JACKSON-This year, the Jaguars are hoping to bounce back from an 8-11 season in 2017. The Jaguars will be without star infielder Jordyn Calderon this season who graduated and is now playing for Southern Alabama University.
They will rely heavily on senior ace Tori Aguilar on the mound. Last season, Aguilar recorded her 100th career strikeout. Behind Aguilar will be returning players Angelina Lopiccolo, Gianna Palmieri, Abigal Reist, Erin Sandor, Breanna Sorochka, Jamie Sheeran and Shea Sutton.
Sheeran was selected last year to the A-South All-Division team. Coach Christopher Roma, who teaches at McAuliffe Middle School takes the helm for his twelfth season as the Jaguar’s head coach.
Working with him in the dugout this year are assistant coaches, Mrs. Haydee Donza and Ms. Tiffany Varriello. “Both coaches bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to our program,” Roma said. “Coach Donza teaches at Jackson Liberty, where she also coaches field hockey.” Donza brings expereince from the very successful Robbinsville High School softball program where she was the assistant varsity coach for 6 years. Ms. Varriello was a 4-year varsity starter for the Jaguar softball program and earned the Most Valuable Player and Sportsmanship Awards during her high school career.
She went on to continue her softball career, starting for the Cougars of Kean University, where she captained her team during her junior and senior seasons. New faces this season on the Jaguars roster include Shayla Nagle, Brianna Marconi, Skye Jorgensen and Charli Czaczkowski.
The Jags are looking for better results in the post season after being knocked out early in the Ocean County, Shore Conferences and state tournaments.