Wangenstein leads Suffolk CC-Selden to softball nationals

Suffolk CC-Selden softball coach Joe LoBianco is a podiatrist, so what does a foot doctor and professor of physiology know about softball?

In this instance, plenty. LoBianco has coached girls fastpitch softball for many years. His daughter, Jessica, is a star player at Kings Park High School.

LoBianco turned around the fortunes of Suffolk when he took over a team that had gone 6-8 in 2006. His first task was finding players.

"Suffolk was looking for a coach right before the beginning of the 2007 season," said LoBianco, whose career record is 92-33. "We were having a cookie giveaway in the cafeteria to attract girls to the softball program. We did come up with a team of 11 girls, so if there were injuries, we had a problem. We were able to come in second in [Region XV]. That was all heart."

This unorthodox formula began to, well, feed on itself, and Suffolk has become a destination for quality players.

Last season's team made it to the NJCAA nationals and finished fifth. This year, third-ranked Suffolk is 33-7, 20-1 in Region XV, and again is headed to the nationals, which begin May 20 in Rochester, Minn.

The top offensive and defensive player is third baseman Cherie Wangenstein, who leads the nation's junior-college players with a .585 batting average and 41 runs batted in.

"Cherie is a clutch hitter and has gotten numerous big two-out hits for us,'' LoBianco said. "She is fearless in the field and makes many spectacular diving plays."

When coaches referred to Wangenstein's defense as Brooks Robinson-like, she didn't know what they meant. Now she knows all about the Hall of Fame third baseman of the Orioles.

"I look up to him. I can see the resemblance," she said with a laugh. "I just don't let anything past me. A line drive to my left, a backhand to my right, I try to make it a point not to let teams bunt against me. Some teams try but eventually stop."

Wangenstein was a unanimous choice as the region's player of the year, and her teammates also compiled some weighty statistics: Christina Seppi (.373, 41 RBIs), Kim Konklweski (.500, 26-for-26 in stolen bases), Sam Carcano (.532, 32-for-33 in stolen bases), Megan Morici (.481, eight home runs, 58 RBIs). The team batting average is .409. Jade Geddrie is 13-1 with a 1.72 ERA and Seppi is 13-2 with a 1.95 ERA.