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Last season’s records in parenthesis
1. Watchung Hills (28-3) – The Warriors, who are are coming off their second state Group 4 championship in three seasons, also won the Skyland Conference Delaware Division and advanced to their third straight Somerset County final. And while Watchung Hills took some graduation hits, there’s plenty back, including ace and reigning Player of the Year Riley Bobrowski and first-team All-Area slugger and standout pitcher Mia Simon.
2. Hunterdon Central (15-11) – The Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex Tournament champion Red Devils went to the sectional finals last year, and though ace Kaitlyn Kozar graduated, return otherwise intact, bringing back a group that includes first-team All-Area shortstop Zoe Totaro and senior Emily Van Cleef, who is poised to resume her role as the team’s ace and continue as one of its biggest bats.
More: Softball preview index: Links to Courier News and Home News Tribune 2025 preview package
More: Who is your pick for reader’s choice Player to Watch in Central Jersey. VOTE NOW!
3. North Hunterdon (19-10) – The Lions went to the final of the North 2 Group 3 Tournament last year after overcoming a slow start, and while catcher Kylie Petak is a big graduation loss, North returns a talented group, led by first-team All-Area third baseman Samantha Dougerty and four-year starter Katie Reed, as well as three frontline pitchers in Skye Cooke, Layla Francisco and lefty Camryn Campbell.
4. Immaculata (16-7) –The defending Somerset County Tournament champion Spartans lost some top-level talent to graduation, including longtime ace Caroline Colitti, but there is a potent group of talent returning, including second-team All-Area pick Heather Ryden and third-teamer Mollie Ferreira. Add some promising newcomers and it should maintain Immaculata’s position as a legit contender to repeat in the county, challenge in the Delaware Division, and, perhaps, go deeper in the state tournament.
5. Governor Livingston (20-8) –The Union County Conference Watchung Division champion Highlanders reached the 20-win mark for the first time since 2017, and while they did lose a couple of key pieces to graduation, including first-team All-Area outfielder Emma McElroy, they get a ton back, led by shortstop Chelsea Kiesewetter and junior ace Alyssa Monaco, and should remain one of the favorites in Union County and the UCC.
6. Pingry (15-11) – The Big Blue enjoyed their winningest season in five years, advancing to the program’s first-ever Somerset County Tournament semifinals and claiming their first state Prep A championship since 2016. Now, with Delaney Swain the only key graduation loss, Pingry returns loaded with a group led by Georgetown-bound shortstop Taylor Francis and ace Casey McKeon. The Big Blue are the favorite in the Raritan Division and Prep A, and have a chance to do something special in the county tournament.
7. Scotch Plains-Fanwood (18-9) –The Raiders posted their winningest season since 2001, going to the final of the Union County Tournament for the first time since that season, grabbing just their second winning campaign since 2007. Now with a team back made up entirely of returners, SPF could be poised for something even bigger this season. Senior ace Olivia DiSalvo leads the way, along with sophomore third baseman/pitcher Maddie Bogart, the reigning Courier News Freshman Softball Player of the Year.
8. Bridgewater-Raritan (9-17) –The Panthers return nearly intact, even adding talent, and will feature a loaded, deep and super-experienced club that immediately becomes one of the top contenders in their new Raritan Division haunts. Second-team All-Area third baseman and three-year starter Brianna Cacchio leads the way, along with four four-year starters in shortstop Angela Tremarco, center fielder Evelyn Fresco, first baseman Sienna Newsome and catcher Cai Mahovetz
9. Delaware Valley (12-9) –The Terriers return nearly all of their entire lineup from last year’s team that finished second to Franklin in the Valley Division, and with the Warriors moving back up to the Raritan, Del Val enters the season as one of the top contenders in the division. Three-year starting ace Taylor Aycock, as well as Lilly Rynearson, Melanie Tramo, Brooklyn Liskowacki, Ally Moschberger and Grace Slack give Del Val a ton of experienced talent.
10. Bound Brook (16-5) –The Crusaders won the Mountain Division last year, and though they move up to the Valley Division this season, with the core returning, expect Bound Brook to challenge for a division title again and could make deep county and state tournament runs. Junior three-year starters Rachael Gurczeski and ace Isabella Marusiak provide the Crusaders’ core, with some other key players also poised to help the cause.
Staff writer Simeon Pincus has been covering NJ sports since 1997, and has been on the softball beat since 1999. He can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter/X @SimeonPincus
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: NJ Softball rankings: Skyland and western UCC preseason Top 10
Continue reading...
