By Marc Raimondi
This year, the Storm (28-26, 10-10 last year) has grown up but its coach, Debbie DeJong, is now the one who is in a new role.Former head coach Melody Cope left the school unexpectedly in the fall after six seasons to take a job as associate athletic director at Dowling College on Long Island.DeJong, who described the timing of her promotion to be unexpected but good, worked as assistant coach under Cope for four years as the Red Storm's main recruiter and outfield instructor.But now DeJong, a 2000 graduate of Rutgers, must take over a St. John's team (11-15 in non-conference games this season) that has a ton of talent – it came one game away from making the Big East tournament last year – but has not yet reached its potential.Every player from last year's team is back, even the graduated Courtney Fitzgerald (the record-holder for most career wins in St. John's softball history) who will serve as the Storm's new pitching coach.Since Fitzgerald will be on the sidelines and not on the field this year, pitching is the biggest question mark for the Storm. The offense, though, should be just fine with middle-of-the order hitters Jo Sherlock and Christina Tucker.”I'm very confident in my offense,” DeJong said.The two sluggers were in a race all year for the St. John's single-season home run record that Tucker, the Big East Rookie of the Year and an All-Big East first team selection as a freshman catcher last year, eventually set with 13. Sherlock, a junior centerfielder and the Red Storm's single-season record holder in five other categories including hits, finished right behind with 12 homers.The pitching staff is not quite as star-studded but it will be a key to a Big East tournament berth, something the Red Storm has not achieved since 1994. “I definitely think we have the talent on the staff to get it done,” DeJong said.That talent includes sophomore Brittany Crouch, the No. 2 starter last year who will be expected to step up as the team's ace, especially if senior Meghan Allman, who has not had an injury-free season since she was a record-setting freshman, is not healthy. Sophomore Kimberly Lerch, who is out indefinitely after sustaining an injury last weekend, and freshman Lisa Geer will both see important time in the circle also.”We look great on paper,” DeJong said. “And if we can put paper on the field, we shouldn't have an issue.”Reach contributing writer Marc Raimondi by e-mail at TimesLedger@aol.com or call 718-229-0300, Ext. 143.
