This past week, everything unfolded as anticipated at the top, with all seven top-ranked teams in last week’s ranking achieving victory and remaining undefeated.
However, there were notable movements in the middle and lower segments of the rankings as teams vie for their positions in the early part of the season.
New Jersey High School Softball Top 20 Rankings: Apr. 4
1. St. John-Vianney (2-0)
The Lancers, having lost only twice in the past two seasons, are off to an impressive 2-0 start. Vianney triumphed over Freehold Township and Colts Neck. State Player of the Year Madison McDougall has continued where she left off last season, boasting an astounding 0.50 ERA and 28 strikeouts across 14 innings. All-State catcher Elisabeth Figliolino has contributed significantly, hitting two of the Lancers’ five home runs.
2. Donovan Catholic (2-0)
Following a 2-0 win against Southern, the Griffins ramped up their performance with a remarkable 18-2 victory over Toms River South. Uniquely, Donavan Catholic employs a rotating team of seven pitchers. Three-time all-state player Christina Ginex has already crossed home plate five times in the opening two games.
3. Mount St. Dominic Academy (2-0)
Abby Cianfrocca had a stellar game, driving in three runs while pitching a complete game with seven strikeouts, aiding the Lions in a 12-2 victory over Nutley. Carlee Paez led the offensive charge with a perfect 5-for-5 at the plate. In an exciting matchup, the Lions managed to secure a 7-6 walk-off win over division rival Livingston, with Avery D’Ambola leading offensively, hitting 2-for-3 with three RBIs, a triple, and a run.
4. Notre Dame (2-0)
Bianca Pesce put on a show with 13 strikeouts while also going 3-for-3 at the plate, including two doubles, in a 7-1 victory against West Windsor-Plainsboro North. Following her, Anna Hughes struck out five and crushed two home runs, leading ND to an 11-0 win against Nottingham.
5. Red Bank Catholic (2-0)
The Caseys kicked off their season with a strong 6-2 win over the now 15th-ranked Middletown North and All-State pitcher Madilynn Boyce, subsequently defeating Freehold 9-2. Grace Lombardi’s impressive .714 average (5-for-7) over the two games stands out, while Lily Hagan has recorded 22 strikeouts across 14 innings pitched.
6. Steinert (2-0)
The two-time defending Group III state champions have begun the season ranked as the top public school in the state. The Spartans opened with a 9-2 win against Hightstown, powered by Francesca Castellano’s two home runs, and Katie Simonka, who was dominant on the mound with 17 strikeouts. Steinert followed up this performance with an 11-0 win over Lawrence.
7. Cedar Grove (2-0)
The Panthers got their season underway with an impressive 16-4 win over Nutley. Daniella D’Angelo, Gabby Florre, and Cayce Kavakich each recorded three hits for Cedar Grove. As one of the state’s premier pitchers, Kavakich tallied 15 strikeouts in their opening game while continuing her pursuit of 1,000 career strikeouts. Cedar Grove maintained momentum with a notable 9-1 victory over division rival West Essex.
8. Kingsway (3-0)
The Dragons showcased their offensive might, scoring 25 runs combined in their first two games before comfortably securing a 5-1 win against Egg Harbor. Jessa Pieters has been exceptional on defense, allowing just three hits through 10 innings, while Ava Snyder has amassed 13 strikeouts in eight innings pitched. Offensively, Snyder has also contributed with seven hits and five RBIs, while Laney Thorp added two home runs and seven RBIs this season.
9. Immaculate Heart Academy (2-0)
The Blue Eagles opened with an exciting 18-3 victory over Bergen Tech, followed by a solid 8-6 win against Ramsey. Three-time All-State catcher Gabby Shadek has shined with a pair of homers, while Leah English, coming off a strong 50-RBI season as a freshman, demonstrated her prowess in the circle, giving up just two hits in 3.1 innings pitched.
