Belleville HS softball team looks to have another stellar season

BELLEVILLE – The Belleville High School varsity softball team, guided by head coach Chris Cantarella, looks to build off last year’s impressive 18-8 record.

Though the Lady Bucs lost several players to graduation such as Jaclyn Sales, Samantha Samaniego, Sarah Guy, Raquel Abreu, Karina Ramos, Barbara Jacangelo and Valentina Garrido, they return a good nucleus.

The Bucs have three pitchers who all saw time last year. In no particular order, they are Kaila Freid, Jasmine LaTorre – who also will see time at third base – and Kara Sica, all juniors.
Other returning players are juniors Gianna Benacquista and Victoria Bruno, who both will see time at first base and the designated player positions. Junior Luciana Gilfone returns at second base. Senior Kristan Lombardi will be the shortstop.

In the outfield, senior Keila Garcia and Breana Nieves will be in center and right. Both are returning players.

The freshmen this season are catcher Cherylann Nicosia; outfielders Jehann Dabon and Jennifer Garrido; and infielder Ariana Ruiz. Other players include sophomore outfielder Sydney Gomez; outfielder Augustina Garrido; third baseman Natasha Sanchez; junior infielder Najalis Gual; and seniors Brittney Huaman (catcher); Karen Wong (infielder); Krystal Diaz (outfielder) and Gabby Racioppi (outfielder).

The Bucs are taking on a teamwork approach this season.

“The team has taking on the next person up philosophy. Not one person should carry us and that we all need to contribute to be successful,” said Cantarella, entering his 11th season at the helm. “However, statistical leaders from last year would include Benacquista, Bruno, Lombardi and Gilfone. Defensively, Garcia is a strong center fielder and Nieves has a strong arm in right field.”

Cantarella has high hopes for the juniors on the team.

“Our junior class is a talented group and if they have good years we can be very good,” he said. “We return a rather large group of varsity players who can use last year’s success as a springboard to this year.”

Cantarella outlined his team’s goals.

“Our goals this year are very similar to last year. First is to win the conference; second – a home game and win in the states; third a win in the county tournament, which will be a challenge with so many good teams at the top of conference. Also, 20 wins would be a great accomplishment.”

The keys to the season will be quality pitching starts with limited walks; strong defensive play from the returning players, including limiting the amount of mistakes on routine plays; and timely and situational hitting, which entails “coming up with the big hit with runners in scoring position;limit the amount of strikeouts, putting more stress on the defense,” Cantarella said.
This season, the Bucs have a new junior varsity coach in Anthony Cianciulli, who has been in the program for several years as a volunteer.

Amanda Veniero is the freshman coach; and Alexa Veniero and Joe Voza are volunteers in the program.

BHS schedule

April 1, Bloomfield Tech
April 2, Scotch Plains-Fanwood, 11:30 a.m.
April 4, at East Side
April 6, Irvington
April 7, at Passaic
April 8, at University
April 11, Science Park
April 13, at Arts
April 15, Millburn
April 16, at Kearny, noon
April 18, at Technology
April 19, at Westwood
April 20, at Bloomfield Tech
April 22, East Side
April 23, New Providence, 11:30 a.m.
April 25, at Irvington
April 27, University
May 2, at Science Park
May 4, Montclair Kimberley Academy
May 9, Arts
May 11, at Millburn
May 17, at Nutley
May 19, Columbia
game times are 4 p.m., unless otherwise noted