Throughout the 2024 season, Coach Steve DePasquale's RCSJ Gloucester softball team has been forced to play at a disadvantage that few other teams in the nation face -- a severe shortage of players.
But the Runners have overcome all odds, winning the North Atlantic District / Region 19 title and entering the NJCAA Division III World Series as the No. 4 overall seed. No. 4 RCSJ will play No. 5 seed Caldwell Tech (NC) in the opening round on Wednesday, May 22, in a 1 pm EST start.
"I have never seen such a scrappy bunch who always have each other's back," said DePasquale. "I've never had a team with just 10 players -- usually 14 or 15 -- so I am amazed at what these young ladies have accomplished."
Caldwell Tech enters the contest with a 27-19 overall record while the Runners check in at 24-8 following their Region championship run last week.
DePasquale can rely on several top performers, including All-Region 19 performer Alexa Lee, who is fifth in the nation among NJCAA DIII schools with 11 home runs. She is also sixth in the nation with a .567 batting average.
Sophomore pitcher Gemma Galloway currently is ranked fourth among DIII pitcher in wins with 19 victories and is a returning All-American. She has helped herself at the plate with a .477 batting average and 40 RBIs.
Returning All-American Anna Cirucci has posted a sizzling .500 average, 26 RBIs and 18 stolen bases from her lead-off spot while third baseman Grace Huber enjoyed a solid campaign with a .446 batting average and 30 RBIs.
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Click Here for Caldwell Tech Roster
"We're playing well and we're ready for the World Series," said Cirucci, a sophomore from Williamstown. "We always pick each other up and play well as a team, and we're confident we will be competitive."
The Cobras qualified for the tournament out of Region 10 and likewise have a solid core of players under Coach Scott Triplett.
Included in that group is Kacey Triplett, an infielder who is one of the nation's leaders in stolen bases with 28 and who has a .397 batting average with 13 home runs and 43 RBIs. Teammate Emily Dudley will also spark the lineup, entering with a .331 batting average and 31 RBIs. The top pitcher is Isabella Curry, who has compiled a solid 14-7 record and 2.98 ERA.
See information on first-round match-ups below along with start times.
NJCAA Division III
Softball World Series
May 22-25, 2024
Frost Stadium & Warner Park
Chattanooga, TN
First Round Games
May 22, 2024
No. 1 North Dakota SCS vs. No. 8 Rochester, 1 pm EDT
No. 4 RCSJ Gloucester Vs. No. 5 Caldwell Tech, 1 pm EDT
No. 2 Patrick & Henry vs. No. 7 Herkimer, 3 pm EDT
No. 3 Corning vs. No. 6 Rhode Island, 3 pm EDT
Click Here for Results and Live Stats