Braves softball team clicking ahead of schedule
Manalapan girls in midst of furious A North Division race
BY TIM MORRIS
Staff Writer

PHOTOS BY JEFF GRANIT staff Manalapan’s Samantha Russo reaches for a line drive during the Braves’ game with Middletown North on Friday. At left, Jen Bruzzi lays down a bunt.

Jeannette Bruno planned for the future while playing in the present last year.

The 2003 Braves were a senior-dominated squad with eight 12th-graders on the team, including six starters who had been there for the team’s greatest triumph — the 2001 Shore Conference Tournament Championship.

While pitcher Cherise Maltais and company led the Braves to another winning season (10-9-2), Bruno found playing time for her bench and jayvee players who would be the starters of ’04. That experience made the young Braves better adjusted to move up to full-time varsity play and the proof has been in the results. The Braves are off to a 3-2 start (3-1 in A North) and look every bit like a Shore Conference A North Division contender.

"I did know from the experience last year that the ones who would be filling the holes of our graduated seniors would step it up pretty early," Bruno said. "It did not take as long as I thought.

"I’m pleasantly surprised and I had high expectations," she added.

Pitcher April Daluise is one of those underclassmen that Bruno found time to use last year. Even with four-year starter Maltais as good as ever on the mound, Bruno got the then freshman six starts. It was enough for her to know that Daluise could do the job.

A key addition joined the team this year, freshman Ashley Rampino. Bruno now has two quality starters and she is using them both. Both are similar pitchers who throw strikes, have a variety of pitchers and can average more than a strike out an inning. Manalapan pitching is in good hands for the foreseeable future.

The new designated player-flex rule put into play this year has been a big help for Bruno. The rule allows a coach to use 10 players rather than nine. That has helped Bruno keep Daluise’s and Rampino’s bat in the lineup. They are two of the team’s best power hitters.

Senior Kelly Kwiatkowski is the leader and captain of the 2004 Braves. A returning starter, the center fielder is the spark at the top of the lineup with her speed. She is a lead-off hitter who can get on base through her bat, her legs or her eye for the strike zone. When on base, she can wreak havoc. She is also the anchor of the outfielders defensively.

Kwiatkowski’s younger sister, Jill Kwiatkowski, is the other incoming freshman who has made an impact on the team. Jill plays third base where her quickness and strong arm are an asset. She has also come out swinging at the plate and is one of the team’s leading hitters. Everything she hits, she hits hard.

Erin Ross is starting behind the plate for the Braves. She and Samantha Russo shared the position last year, but this spring Russo has moved to second base. Both juniors have strong arms defensively.

Jennifer Bruzzi is the infield veteran at first. The Braves are breaking in a completely knew infield defense and she is the vocal leader.

In addition to Russo and Kwiatkowski, who are new at second and third base, the Braves have a new shortstop in Aimee Prinzo, a sophomore. A fine athlete, she covers a lot of territory and, like all of the Brave infielders, she has a cannon for an arm.

Melissa Marash, another junior, starts in left field for the Braves. She is a late-comer to the sport and will only get better with time.

In right field, seniors Meghan LaCugna, Brianne Jahn and Daniella Tutela are sharing the duties, along with either Daluise or Rampino, who can play outfield when not pitching.

It’s still early in the season, but some conclusions can be drawn about the 2004 Braves. They are very solid defensively in both the infield and outfield, as well as behind the plate. Pitching will be strong all year. At this point, the Braves are looking for the bats to catch fire, as they’ve been leaving too many runners on base.

"Our two goals on offense are to score first and not leave runners on," Bruno said.

Manalapan’s last two wins, 2-1 in extra innings over Marlboro and 10-7 over Howell, are microcosms of the season thus far. The Braves got just two hits against Marlboro over eight innings, scoring the winning run when Bruzzi scored on a wild pitch.

Against Howell, the Braves pounded out 11 hits, including two doubles by Daluise and one from Jill Kwiatkowski.

According to Bruno, with so many new starters it will take time for the Braves to develop chemistry, which makes their start that much more impressive.