Bloomfield College softball players Brianne Moore, Amanda Bartels and Amanda Byrnes were named to the North Jersey All-Decade High School Softball Team by the Bergen Record. Bartels, a current senior, was named as one of the top 2 catchers in Bergen County during the decade while Moore was named one of the top 3 pitchers in Passaic County. Byrnes was also named one of the top 2 catchers in Passaic County.
"It's a great honor for all three girls considering the level of competition we have seen in North Jersey this decade," said Head Coach Rocco Constantino. "There are hundreds and hundreds of kids who played high school softball in North Jersey this decade. To have three girls with Bloomfield connections to be recognized is a great honor."
Bartels has completed three season for the Deacons and has continued her success in college. As a freshman, Bartels logged a .708 slugging percentage with 5 home runs as she battled through a shoulder injury. She did even better her sophomore season when she led the Deacons to a 33-15 record. She was the team's cleanup hitter all year and finished with a .368 batting average, which was 2nd on the team. She was named to the All-CACC team as a DH.
"Amanda has been great for us in every way imaginable," said Constantino. "She has been a middle of the lineup hitter, she has been a leader on and off the field and she has done very well in the classroom. She has been a consistent clutch performer for us."
Moore also had a tremendously productive career both in the pitcher's circle and at the plate. Moore finished her career in 2009 with 39 career wins, which is the highest total of any BC pitcher during the Division 2 era. She also registered over 100 career hits as a middle of the lineup hitter for the Deacons. Moore became just the 2nd Deacon to be named 1st Team All-East Region in 2008 when she hit .337 and also had an ERA of 1.97. Moore's best year in the circle was 2009 when she went 14-4 with a 2.22 era and averaged more than a strikeout per inning.
"Brianne was an outstanding all around performer in high school and in college," said Constantino. "To be named as one of the top 3 pitchers in a county over a decade is a great accomplishment and very well deserved. If anybody saw how hard she worked year round, they would not be surprised at her accomplishments."
Byrnes graduated from BC in 2007 and was a consistent All-CACC performer. Playing on her first winning team in 2007, Byrnes finished 4th on the team with a .370 average and belted 7 home runs with 31 RBI in being named 2nd Team All-CACC for the Deacons. An excellent defensive catcher, Byrnes hit for an extremely high average at Lakeland High School.
The following player capsules appeared in the Bergen Record for each player:
P: Brianne Moore, Clifton (2006): A powerful right-hander who was a three-time All-County first-team pick and carried the Mustangs to the Group 4 final as a sophomore. As a junior she had 221 strikeouts and an 0.48 ERA. She also batted in the middle of the Mustangs lineup.
C: Amanda Bartels, Saddle Brook (2007): Her first swing as a high school player was a home run and so was her last. The powerful Bartels finished with a school-record 25 home runs. She was an outstanding defensive catcher and first-team All-County three times.
C: Amanda Byrnes, Lakeland (2003): She was the only player to be named All-County four times at the same position this decade. Byrnes hit .459 as a freshman and .468 as a senior and also was extremely good behind the plate, throwing out 21 of 22 runners trying to steal in 2000.