Previewing the high school softball sectionals across North Jersey

No Bergen County or Passaic County softball program won a sectional softball title in 2022 as Morris County that proved superior in the State Tournament.

Will that trend continue in 2023?

The first round of the State Tournament for softball begins Tuesday with first round games in the public school sections. Winners of each of the four sections play for an overall group champion. No, there is no more New Jersey Tournament of Champions in softball.

Here’s a look at the brackets with North Jersey teams.

North Non-Public A

What you need to know: Yes, there are 12 teams, but this is a two-team bracket with Immaculate Heart Academy and Mount St. Dominic on a collision course toward the final. Last year the Mountain Lions beat IHA 3-2 in a nailbiter. The Blue Eagles have mixed and matched young players like star sophomore catcher Gabby Shadek with a veteran core and play for the Bergen County title on Saturday against Ramsey. Mount St. Dominic lost in the Essex County final Sunday night to Cedar Grove.

What to watch out for: While all eyes are on the Mount and IHA, Holy Angels freshman pitcher Molly Flahive has had her moments this year. Paramus Catholic has faced IHA twice already this season. They could meet again in the quarterfinals. IHA won 15-1 and 16-1.

Prediction: Let’s be honest, the biggest game for Mount St. Dominic and IHA is when they play each other. Neither team has had a perfect season, but they are both tough, smart squads and evenly matched. IHA won in 2016 and 2017, Mount won in 2018 and 2019, IHA won in 2021 and Mount won in 2022 (Covid won in 2020). It’s IHA’s turn.

North Non-Public B

What you need to know: At some point and time, there will be a final out made by the Blue Wolves of Immaculate Conception and it will be the end of the program that defined consistency and excellence in the 2010s as the school is closing at the end of the year. The Blue Wolves are the second seed and have a good chance to reach the finals, the bad news top seed Morris Catholic will likely be waiting for them. Morris Catholic is reigning Morris County champs and standout senior Carly Mockenhaupt.

What to watch out for: One of Morris Catholic’s five losses this season is to IHA. This is a chance to see if the tough schedule IC played in the regular season pays off. DePaul, the four seed, has won six of their last eight games entering the State Tournament and can score some runs behind the bats of seniors Paighton Cornett and Anna McHugh.

Prediction: Can DePaul throw a scare into Morris Catholic in the semifinals? Maybe. Remember, DePaul has played good competition this year, but the Crusaders are a cut above everyone else in this bracket.

North 1, Group 1

What you need to know: This is always one of the most unusual brackets in the tournament as good small schools who play good schedules get seeded lower than they should be by power points. Cedar Grove is the top seed and Essex County champs, led by a big sophomore class including Cayce Kavakich. The rest of the bracket is a toss-up. Wallington, the four seed, has played better as the season went on led by pitcher Delilah Tabaka and she’s capable of leading the Panthers to the semifinals. Kinnelon, the defending champs, are seeded 15 and travel to Emerson in the first round.

What to watch out for: What’s second-seeded Emerson’s mindset after getting beat in the Bergen County Tournament semifinals on Sunday? Waldwick and Wallington could meet in the quarterfinals. Wallington beat Waldwick in the Believe Tournament in New Milford, 3-0.

Prediction: Cedar Grove is the clear favorite, and even though this bracket is always crazy, it looks like Emerson and the Panthers will meet in the final.

North 1, Group 2

What you need to know: A first round upset last season never sat too well in Ramsey. The Rams will be favored to win this bracket riding a 22-game winning streak and reaching the Bergen County tournament final. Ramsey has also earned head-to-head wins over a majority of the field.

What to watch out for: Jefferson have won 20 games and navigated a tough NJAC schedule. Sophomore pitcher Kama Skrek has the ability to take over a tournament with nearly 150 strikeouts in the circle and 31 RBIs at the plate.

Prediction: It's Ramsey's bracket to lose, but don't forget what happened last season. This bracket saw three double digit seeds pull first round upsets a season ago, so the contenders could come from anywhere.

North 1, Group 3

What you need to know: The top four seeds in this bracket all come from the Morris/Sussex area and all know one another quite well. Roxbury is the top seed and defending Group 3 champions have ace Hailey Errichiello, who has hit double digit strikeouts 11 times already this season.

What to watch out for: There's one team in this bracket that figured out Roxbury this season: No. 3 seed Sparta. The Spartans endured 18 Errichiello strikeouts and scratched out a run in a 1-0 victory earlier in the month. If lightning can strike twice, it would be an intriguing finals matchup.

Prediction: Roxbury is the headliner in this loaded bracket, perhaps the most crowded grouping in the state. Morris Knolls and Montville are there to give the Gaels fits in the later rounds.

North 1, Group 4

What you need to know: This is the strongest Bergen Tech squad we have seen in years and it might finally be the time for coach Frank Mele and company to hoist some hardware. Calling the Knights powerful is an understatement and a long overdue championship for this program could just be four victories away.

What to watch out for: If there's resistance to top seed Bergen Tech, it's a pair of powerful Essex County teams. Livingston is a standard bearer in Group 4 softball, so winning it all means going through the Lancers. Columbia has enjoyed its best season in decades and has been battle tested throughout the season.

Prediction: Can Bergen Tech finally reach the top of the mountain? There are a few roadblocks, but none that the Knights cannot seemingly navigate.

North 2

North Jersey doesn’t have many teams in the North 2 section – this is all because of geographic alignment. Here’s looking at what North Jersey teams have a shot:

North 2, Group 1: After winning their first Hudson County title, Weehawken is the favorite to win this section again. North Jersey has some contenders though, Wood-Ridge is a dark horse coming out of the other side of the bracket as the sixth seed, but they’ll have to get through Whippany Park.

North 2, Group 2: Ridgefield Park is the top seed after an outstanding season led by big hitter Eliza Mullen, and this bracket has a strong North Jersey vibe with Lodi (11), Passaic Valley (4), Becton (5) and Rutherford (3). The Bulldogs are overdue to break through for a sectional title. How about a Hanover Park-Passaic Valley final?

North 2, Group 3: Reaching the final means either taking down the Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex champion (North Hunterdon) or the Union County champion (Cranford). Good luck breaking that dream final up, though No. 3 Randolph and No. 4 West Morris have the best chance at playing spoiler.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NJ softball: Previewing sectionals across North Jersey