1. Watchung Hills (28-3) – The Warriors, who are are coming off their second state Group 4 championship in three seasons, also won the Skyland Conference Delaware Division and advanced to their third straight Somerset County final. And while Watchung Hills took some graduation hits, there’s plenty back, including ace and reigning Player of the Year Riley Bobrowski and first-team All-Area slugger and standout pitcher Mia Simon.
2. Hunterdon Central (15-11) – The Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex Tournament champion Red Devils went to the sectional finals last year, and though ace Kaitlyn Kozar graduated, return otherwise intact, bringing back a group that includes first-team All-Area shortstop Zoe Totaro and senior Emily Van Cleef, who is poised to resume her role as the team’s ace and continue as one of its biggest bats.
More: Softball preview index: Links to Courier News and Home News Tribune 2025 preview package
More: Who is your pick for reader’s choice Player to Watch in Central Jersey. VOTE NOW!
3. North Hunterdon (19-10) – The Lions went to the final of the North 2 Group 3 Tournament last year after overcoming a slow start, and while catcher Kylie Petak is a big graduation loss, North returns a talented group, led by first-team All-Area third baseman Samantha Dougerty and four-year starter Katie Reed, as well as three frontline pitchers in Skye Cooke, Layla Francisco and lefty Camryn Campbell.
4. Immaculata (16-7) –The defending Somerset County Tournament champion Spartans lost some top-level talent to graduation, including longtime ace Caroline Colitti, but there is a potent group of talent returning, including second-team All-Area pick Heather Ryden and third-teamer Mollie Ferreira. Add some promising newcomers and it should maintain Immaculata’s position as a legit contender to repeat in the county, challenge in the Delaware Division, and, perhaps, go deeper in the state tournament.
5. Governor Livingston (20-8) –The Union County Conference Watchung Division champion Highlanders reached the 20-win mark for the first time since 2017, and while they did lose a couple of key pieces to graduation, including first-team All-Area outfielder Emma McElroy, they get a ton back, led by shortstop Chelsea Kiesewetter and junior ace Alyssa Monaco, and should remain one of the favorites in Union County and the UCC.
6. Pingry (15-11) – The Big Blue enjoyed their winningest season in five years, advancing to the program’s first-ever Somerset County Tournament semifinals and claiming their first state Prep A championship since 2016. Now, with Delaney Swain the only key graduation loss, Pingry returns loaded with a group led by Georgetown-bound shortstop Taylor Francis and ace Casey McKeon. The Big Blue are the favorite in the Raritan Division and Prep A, and have a chance to do something special in the county tournament.
7. Scotch Plains-Fanwood (18-9) –The Raiders posted their winningest season since 2001, going to the final of the Union County Tournament for the first time since that season, grabbing just their second winning campaign since 2007. Now with a team back made up entirely of returners, SPF could be poised for something even bigger this season. Senior ace Olivia DiSalvo leads the way, along with sophomore third baseman/pitcher Maddie Bogart, the reigning Courier News Freshman Softball Player of the Year.
8. Bridgewater-Raritan (9-17) –The Panthers return nearly intact, even adding talent, and will feature a loaded, deep and super-experienced club that immediately becomes one of the top contenders in their new Raritan Division haunts. Second-team All-Area third baseman and three-year starter Brianna Cacchio leads the way, along with four four-year starters in shortstop Angela Tremarco, center fielder Evelyn Fresco, first baseman Sienna Newsome and catcher Cai Mahovetz
9. Delaware Valley (12-9) –The Terriers return nearly all of their entire lineup from last year’s team that finished second to Franklin in the Valley Division, and with the Warriors moving back up to the Raritan, Del Val enters the season as one of the top contenders in the division. Three-year starting ace Taylor Aycock, as well as Lilly Rynearson, Melanie Tramo, Brooklyn Liskowacki, Ally Moschberger and Grace Slack give Del Val a ton of experienced talent.
10. Bound Brook (16-5) –The Crusaders won the Mountain Division last year, and though they move up to the Valley Division this season, with the core returning, expect Bound Brook to challenge for a division title again and could make deep county and state tournament runs. Junior three-year starters Rachael Gurczeski and ace Isabella Marusiak provide the Crusaders’ core, with some other key players also poised to help the cause.
Staff writer Simeon Pincus has been covering NJ sports since 1997, and has been on the softball beat since 1999. He can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter/X @SimeonPincus
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: NJ Softball rankings: Skyland and western UCC preseason Top 10
Continue reading...
