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College Round-Up

The Queensborough Community College softball team swept through the Region XV tournament and will play in the NJCAA College World Series, beginning Thursday in Rochester, Minn.

Tournament MVP Jessica Payero roped a two-run, walk-off homer, as the first-team all-region catcher advanced the Tigers in the championship bracket with a come-from-behind victory in the opening game against Suffolk Community College.

A solid pitching performance by Alishia Vansalisbury led Queensborough into the title game with a 9-1 victory. A rematch against Suffolk was all that stood between Queensborough and a trip to the College World Series and the Tigers sent first-team all-region pitcher Kayla McCusker to the circle. The all-tournament team selection did not disappoint, keeping Suffolk at bay in a 4-1 victory.

Vanessa Melendez and Athena Apessos picked up all-tournament honors for Queensborough, as did Region XV Player of the Year and first baseman Iana Johnson. Pete Marchitello and his staff were cited as the regional coaching staff of the year.

The QCC baseball team captured its record 12th CUNYAC title, beating Bronx CC, 7-3, in the seventh straight title game between the two at KeySpan Park on April 30. The Tigers hopes of advancing to the NJCAA College World Series, though, were dashed Saturday when Queensborough was eliminated in the Region XV tournament.

Men's basketball

Roberts renewed. St. John's University Director of Athletics Chris Monasch announced Friday that coach Norm Roberts has agreed to a renewal of his five-year rollover contract and will continue to lead the rebuilding of the university's basketball program.

“As stated in February, Coach Roberts has established the foundation for a successful program integrity, hard work and discipline. Our student-athletes are performing well in the classroom and are getting better on the court,” Monasch said. “We are pleased with what Norm and his staff have accomplished over the past four years, and believe the progress in many key areas is consistent with the expectations expressed by the University, our supporters and Coach Roberts when he was hired in 2004.”

“Coach Roberts and St. John's are committed to extending that success onto the basketball court,” Monasch continued. “The primary focus of this contract renewal emphasizes the importance of being successful on the court. We are confident that at this point, we have a young, talented nucleus that will return our program to its winning tradition in the very near future.”

Baseball

Pair of Bayside natives earn ECC awards. Rob Paccione and Robert LaRusso, both Bayside natives and St. Francis Prep graduates, made the 2008 East Coast Conference baseball first all-conference team. Paccione plays in the outfield as a junior at Adelphi, and LaRusso is a freshman outfielder at Molloy College. Queens College senior first baseman Jamie Quinn, and Concordia sophomore DH Greg Conway, a Floral Park native and Archbishop Molloy grad, were selected as a part of the ECC all-conference third team.

Men's golf

Bradley awarded at-large bid to NCAA East Regional. After taking second overall at the Big East championships, St. John's senior co-captain Keegan Bradley received an at-large bid to compete in the NCAA East Regional in Chattanooga, Tenn.

“Keegan has played great for us all year and he really deserved this,” coach Frank Darby said. “It is special when a player receives an at-large bid to compete in the NCAAs.”

Bradley is currently ranked No. 27 in the Golfstat Cup Individual Standings with a 71.00 scoring average this year. The All-America candidate boasts three individual titles this spring season. He took first at the Palmas Del Mar Invitational, the Ironwood Intercollegiate and the Princeton Invitational. The NCAA East Regional will be held at the Council Fire Golf Club in Chattanooga on May 15-17.

Women's soccer

Women's soccer welcomes six additions. St. John's women's soccer coach Ian Stone has announced that six players will be joining the Red Storm class of 2008-09. Jen Leaverton, Kelly Wargo, Kristin Russell, Megan Klement, Lindsay Hall and Brittany Cocozza will start their college careers with the Red Storm in the fall of 2008.

Leaverton is a forward out of Bishop Feehan High in Attleboro, Mass., Wargo is a central midfielder who comes to St. John's from Bradshaw Mountain High in Prescott, Ariz., and Russell is a goalkeeper out of St. Pete Catholic High in St. Petersburg, Fla. Klement is a player out of Smithtown West High in Smithtown, N.Y., Hall plays the keeper position, and comes to SJU from Westview High in San Diego, Calif., Cocozza comes to St. John's out of East Greenwich High in Rhode Island as a goalkeeper.

Softball

Pena honored by CUNYAC. Baruch's Melissa Pena, a Bryant graduate, was named CUNYAC player of the year. Pena, a sophomore shortstop for ECAC tournament-bound Baruch, led the conference in hits (57), triples (6), home runs (5), total bases (97) and runs scored (43), while ranking second and third in slugging percentage (.655) and batting average (.385), respectively.