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Softball: Morris/Sussex Top 10 rankings feature multiple state title contenders

robert aitken jr., northjersey.com
·4 min read

The final week of the regular season brought the end of a county tournament and division races, as well as a 14-inning marathon game between two of the top 10 teams.

That all serves as a preview for the state softball tournaments, which get started this week.

Heading into the state playoffs, here are the latest Morris/Sussex Top 10 rankings.

10. Sparta (9-9)

Last week: No. 8

A walk-off defeat at the hands of High Point in the Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex tournament semifinals was a tough pill to swallow for the Spartans, but Sparta has played a tough schedule all season and will be a tough out in the postseason. As the No. 9 seed in North 1, Group 3, Sparta could be a tough team for top seed Ramapo to handle if both teams reach the second round.

9. Madison (12-10)

Last week: No. 10

Aside from a loss to Whippany Park in a 14-inning marathon, the Dodgers have not lost since Morris Catholic shut them out on May 3. The Dodgers are a sneaky contender as the No. 7 seed in the North 2, Group 2 bracket.

8. Whippany Park (11-6)

Last week: No. 9

Like every other playoff team, the Wildcats are four wins away from a sectional title. That's a feat that they were able to accomplish for the first time all season last week, defeating Madison, Parsippany, Mountain Lakes and Morris Hills in a five-day span. As the No. 4 seed in North 2, Group 1, Whippany Park projects to have at least two home playoff games and seeks a return to the sectional final.

7. West Morris (17-4)

Last week: No. 6

West Morris finished the regular season strong with wins over Mount Olive, Summit and Morris Hills to win the NJAC National regular season title outright. As a No. 3 seed in North 2, Group 3, the Wolfpack are very much a contender to win a sectional and even a group title. They took fellow Group 3 contender Middletown North to extra innings in their regular-season finale.

6. Pope John (15-8)

Last week: No. 7

The Lions went 4-0 last week with wins over Gill St. Bernard's, Roxbury, Lenape Valley and DePaul. With eight wins across their final nine regular-season games, few teams are hotter than Pope John. The Lions are projected to be the No. 3 seed in North, Non-Public A behind juggernauts IHA and Mount St. Dominic.

5. High Point (17-4)

Last week: No. 5

High Point reached the final of the Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex tournament for the first time in a decade with a walk-off win over Sparta in the semifinals. Despite falling to Hunterdon Central in the tournament final, High Point finished the season with only one loss within the NJAC Freedom division. As the No. 5 seed in North 1, Group 2, High Point could potentially see division rival Jefferson in a sectional final.

4. Randolph (15-8)

Last week: No. 4

The Rams are hitting a groove at the right time with three straight wins to end the regular season. Victories over Roxbury, Morristown and Sparta last week account for Randolph's longest win streak in a month. Randolph projects to be the No. 4 seed in the North 2, Group 3 sectional bracket.

3. Jefferson (16-5)

Last week: No. 3

Juliann Mutter drove in four runs as the Falcons defeated Sussex Tech on Thursday, 11-1. The NJAC Freedom division regular-season champions will once again contend for a sectional title as the No. 2 seed in North 1, Group 2, a section expected to have as many as six Morris or Sussex teams in the bracket.

2. Morris Catholic (16-6)

Last week: No. 2

Losses to Cedar Grove, Donovan Catholic and St. Anthony's (N.Y.) have the Crusaders on a three-game losing streak for the first time in five years. Despite that, Morris Catholic enters the postseason still as a favorite to repeat as North Non-Public B sectional champions. Morris Catholic has reached at least the sectional final every season since 2018.

1. Morris Knolls (17-3)

Last week: No. 1

The Golden Eagles finished play undefeated in the NJAC American division with a win over Montville. Anna Chominsky had a pair of RBI singles in a 4-1 victory. Morris Knolls enters the postseason as the second-best team in power points in North 1, Group 3, hoping to return to the Group 3 state final.

Also considered (listed alphabetically): Hanover Park (16-7), Morris Hills (12-12), Roxbury (9-13)

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Morris/Sussex softball rankings: multiple state title contenders