Bloomfield College Head Softball Coach Rocco Constantino has been named Coach of the Year by the ECAC. The honor comes on the heels of BC softball's best season since becoming an NCAA Division II member. Constantino was also named the 2009 Coach of the Year for the CACC Conference.
In 2009, the Deacons finished 33-15 overall and 17-7 in the CACC. Both records were high marks for BC softball in the Division II era. The Deacons finished 3rd in the CACC regular season and also placed 3rd in the conference's double elimination tournament after winning 3 playoff games. Bloomfield College's 2009 record marked a 13 game improvement from 2008.
"It's a great honor to be recognized as Coach of the Year," said Constantino. "These awards are a direct reflection on our players and assistant coaches. We can make all the right decisions as coaches, but if the players don't execute the way they can, success won't follow. If the players didn't work hard and stick together, we wouldn't have had the season we had."
Bloomfield used a team effort and improved defense and baserunning to lead them to their successful season. Statistically, they ranked in the top 5 in the CACC in home runs, walks, stolen bases, earned run average, pitching strikeouts, opponents batting average against, double plays turned and opponents caught stealing. They ranked 6th with a .951 fielding percentage after finishing in the bottom of the CACC in fielding in 2008.
In Constantino's three seasons as head coach, the Deacons have averaged 24 wins per season (73-61) and have had the program's three most successful season. Prior to Constantino's first season in 2007, the Deacons had averaged just 10 wins a year in their first 5 years in Division II, compiling a record of 49-154.
The ECAC is made up of 40 Division II colleges located in the Northeast.
2009 ECAC Softball All-Stars
Player of the Year
Sarah Beck Sr. OF Dominican
Pitcher of the Year
Diana Sansevera So. P Georgian Court
Rookie of the Year
Rachel Ruch Fr. 2B Georgian Court
Coach of the Year
Rocco Constantino Bloomfield
Softball All Stars
Jackie Hannan Sr. 1B Dowling
Rachel Ruch Fr. 2B Georgian Court
Courtney Cuevas So. 3B Georgian Court
Christie Softy Jr. SS C.W. Post
Sarah Beck Sr. OF Dominican
Mallory Kirchner Sr. OF Georgian Court
Erin MacNamee So. OF West Chester
Ashley Harkins Sr. Utl St. Michael's
Diana Sansevera So. P Georgian Court
Breanna Gleason Jr. P New Haven
Nicole Scarillo So. C Dominican