schedule featuring opponents such as Westfield, Cranford, Elizabeth and Governor Livingston (2017 conference champions).

It also includes a set of tougher opponents featuring J.P. Stevens, Watchung Hills, Hunterdon Central, NJSIAA North Jersey, Section 2, Group 1 sectional champion Roselle Park and NJSIAA North Jersey, Section 2, Group 4 runner-up Bridgewater-Raritan.

“We believe in playing some of the best competition we think helps us come tournament time whether that be the counties or the states,” Di Nucci said. “We’re in a tough county for softball, as well as a tough section, so we feel like we have to see some of the best teams in the state.”

“That’s something we’ve tried to do the past couple of years going back to Coach Mancino,” Di Nucci added. “When he was here, they had a tough schedule there as well. Every day, you’ve got to be ready to go, you have to be ready to compete. You’re going to be playing some tough teams and some of the best girls across the state. We look forward to the challenge.”

“We want to be battle-tested, we want to have some adversity and we want to get ourselves ready for the big spots come tournament time,” he added.

The 2018 season for the Crusaders kicks off with their opener at J.P. Stevens HS (Edison) on Saturday, March 31 at 10:00 a.m.

Their home opener is scheduled for Tuesday, April 3 against Watchung Hills HS at 11:00 a.m.

“We have to be willing to compete and see how we come together,” Di Nucci said of what is to come this season.

Condensed Version of Johnson Varsity Softball Preview Story Here

2018 Johnson Crusaders Schedule: