Softball rankings: Skyland Conference, area UCC preseason Top 10
The 2024 preseason softball Top 10 rankings in the Skyland Conference and western Union County are listed below.
(last year's record in parenthesis)
1. North Hunterdon (20-5) – The Lions shared the Raritan Division title with Immaculata and claimed the program’s first-ever Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex Tournament championship, riding a 13-0 start. North lost some top players to graduation, including slugger Grace Reed, but get plenty back, including catcher Maddie Petak and ace Skye Cook, plus key players coming in, and should be a power again this season.
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More: Softball preview: A team-by-team look at the Skyland Conference and western Union County
2. Immaculata (20-7) – The Skyland-Raritan co-champion Spartans reached the 20-win mark for the first time since 2000 last year, and bring everybody back as they move up to the Delaware Division. Immaculata, with ace Caroline Colitti returning along with a dangerous offense led by Mollie Ferreira, enters the season as a favorite in the Somerset County Tournament.
3. Watchung Hills (15-12) – The Warriors shook off a 2-11 start last year and reeled off 13 straight wins down the stretch, including the Somerset County championship. Watchung Hills suffered some key graduation losses, including that of 2022 CN Player of the Year Jules Raymond, but have a core returning, led by Ella Stevinson and some players set to step up. Expect the Warriors to contend again in the conference, county and state.
4. Bernards (19-7) – The Mountaineers won the program’s first sectional championship since 1989 last season, posting three straight road wins to capture the North 2 Group 2 title, and lose just one starter to graduation. Bernards moves up to the Raritan Division and, led by first-team shortstop Gina Mahlik, enters the season as the favorite there and a sleeper in the Somerset County Tournament.
5. Hunterdon Central (23-6) – The Red Devils were hit hard by graduation, losing five frontline starters after going to the finals of the Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex Tournament and North 2 Group 4 state sectional tourney. Ace Emily Van Cleef returns, though she’ll miss a few weeks recovering from an injury, and Central will elevate another group of potential stars as it reloads for what should be another successful campaign.
6. Hillsborough (26-3) – The Skyland Conference Delaware Division champion and state Group 4 finalist Raiders captured the fourth sectional title in program history and second in the past three years. Now, after graduating arguably the most dominant pitcher in state history in Sarah Davenport as well as some other key players, the Raiders’ fortunes will depend on how quickly the young newcomers can step up and join a returning core led by Claire Marcinek in keeping Boro near the top.
7. Ridge (13-13) – The Red Devils continued their upward trend to emerge as a contender in the Raritan Division and a sleeper in the Somerset County Tournament. Ridge lost star outfield Ellie Lardiere for the season with an injury, but got everyone else back, including catcher Kiersten Murray and pitcher Kari Murray, and should continue its upward trend.
8. Westfield (13-14) – The Blue Devils battled through a tough schedule last year in what was a rebuilding season, and have come out stronger. They lose just one key bat to graduation but bring back a big core of returning talent, led by senior third baseman Erin Doherty. Westfield should be in the mix in the Union County Tournament and the UCC’s Watchung Division, and could be a sleeper in North 2 Gorup 4.
9. Pingry (12-11) – The Big Blue continue to establish themselves as a legit contender, coming off a Valley Division championship, and with most of last year’s club returning, including second-team All-Area second baseman Delaney Swain, expect Pingry to remain a threat despite moving up to the Raritan Division, and a dangerous opponent in the county tournament.
10. Bridgewater-Raritan (11-15) – The Panthers certainly held their own against a stacked schedule, finishing just a game under .500 in the loaded Delaware Division. BR will need that grit again if it’s to contend in an even stronger division this year with North Hunterdon and Immaculata moving in. The pitching is a question mark, but the offense and defense look stacked, led by first-team All-Area outfielder Evelyn Fresco and catcher Caileigh Mahovetz.
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 CourierSoftball@aol.com. Follow him on Twitter/X @SimeonPincus
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: NJ Softball rankings: Skyland Conference, area UCC preseason Top 10
