CLARK, NJ- The Johnson Crusaders varsity softball team will face off against East Brunswick Tech High School in the first round of the NJSIAA Central, Group 2 State Playoffs, after facing perhaps, one of the toughest schedules in program history. The game will be played on Thursday, May 18, 2017 at 4:00 p.m. at Brewer School. The Crusaders are seeded No. 5 in the bracket, while East Brunswick Tech is the No. 12 seed.
The Crusaders hit a snag with losing four of a five-game span to stand at a 6-5 record. They went on a 9-2 run that included wins over Rahway, Dayton and Westfield to reach the 2017 Union County Tournament Finals before dropping the final to Governor Livingston 1-0.
Last year, the Crusaders reached the NJSIAA Group 2 State Finals after a historic run which featured the program’s first state sectional championship since 1996.
Johnson’s offense is led by seniors Gianna Randazza and Shannon Brogan, who have led at the plate and on the field in making the big plays for their teams. Randazza has a 12-6 record on the mound this season, pitching in 116 innings, capturing 94 strikeouts as of May 15, 2017.
At the plate, Randazza, who will continue her softball career at Boston College, has a .471 batting average, including nine home runs, 13 doubles, three triples and 40 RBI’s. Last year, she captured the 100-career hit mark on April 5 in a 17-7 win over Roselle Park HS.
She captured her 150th career hit in a 10-4 win over Cranford HS on Tuesday, April 11, 2017. Four days after that, she captured her 50th career win in an 11-0 home opener victory over Pingry HS on Saturday, April 15, 2017.
Brogan, who will continue her career playing Division II softball at Moravian College, has a .479 batting average, as well as 11 doubles, one triple and 27 RBI’s. In the 2016 season, Brogan captured her 100th career hit in a 4-2 win over Bordentown HS in the NJSIAA Central, Group 2 State Sectional Semifinals on Tuesday, May 31, 2016.
Both have continued to help the team to crucial wins and with Thursday, they will give it one last go in the state tournament.
Other contributors on offense include junior Nicole Cassano, whose three-run home run led the Crusaders to a 7-4 win in nine innings over No. 11 ranked South Plainfield on Wednesday, May 10, 2017, junior Mackenzie Purcell, sophomore Jenna Addie and freshman Megan Tinger.
Johnson Softball will go far in the state tournament IF:
The offense continues to heat up, by cashing in with runners in scoring position, especially with teams they could face this postseason.
Second, need to play clean defense, which will benefit them in the tougher games. Just have to be ready for the ground-balls and fly-balls to come to them and make a clean call to catch it without making mistakes.
Third, timely hitting, which was a theme to last year’s success. Late hits powered the Crusaders to wins in the NJSIAA Central, Group 2 State Quarterfinals, NJSIAA Central, Group 2 State Semifinals as well as the NJSIAA Central, Group 2 State Sectional Final.
The NJSIAA Central, Group 2 bracket is full of teams that are hot, such as top-seeded Bordentown, Robbinsville, Raritan, Matawan, Bernards and Voorhees, the state sectional runner-up from last year.
Projected Lineup:
1. Shannon Brogan- SS (Senior)
2. Lauren Donah- LF (Junior)
3. Gianna Randazza- P (Senior)
4. Nicole Cassano- RF (Junior)
5. Victoria Zatko- C (Sophomore)
6. Megan Tinger- 1B (Freshman)
7. Mackenzie Purcell- 2B (Junior)
8. Jenna Addie- DP (Sophomore)
9. Jen Tinger- 3B (Junior)
Chris Di Nucci is in his first season as the Johnson softball head coach and his assistant coaches are Laura Bundy (JV head coach), Andrea Ascolese and Amanda Merten, a 2015 Johnson graduate.
