Dukes Softball earns 3-seed in upcoming Region 19 Championship Tournament

The RCSJ-Cumberland Dukes softball team has been tabbed the 3-seed for this weekend's Region 19 Softball Championship Tournament. The squad led by 3rd year Head Coach Magic Mears finished the 2021 season with an overall record of 10-18. As a team, the Dukes hit for an impressive .367 batting average while hitting 16 home runs in 28 games. 

Offensively the team was led by freshman infielder Madison Sloan who hit for an average of .506 on the year. Sloan collected 42 hits with 8 of those being doubles which was good for second-most on the team. She also led the team in triples with 5. Outfielder Alicia Serrano and Catcher Olivia Powers provided the run support for Cumberland as they lead the team in RBI's with Powers bringing in 22, and Serrano adding 27 of her own. Cumberland had a total of 8 players hit above the .300 mark for the year. This included Karlee Rossetti (.379), Sarah Morgan (.453), Gianna Demarco (.355), Alexis Donnelly (.372), in addition to the players previously named (Sloan, Powers, and Serrano).  

Nicole Rios and Aailyah Calderon have been the ultimate utility players that Dukes softball team has needed in the 2021 season. Both of these Dukes have played all over the field for Cumberland, taking on multiple positions in the infield and outfield. Rios has 11 RBI's this year and the third most walks on the team with 11. Calderon goes into the region tournament coming off of one of her best games of the season going 1 for 3 and collecting an RBI against Camden County College.  

Taking on the bulk of the innings in the circle for the Dukes this year was freshman Bailey Pennino. Pennino pitched 87 innings and had an ERA of 4.10. She earned 5 wins while throwing 12 complete games. Pitching is not the only aspect of her game that she brought to the Dukes this year, Pennino also provided offensive numbers. The Cumberland ace hit for a .438 batting average while hitting 4 home runs and bringing in 17 RBI's. 

Up next for the RCSJ-Cumberland softball team is their first-round matchup vs. Middlesex County College Blue Colts. First pitch is scheduled for Friday, May 14th at 12PM on the RCSJ-Gloucester campus.   

Region 19 Softball Championship Tournament information: https://rcroadrunners.com/information/RegionSoft2021