10. Hanover Park (1-0)
The Hornets began their season with a thrilling 6-5 victory over the now 12th-ranked Morris Catholic, rallying with three runs in the top of the seventh inning. Giuliana Gagliardo played a key role, driving in two runs during this exciting season opener. HP is once again set to be led by Jules Piano in the circle, who earned All-Group II honors last year while topping the state in strikeouts among freshmen.
11. Vineland (2-1)
After beginning their season with a challenging 11-1 loss to Kingsway, the Fighting Clan rebounded with consecutive wins against Egg Harbor (8-6) and St. Joseph (5-2). Frankie Celebre has had a strong start at the plate for Vineland with four hits and four RBIs.
12. Morris Catholic (1-1)
The Crusaders achieved a significant 14-3 victory over divisional rival Madison to commence their season, powered by Sofia Reisinger’s 12 strikeouts. However, MC faced their first defeat of the season in a closely contested match, falling 6-5 to No. 10 Hanover Park, a game the Crusaders dominated for most of the way.
13. Allentown (3-0)
The Redbirds have surged out of the gate, outscoring their three opponents 27-5 in total. They commenced the season with wins over Delran (8-2) and Hopewell Valley (7-2), before clinching a perfect 3-0 start with a 12-1 triumph over Princeton. Kelsey Loughlin stood out, not only claiming the win with a four-hitter and 10 strikeouts but also impressively batting 3-for-4 with a double. Kayla Prekop also shone at the plate, going 4-for-4.
14. North Hunterdon (2-0)
The Lions began the season with dominant wins over Hillsborough, taking the games by scores of 16-6 and 19-0. Sammie Doughert excelled in the opener with a 3-for-4 performance that included a home run and three RBIs. In their following match against Hillsborough, Katie Reed celebrated her 100th career hit, going 4-for-4 with three home runs and nine RBIs.
15. Middletown North (2-1)
The season commenced with some unexpected high-scoring games for the team, featuring a 6-2 loss to Red Bank Catholic, followed by a narrow 5-4 win over Marlboro. Regarded as one of the Midlands’ most reliable teams last year, they eventually secured a classic Middletown North win, edging out Point Pleasant Boro 2-1. Madilynn Boyce shone, striking out 19 while conceding just one hit during that victory against the Panthers.
16. Columbia (2-0)
The Cougars have displayed exemplary performance in their initial two games, shutting out their opponents 24-0 in total. They first overwhelmed Bloomfield 13-0, then continued with an 11-0 win against Caldwell. Claire Shupe’s crowning achievement of the week was a five-inning perfect game, striking out a remarkable career-high of 13 in a contest where every batter from Columbia got at least one hit.
17. Morris Knolls (1-1)
The Golden Eagles kicked off their season with an 11-7 loss at Roxbury, squandering a 7-2 lead. Mount St. Dominic transfer pitcher Erin Toomey made a strong debut for the Knolls in a resurrection game, leading to a 10-3 victory over Morris Hills. Julia Fox and Anna Chominsky each contributed significantly, going 3-for-3 to ignite a powerful 13-hit offense.
18. Robbinsville (1-0)
The Ravens have secured their first win of the young season, claiming a 5-3 victory over Ewing. Lexi Lopez was the standout performer, restricting a formidable Ewing squad to just four hits while amassing 13 strikeouts. At the plate, she also showcased her skills with a two-run home run, achieving a three-RBI day that helped the Ravens take an early 4-1 lead.
19. Gloucester (1-0)
Kloi Tighe and Emma Dick combined efforts to deliver a two-hitter, leading Gloucester, currently ranked No. 20 in the NJ.com Top 20, to a commendable 5-1 season-opening victory over Sterling. The defending Group II champions were led offensively by Vayda Pino, who registered a 2-for-3 performance with a double, alongside Bailey Schoenfeldt, who contributed two hits and scored three runs.
20. Randolph (2-0)
Randolph, spearheaded by two-time All-State shortstop Autumn Liebhauser and All-Group III pitcher Breanna Colburn, remains unbeaten at the start of the season. The Rams have achieved victories over West Morris (13-0) and Pope John of Sparta (5-4).
