Photo by Jim Hague
of Photo courtesy n so hn Jo e Christin
Joe Spaccavento was North Arlington’s assistant coach. “She was the kind of kid who was always thinking on the court,” he said. “She wasn’t the fastest or the tallest, but she was in the right place all the time. She worked her tail off every day.”
She developed a close relationship with Coach John Galante. “He would always say, ‘Once you walk out onto the field, don’t let anyone beat you,’” Johnson said. “We were a small Group I school, but we competed against anyone and had a lot of success.”
Who’s on Second?
Safe at Home
Softball was Chrissy’s best sport, becoming a sensational second baseman. The Vikings won two NJSIAA North Jersey Section 1, Group I state championships and advanced twice to the Bergen County Tournament finals. It helped that Chrissy played Little League baseball with and against boys until she was 13. “Fundamentally, I learned so much more about the game,” Johnson said. “I understood the philosophy. I learned how to turn the double play. I learned how to bunt, how to hit-and-run. I wasn’t afraid to get dirty.”
Chrissy teamed with shortstop Kim Wilson to form the best double play combination in Bergen County. Both players were All-Bergen County and All-BCSL honorees. “She was a good hitter, but she did what I called on her to do,” Galante said. “She bunted, moved runners over, handled the bat well. She was a very heady player. I always felt that second base was the most important position, and on defense, she never made a mistake. She was a leader, even as a freshman.” Galante just knew that Chrissy Morrison was a standout.
Eyes on the Prize “She took all those softball lessons and turned them into life lessons,” Galante said. “You knew whatever she chose to do in life, she was going to be successful.” Chrissy had a chance to play volleyball or softball in college. But she chose basketball at Misericordia University in Dallas, Pa. After two years in Pennsylvania, she finished her athletic career and undergraduate education at Caldwell University. “A lot of North Arlington kids eventually went to Caldwell,” Johnson said. While at Caldwell, Johnson secured her first coaching and teaching position, at Mount St. Dominic Academy, the allgirls high school on Caldwell’s campus. Johnson became an assistant coach on the basketball team, which won the 1994 NJSIAA Tournament of Champions, and was head coach of the volleyball team, which won the 1994 NJSIAA Group I state championship, defeating long-time champion Secaucus in the finals. WINTER 2021 ~ 07030 • 17
